Jim Paul

@jamespaul3.bsky.social

I was watching a movie on a coin-operated tv at the bus station when I ran out of quarters. I still don't know the end. (For those who are too young to remember, quarters were small metal discs that were worth 1/4 of a dollar.)

One morning a priest came to the front desk with a rabbit. He was in a state of dudgeon. One of the breakfast servers had given his companion a portion of bacon. I promised to inform the manager at the earliest opportunity.

At that time I used to go for long walks in the evening. Often very long. Sometimes I would take one of the cats, as an excuse, in case someone might find my behavior suspicious. "I am taking this cat for a walk," I would announce, to the vacant air. "We may be some time."

I was with Anna in the darkened movie theater. She asked me to be a dear and give her a sip of my soda. For some reason I heard "be a deer" and my eyes filled with tears. Afterwards, I couldn't explain why I was crying during the stateroom scene in A Night at the Opera.