Last Exit to Brooklyn

by Hubert Selby Jr.

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  Irene came home from work glad Saturday and her period were over. She was hoping maybe Mike would go to the store for supper, but she didnt expect it. But she didnt mind because she was in a good mood and it was nice out. Especially after being in the store all day. Before she opened the door she could hear the radio and wasnt surprised when she did open the door to see Mike and Sal sitting at the table drinking. She said hello and went straight to the bedroom and threw her jacket on the bed, then picked up Helen who had run after her. Helen told her everything she did and Irene oooood and aaaaad and they both went in to see Arthur. She stayed with the children a few minutes then came out and, smiling, asked Mike how he was doing. Pretty good babe. Sal came over a little while ago and weve had a few drinks, hahahaha. She smiled again and wondered if she should ask him if Helen had been out. You want something to eat Sal? Of course he does. Ya think he dont eat? Irene shrugged her shoulders. I was just askin. How about gettin us a steak, handing her some money and smiling at Sal, making sure he understood that he was the boss in his house and just because Irene worked didnt mean he had to take any shit. Go getus a steak babe. Irene went to get her jacket, her good humor leaving her, feeling at that exact moment, humorless, and ready any second to lose her temper. He could have at least asked and not show off so damn much. She stopped in front of the table and asked him, attempting a slight nonchalance, how come Helen didnt have her overalls on? Didnt she go out today? No, she didnt go out today. Why not? It was a beautiful day. Because I didnt feel like trying ta find where ya hid her clothes. So what? not able to return her stare and turning his head to look at Sal, increasing the scowl on his face. Irene clenched her teeth and left the apartment. The bastard. Wont go to the store; wont clean the house (probably get too drunk tonight); wont even let the kid out. She hustled from one store to the other, buying what she needed; rushed home; prepared and served the meal in silence; Mike ignoring her, feeling he had made his point with Sal; he and Sal leaving as soon as the meal was over.

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  THE DASHER

  A young girl was waiting alone for a bus. She stood smoking and looking down the street for the bus. She had to meet her friends in a few minutes and she was late. She kept stepping off the curb to look down the street. A car stopped a few feet from the curb and the guy in the car yelled, can I takeya somewhere baby? The girl looked at the car, then down the street, but no bus was coming. Comeon, I/ll takeya where ya wanna go. She looked at the guy for a minute wondering if he would take her to 5th avenue or if hed start fuckin around. She thought she/d take a chance, hoping the guy wouldnt kick her out when she said no. He yelled again and she started to walk to the car when she saw the bus turn a corner 2 blocks away. She stepped back on the curb and turned her head. He yelled again and she said, go on, beat it. He mumbled something and she flipped her cigarette at the car and told him ta get the fuck outtahere. The guy started the car and drove away, but stopped a few hundred feet up the street and got out of the car. He whistled and yelled at the girl and when she turned and yelled at him ta go screw he opened his fly and took his cock out and waved it at her, still yelling and whistling. She told him ta shove it up his ass and he finally got back in his car and drove away. The young girl watched the car go up the street then turned as the bus approached. What a fuckin creep.

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  Nancy and the kids were still eating when Abraham got up. She asked him did he want some supper and he said hell no. He didnt want to eat none a her slop. He filled the tub and sat in the water smoking a cigarette, gently rubbing himself with the soap with his free hand, thinking of the brownskin gal and contemplating his stiffened dick. After he finished his cigarette he lathered himself up good, carefully and gently lathering his crotch so it would be sure to smell sweet (kissen sweet, hehehe), then rinsed and dried himself. Then he put deodorant under his arms and balls; massaged skin cream into his face; splashed after shave lotion on his face, neck and chest; rubbed pomade between the palms off his hands and rubbed it on his hair, then spent 20 minutes combing it carefully and adjusting his waves. Ghuddamn if he wasnt a sharp lookin stud. He checked the back of his head with the small mirror then satisfied that each wave was in its proper place he washed his hands and went back to the bedroom to dress. He put on his new white on white shirt with the Hollywood Roll collar and tied his silk lavendar and purple tie in a large Windsor knot. He selected his brown suit, the one he had made last year, and man its a sharpass suit. Put me back a 100 clams. He carefully adjusted the waist of his shirt before pulling the thin belt tight. He put on the jacket, buttoned it and rolled the lapels, fixed the handkerchief, and straightened out the things in his pockets. Then he took down the cool tan top coat, checked his shoes, put the coat on, then carefully placed his hat on his head. Man, he was ready. He left the house and didnt stop till he opened the door of his bigass Cadillac. He sat behind the wheel and pulled the door closed, smiling as he heard the heavy thud of the door. Sheeit. This is gonna be a night. I mean a night Jim . . .

