Punching Paradise (Fight Card)

by Jack Tunney

“Sweetheart,” Ally says. “I know I didn’t ask you, but I figured it would be okay. I mean, where else is he going to go?”

  “What?” Neck says.

  Henry hands Neckbone the rest of his soda. “Ally said I could stay with you guys for a while. I don’t have anyone else.”

  “Your dad got arrested last night.” Comprehension settles over him like warm sunshine, seeps into his bones and relaxing them. Henry’s hands are safe. There is no longer any debt to pay. He tries for clarity. “Jeff is in jail, and you’re staying here with us.”

  “What’d you think we were talking about?” Ally says. She kneels before him and pulls his eyelids down. “Do you have a concussion?”

  Neckbone tries to answer, but just starts laughing so hard he’s afraid he’ll split his skull.

  “Is he okay?” Henry says. “He sound crazy.”

  “I don’t know,” Ally says. “I’m going to call Rollo. He’ll know. He’s always getting hit in the head.”

  Neckbone grabs her hand to stop her. He wants to relay to her every punch thrown this evening, every barb and strike and power play Beigler and Stokes tried, every cup of beer thrown and handful of sawdust spread.

  But, sitting here on his couch, holding his girl’s hand with this wayward jazzman kid beside them and twelve thousand dollars at their feet, all Neckbone can do is laugh, laugh like he’ll never stop.

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  FIGHT CARD VOLUME 1

  2013

  FELONY FISTS / THE CUTMAN

  SPLIT DECISION / COUNTERPUNCH

  HARD ROAD / KING OF THE OUTBACK

  A MOUTH FULL OF BLOOD

  TOMATO CAN COMEBACK

  BLUFF CITY BRAWLER / GOLDEN GATE GLOVES

  IRISH DUKES / THE KNOCKOUT

  FIGHT CARD VOLUME 2

  2013

  RUMBLE IN THE JUNGLE / AGAINST THE ROPES

  THE LAST ROUND OF ARCHIE MANNIS

  GET HIT, HIT BACK / BROOKLYN BEATDOWN

  CAN’T MISS CONTENDER / BAREFOOT BONES

  FRONT PAGE PALOOKA / SWAMP WALLOPER

  FIGHT RIVER

  FIGHT CARD VOLUME 3

  2014

  MONSTER MAN / GUNS OF NOVEMBER

  ADVENTURES OF SAILOR TOM SHARKEY

  FIGHT CARD MMA

  WELCOME TO THE OCTAGON

  THE KALAMAZOO KID / ROSIE THE RIPPER

  FIGHT CARD ROMANCE

  LADIES NIGHT /LOVE ON THE ROPES

  FIGHT CARD LUCHADORES

  RISE OF THE LUCHADORES

  FIGHT CARD NOW

  PUNCHING PARADISE

  FIGHT CARD

  SHERLOCK HOLMES

  WORK CAPITOL

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