After Eddie Coyle

For my brother and our neighbor George V. Higgins - Meet me at Neponset circle, he says. Bring a shovel. We're gonna dig some holes and plant some trees. And I’m F-ing thinking, what’s this, am I digging my own grave? What's eating you, he says. Nothing says I guess it’s is the damn Sox. What happened to their bats? Better not to ask, and don’t put you money on those expensive bums. Now dig. So I am digging and say This is a fine how do you do Here I am digging on my F-ing birthday. Keep digging he says. Happy birthday. Fact is my birthday was a couple of days ago. What's your date of birth, he says, I says What is this? F-ing CVS? Then he's got this idea to go to the Eire Pub. Now I’m really beginning to wonder.  Well I was born at night, but it wasn't last night. I hit him over the head with a shovel. I got tickets to see the Broons. You want to go? I decide to go to the Erie Pub. I’m a thirsty old mick and I need a drink quick. I walk in and every body yells HAPPY BIRTHDAY YOU PRICK! Ah, sit down, says I, and if You think I'm setting up this F-ing house of Pain you have as much chance as the gorilla looking for bananas on the 5th Green at  Franklin Park. Got any smoke? - Jack Vaughan