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  WHATTA YAMEAN THE SAUCES NO GOOD? THATS WHAT I SAID, THE SAUCES NO GOOD. WHATS THE MATTA, YA DONT UNDERSTAND ENGLISH? ITS NO GOOD. NO GOOD, NO GOOD. WHATTA YAKNOW ABOUT SAUCE? MEEEE, WHATTA I KNOW? I KNOW IT STINKS. NOT ENOUGH GARLIC. ITS GOT THE SAME GARLIC. JUST LIKE ALWAYS. THE SAME 8

  CLOVES OF GARLIC AND YA SAY NOT ENOUGH GARLIC. YUR A FUCKIN DUMMY. ITS GOOD SAUCE. DONT TELL ME ITS NO GOOD. WHOSE A FUCKIN DUMMY? EH? WHO? I/LL GIVEYA A RAP IN THE MOUT IM A DUMMY. YA CANT EVEN MAKE A SAUCE. WHY DONTCHA EAT AND SHUT UP, YEAH? I DONT LIKE THE SAUCE, BANGING HIS FORK DOWN ON THE TABLE AND SHAKING HIS HAND IN MARYS FACE. ITS A FUCKIN IRISH SAUCE. NO GARLIC. NO GARLIC, little ralphy picked up a string of spaghetti and dropped it on the floor, joey picked it up and put it back on his plate, ralphy threw another string down and joey picked it up. DONT TELL ME. THERES NOT ENOUGH GARLIC. I LIKE GARLIC IN MY SAUCE. SO SHUT UP OR I/LL RAPYA OVA THE HEAD. AAAA, WHATTAYAKNOW, EH? WHATTAYAKNOW? little ralphy picked up a handful of spaghetti and threw it hitting joey in the face, joey yelled to stop and slapped ralphys hand, ralphy yelled and threw another handful in his face, joey hit ralphy with a handful . . . GET ME ANOTHA MEATBALL. I CANT EAT THE MACARONI. YA CANT EAT, YA CANT EAT? WHATTAYA, A KING OR SOMETHIN? YA CANT EAT. GET ME ANOTHA MEAT BALL AND SHUTUP. WHATTSAMATTA YA CANT GET THE MEATBALL YASELF, EH? WHATTA YAMEAN GET IT MYSELF? GET ME ANOTHA MEAT BALL OR I/LL BREAK YALEG. AAAA, GETTING UP AND LADLING ANOTHER MEATBALL OUT OF THE POT AND PLOPPING IT ON VINNIES PLATE. MAYBE I CAN EAT THIS. CANT EVEN MAKE A SAUCE.

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  Lucy said little during the meal, just reminding Johnny to eat from time to time and asking Louis to pass something. Half way through the meal Robert decided he didnt want to eat any more and Lucy forced food into his mouth in between feeding herself and telling Johnny to eat. When she had finished she started clearing the table, forcing the last bit of food on Roberts plate into his mouth. Louis just left the table and turned on the t v. Johnny started playing with his food and Lucy yelled at him sharply and Johnny whined and started eating and Lucy told him to hushup and eat. Louis felt like telling her to stop yellin, ghuddamn it, and rap her side the head. Seemed like she was always yellin about somethin. Especially on the weekends. He just stared at the t v thinking about goin for a drive tomorrow ( maybe alone ), and hoping the next few hours would pass fast. Lucy finally shoved the last spoonful of food in Johnnys mouth then did the dishes, leaving the kitchen occasionally to tell the children to be quiet (Louis squirming in his chair), then finishing the dishes she put the children to bed and sat in the living room, saying nothing, and watched t v. Louis turned to her once in a while and made a comment about the show hoping to get her in a good mood before they went to bed, but Lucy only grunted, thinking how soon she would have to go to bed with him and it would start like every w
eekend (and many week nights too) and just the thought made her muscles tighten and her flesh get clammy. Lucy just grunted so Louis figured the hell with it. Theyd be going to bed soon and maybe tonight will be different.

