Jacob Lawrence, "Two People in a Bar" (1941)
Jacob Lawrence, Two People in a Bar (1941)
Can a Game Be Literature?

Mark's Pages

December 29, 2010:

He plays games with the juke box. If I arrive with my girlfriend, "Heartache Tonight". Alone, "The Greeks Don't Want No Freaks".

His eyes are glassy, dilated. Red 'round the lids: speed. Junk. Dunno. Diabetes.

Blue soft sweater. Stringy hair. Looks like he doesn't bathe.

Sad puppy eyes. There's a life behind them, somewhere.

My girlfriend is cruel to him. Despite or because of having spent the night with him once when I was away. The worst night of her life, she says.

Why?

Why would she spend time here? Why is this place "home"?