Free Suder by Percival Everett Page A

look over at the elephant. The animal is stepping forward and back.
    The man turns and walks back to the platform and waves his arms and announces that he is now closed. I put the money in my pants and I pick up all my things and leave the tent.
    I walk on down the waterfront and then I see Sid Willis’s boat, The Ugly Lady . Sid is standing on deck and he turns and sees me when I’m halfway down the pier to his boat. A smile comes across his dark face and his eyes light up under that big bush of a eyebrow that stretches across his forehead and the sunlight is playing on his bald top.
    â€œHey there, Sid,” I says.
    â€œCraig Suder?”
    â€œYeah.” I stop in front of him.
    â€œWell, I’ll be damned.” He laughs. “Come on aboard, boy.”
    I hop onto the boat.
    He reaches to grab my hand, but my arms are full. “Put something down,” he says, “so I can shake your paw.”
    I put my saxophone and everything down and I take his hand. “It’s good to see you, Sid.”
    â€œIt’s good to see you, boy. I’ll be damned. Just come by to chew the fat?”
    â€œNo, I’ve come by to see if I can spend a few days with you.”
    â€œYou don’t say. Well, damn.” He runs his hand over his head. “I’d be glad to have you. Stay as long as you like. I been needing some company. Well, damn.” He looks out over the Sound. “Want a beer?”
    â€œYeah.”
    â€œCome on,” he says and turns and goes down a ladder into the cabin.
    I follow. “How come you call your boat The Ugly Lady?” I ask.
    â€œNamed her after my second wife.” He reaches into the ice chest and pulls out a beer and tosses it to me.
    â€œThanks.”
    He pulls one out for himself. “What you doing here in the middle of the season?”
    â€œLet’s say I’m on vacation.”
    â€œYou get axed?”
    â€œNo.”
    â€œSlump?”
    â€œYeah.”
    â€œWell, you can stay here as long as you like.” He pulls his hand over his head and rubs the perspiration between his fingers. “Let’s sit up on deck.” We go up on deck and sit down. “What about things at home?”
    I question him with my eyes.
    â€œThings at home okay?”
    â€œFine.” I finish my beer.
    â€œDamn, you went through that fast. Want another?”
    I shake my head. “I just thought I’d come by and pay you a visit and maybe sneak some fishing in.”
    â€œFishing, it is,” he says. “I got some cod in the cooler right now. You want to head out some and poke around for tuna?”
    â€œYeah.”
    â€œGood.” He looks up at the sky. “Well, hell, we couldn’t have asked for a prettier day. What do you say we head out now?”
    I nod. “Can I put my things below?”
    â€œYeah, yeah, make yourself at home.”
    I take my things down into the cabin and then I’m back on deck.
    â€œWhy don’t you untie that there,” says Sid, pointing to where the boat is tied to the pier.
    I do as he says and then he cranks up the motor and we’re off. I climb up the ladder to where he’s steering the boat. I’m looking ahead out the window.
    â€œNot much traffic today,” he says. “I got a great spot.” He pauses and looks at me. “I’ll be damned.” He’s smiling and shaking his head.
    We cruise through the Sound and head three or four miles out. We drop in a couple of lines and just sorta set back and take it easy. The sun is bright and the breeze is good and I get relaxed. I start to drift off into sleep.
    â€œI got one!” Sid says, sitting up straight.
    I sit up and see his taut line and then this fish shows himself. “Look at the size of that baby,” I says.
    â€œYeah, that’s a nice-sized one. Nice size.” He lowers his rod and lets the fish run.
    I’m standing up and walking around in back of