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  THE QUEUE

  The Welfare checks were cashed and there were long lines outside the Liquor Store across the street from the Project. The owner had his 2 sons and a brother helping him as he did every Saturday night. The store was in the middle of the street and the two lines went out of sight around each corner, and the cop on the beat stood near the entrance so a fight wouldnt start as people pushed their way into the store. Yet even with the cop there there was much pushing and cursing. The clerks in the store worked as fast as they could and wrapped the bottles quickly, but still the lines were out of sight around both corners. Those at the end of the line would step out occasionally and look to the front wondering how much longer they would have to wait and then finally they would turn the corner and eventually they would come in sight of the lighted window and then they could at least look at all the bottles on display and then the time seemed to pass faster with their goal in sight. Someone tried to get in ahead of time, but someone else pulled him out of the doorway and an argument started and everyone yelled for them to clear the front of the store so they could get in and the owner came out and frantically yelled at them to stop (the people in the store becoming nervous when the owner left the counter fearing something would happen to prevent them from getting their bottles after having waited on line for so many hours) and finally the cop came over and yanked them both out and told them to beat it. They pleaded to be allowed to get their bottles or at least to get on the end of the line ( offering the cop money ), but the cop refused (not wanting to louse up the beautiful deal he had with the owner) and they finally walked off, sneaking back and giving money to friends to get them a bottle. Before the last customer was taken care of the clerks were soaked with perspiration and completely knocked out, but soon the last few customers were in the store. Many parties had already started and as the last customers bought their bottles and walked happily toward home the bells in a nearby church tolled midnight.

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  Abraham stepped into MELS and stood by the door for a moment digging the scene, his hands in his coat pockets, a coolass stud man, and every cat in the joint knew it. He waved to his boys, hung up his hat and coat and went to the bar, ordered a scotch and tossed a bill on the bar. He leaned sideways against the bar and dug the scene. The bar was not too crowded and the brownskinned gal wasnt there yet. He went in the back and sat at a table and ordered some of those fine ribs that were so great at MELS and sucked each rib dry then sat back sucking his teeth and smoking. Man he felt great. He paid the check and went to the bar, saw the brownskinned gal and went up to a cat he knew who was standing near her. He patted the cat on the back, called the bartender, give my man here a drink, ordered another scotch and tossed a 20 dollar bill on the bar. Man that chickll have big eyes now. He knew how to play it cool. Yeah, ol Abe was a cool ass stud. He let his change lay on the bar and when he finished his drink he ordered another and told the bartender to give the young lady a drink. He smiled at her and when they got their drinks he slid over next to her and told her his name was Abe. Ol honest Abe, hahaha. Mahns Lucy. He asked her to dance and he winked at the cats at the bar as they walked to the dance floor. Sheeit, nothin to it when you operate like ol Abe. They danced and he told her she danced real great and she must be new around here, he comes here all the time and he never seen her before and she smiled and said yes she/d only been here a few times before and they danced and drank and ol Abe smoothed talked her and he was in and he told her he had a Cadillac, with whitewalls and would she like something to eat and when you with ol Abe you move and he knew this would be a great night and hed fuck the ass of this bitch.

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  Nancy put the kids to bed and got out the bottle of wine she stashed in the closet. She sat down and watched t v for a while, taking slugs from the bottle, then went to bed and lay there drinking, smoking and playing with her crotch. She wisht the fuckin Abe would come home and lay her. The sonofabitch aint fucked me but oncet in the last month and nobody else ever come around this house. If she could get somebody to sit with the kids she could go out, but she . couldnt get nobody. Sheeit. She was tired. Almost felt like going to sleep. But it was too early yet. Still almost half a bottle left too. She/d drink that first. Somebody might come around looking for Abe. No sense in waiting for him though. He/ll be gone all night. Sheeit. Ah need me some cock. She finished the bottle and threw it down the incinerator then went back to bed and lay down, remembering how big and hard Abes cock was and how it felt going in.

