Free The Willow Tree: A Novel by Hubert Selby

ass…but my belly be comin out mah ears. Thas some fine soup an braid. Ya…is good for everything. Moishe continued smiling at Bobby, then moved away from the counter, So…first we took care of the belly, now the rest already. Jacuzzi make you feel good, all over. What the fuck be that? Jacuzzi???—shrugging—is like a whirlpool…a bath tub where the water spins around—suddenly lifting his head and shoulders in recognition—like in baseball and football…they get hurt they sit in the whirlpool, ya? O yeah, I can dig it. Far out. You got yourself onea those suckers down here? Moishe grinned, Ya.
    Moishe took Bobby to a room with a whirlpool bath and a large shower stall with a dozen nozzles. Bobby looked around at everything and shook his head, Man they aint even got things like this in the movies. This be far fuckin out—walking around and looking and shaking his head….
    So, Im filling the tub and youre getting undressed. What you mean, undressed? What do I mean undressed, you take a bath with your clothes on already? what do I mean? Hey man, I dont go around nakid in front of no strangers. Stranger….Im a stranger already. So youre afraid maybe Im grabbing your schwarzer schlung , its so gorgeous I cant stay away???? Man, sometimes you be runnin off at the mouth an I caint understan nothin. Achh, so sit in the tub with your clothes on—shrugging, shaking his head—naked…stranger—and he turned on the nozzles and the heat, You see this button, it gets too hot you push, the lights going off…so, Im helping you in so you shouldnt slip—extending his hand, Bobby looking at him for a minute, then shrugging, Damn, you got your feelings hurt Mush….I still dont know what I be doin here, but you seem to be a righteous dude—shrugging and looking around as he started unbuttoning his shirt—Where I put these things? Give to me—taking the clothes—Bobby standing awkwardly, self consciously, looking around, almost covering his crotch with his hands—hanging them on hooks across the room. Im helping you in, Bobby letting him hold his hand as he stepped over the side of the tub. Sit…there—nodding toward the seat, Bobby lowering himself slowly, a smile changing his expression, the smile growing into a large open-mouthed grin, Damn, this be far fuckin out Mush…damn—moving his arms slightly, looking at them, his hands, his feet, the whirling water with wonder and amazement—far fuckin out Mush…damn, those muthas get to sit in one a these jus for playin baseball…sheeit, an they gettin paid too—Bobby giggled then laughed loud, Hey baby, this be crazy Mush…damn….
    Moishe grinned and just watched Bobby for a moment….Theres a railing….
    Yeah, I see it man.
    Good. Dont slip. You need me push this already…rings a bell. This turns off heat.
    Yeah, I got that one baby, but this be fine. Sheeit, can ya dig havin one a these muthas when your ass be freezin…damn…damn Mushie you be livin in a muthafuckin palace. Aint even no dope dealers be livin this good—and Bobby giggled and laughed and pretended his hand was a boat and skimmed it along the surface of the water.
    Moishe continued watching for a moment, then stepped back from the tub, Im doing some work.
    Okay my man. I be here gettin my skinny little ass unbruised, Hey Mush, I sit here long enough I get rid of all the black n blue—an he laughed so loud and hard he almost slipped off the ledge—Damn, this muthafucka gonna make a gauddamn honky outta me—and he roared again with laughter, shaking his head, tears rolling from his eyes, Caint be the muthafuckin Bronx man—and the laughter continued roaring from him as he sat back, held onto the railing, and allowed himself to almost float around the tub, feeling the warm swirling water relaxing not only his muscles, but his mind, and suddenly all of life…all of the past, and all of the future, and the present was a bright sunny day, and everything was cool and he didnt have to hassle