and 1960, in Fresno, my father talked to hopeful

JFK an hour, about the Pacific War, PT-109,

burning B-29s and their firestorms over Tokyo,

Fat Man and Little Boy, the chance of nuclear

exchange with Russia before the Missile Crisis.

The vice-president, not LBJ who called his penis

"Jumbo" and took it out at meetings, but the one

head of the search committee who chose himself,

my brother's pal who didn't serve but with a 28

guage shot his friend in Texas hunting caged quail,

this year received the transplant, a young girl's

strong, healthy, beating heart. So far so good, no

odd-hour sharp cravings for favorite foods and

drinks she once enjoyed on holidays or special

treats when school let out, Bazooka Joe Bubble

Gum, green cotton candy on a stick. Thank God

no dreams of swimming pools of chocolate milk

or Mr. Frosty Root Beer in summer when it's oh

so hot, to interrupt secret war plans drawn up at

midnight in creative sleep. Rich Harold yelled

poor Roy was "dumb as rocks" when Roy called

Harold the smartest man on Earth. I don't know

why tonight the infrared seems so fuzzy-like.

You tell the Captain? Better check the scope.

My head's not right. No, that line's been used

before. Should I press this button and kill

the child? I'm going to be ten men when I grow

up! Hungry? Make a slit and sip your stallion's

hot rich blood. Whole villages chose death as

Attila's cavalry approached. Christ, an hour

ago I asked for a pickled egg with my two beers

and bowl of nuts. You're late, too light for

football and sure to crack a bone. Remember

though when Willie Mays would hit a homer

and happy Russ Hodges shout, "It's a bye-

bye baby!" with his old sidekick Lon Simmons