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  THE WORSHIPPERS

  A woman screeched hysterically, AH LOVESSIM, AH LOVESIM and she rolled on the floor, beating the floor with her fists. The people in the adjoining apartments listened, laughing. COME DOWN! COME DOWN! and someone beat a drum, someone else pounded on a table, OOOOOOO AH LOVESIM! AH DIE FORIM! and other voices screeched and a roar came through the walls, the people on the other side listening and laughing. OOOOO JESUS! JESUS! OOOOOO JESUS! and the other voices roared a HAAAAL LAY LOOOOOO YAAAA! WE LOVESYA! O JESUS! WE LOVESYA! and the beating of drums and table grew louder and a voice moaned AH SINNED! AH SINNED! OOOOO LORD, AH SINNED! FORGIVE ME LORD! another body fell to the floor and groveled and beat its fists and the drummer beat frantically and the clanging of a pot joined the drum and table and other bodies fell to the floor and they rolled and beat and kicked and the voices screeched and boomed and roared AH LOVESIM! AH LOVESIM! HAAAAL LAY LOOOOO YAAAA! OOOOO LORD! LORD! HAAAAL LAY LOOOOO YAAAA-DA-DUMDADUMDADUMDADUMDADUM DADUM - WEES YO CHILLEN LORD! O BLESS US LORD-AH SINNED! AH SINNED! FO GIVE ME LORD! OOOOOOO LORD FOGIVE A MISERABLE SINNER! (ears pressed against the wall, hands raised for silence, laughter)—AN JOSHYA TUMBLED THE WALLS! OOOO JERICHO! O JERIICHO! - BABUMBABUMBABUMBABUMBABUMBA-BUMBABUM - EEEEEEEEEEEAAAAAAAAA - OOOO MERCY! OOOOO MERCY! FOGIVE YO CHILREN LORD! FOGIVE WE SINNERS!-COME DOWN! COME DOWN JESUSi-HAAAAL LAY LOOOOO YAAAA (a door was opened slightly to hear better)—AH LOVESIM! AH LOVESIM-HAAAAL LAY LOOOOO YAAAA-A MISERABLE SINNER-COME DOWN-OOOOOOOO-IN THE FIERY FURNACE - O LORD! LORD! - DRRRRRR -COME DOWN-BLESSUS! BLESSUS!-JESUS! JESUS! JESUS! JESUS! JESUS! JESUSi-HAL LAY LOOOOOOO YAAA! LORD-THE PEARLY GATES-WE LOVESYA-COME DOWN-EEEEEEAAAAAA-O JESUS-BLESSUS-AH LOVESIM-YO CHILREN-SINNERS-FOGIVE-AMEN!- AMEN LORD! AMEN! and the door was closed.

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  THE CONTEST

  The street was quiet and a gang of young spades on one corner started walking toward a gang of spicks on the other, each gang ripping the aerials off the parked cars; some carrying rocks, bottles, pipes, clubs. They stood a few feet apart in the middle of the street calling each other black bastards and monkey mothafuckas. A car came along the street, horn blowing, trying to pass, but they didnt move and finally the car had to back out of the street. The few people on the street ran. The gangs remained in the middle of the street. Then someone threw a rock, then another was thrown and 30 or 40 kids were screaming, throwing bottles and rocks until there were none left, then they ran at each other swinging clubs and whipping the car aerials, cursing, screaming, someone crying in pain, a zip gun being fired and a window breaking and people yelled from windows and one of the kids went down and was kicked and stomped and knots of kids formed, swinging, clubbing, kicking, yelling and a knife was stuck in a back and another one went down and a cheek was cut to the mouth with an aerial and the ragged flesh of the cut cheek flapped against the bloodied teeth and a skull was opened with a club and another window was broken with a rock and a few tried to drag another away as three pairs of feet kicked at his head and a nose was smashed with a pair of brass knuckles and then a siren was heard above the yelling and suddenly, for a fraction of a second, everyone stood still
then turned and ran, leaving three lying on the street. The cops came and people came back to the street and the cops kept them back, asking questions and finally the ambulance came and two were helped in the ambulance the third being carried. Then the ambulance left, the cops left, and it was quiet once again.

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  As soon as they got in the door the guy grabbed her ass. Goddamnit, cant yawait, pushing him away. She staggered and leaned against the wall, the guy leaning over her kissing her neck as she yanked open a closet door looking for a bottle, then slammed it shut when no bottle could be found. She looked around trying to figure out what was wrong. Somethin was wrong. Maybe her husband came home. She called. Called again and still no answer. She pushed the guy away and staggered into the bedroom to see if he was there, but he wasnt. Guess he aint here. Somethin sure as hells wrong. Then she remembered her kids. They should be here. She looked in their room and called, but they were gone. Shit, whered them little bastads go. I toldem ta stay put. She went back to the kitchen, the guy still behind her pulling her coat off and grabbing her ass. She looked around the kitchen and the living room, reaching behind her and bouncing the guys balls with her fingertips, the guy slobbering over her, groping and mumbling. Finally she saw the note left by the Police. Well, fuckem then. They can stay the night. She went back to the bedroom, the guy behind her. They undressed, fell onto the bed and fucked.

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