1,001 Chicago Afternoons

“Why do you call him Uncle Go Paul? He’s Uncle Paul because his name is Paul and he’s our uncle,” the older said to the younger. “He’s Uncle Go Paul because we go places with him,” the younger replied. I was touched. But not enough to get let them get a second thing of candy [...]

In the hot summer sun, among the women walking around wearing rainbows and the occasional completely waxed man wearing nothing but skin-tight boxer briefs and a smile, the old man wore a suit.

The children ran and shrieked among, around, over and under the folding tables filling the gym.

The girlfriend has metal allergies, that’s important to know. It’s important to know because some cheap silver and zircon knickknackery like the bit I had in my pocket could cause her to break out in an itchy rash. The skin turns green, she has to scratch, the whole caboodle. But she wanted a particular bit [...]