Everyday Struggle

by Andrew Wayne Adams

The crazy legless veteran raises an American flag every morning. As he salutes the flag, an alcoholic politician emerges from the house across the street, carrying a Cannibal Corpse t-shirt. The politician raises the t-shirt up a flagpole. The two flagpoles reach for each other, and the American flag and the t-shirt slap together in hateful struggle.

It is Christmas, and the crazy legless veteran goes caroling. He knocks on my door. “Sing me a song,” he says. I say, “That’s not how caroling works.” He says, “I died for your sins,” and he extends his arms as if crucified, each hand palming a Nine Inch Nails CD. I say, “Don't you mean you fought for my freedom?” He was in last year’s war. “Also,” I say, “the crucifixion is more of an Easter thing, I think.” Then I sing him a Public Enemy song and he goes away.

Every morning, I watch the American flag and the Cannibal Corpse t-shirt fight, and I wonder which side I’m on. Then a bugle sounds, and I take up my butter knife.

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BIO: Andrew Wayne Adams is the author of Janitor of Planet Anilingus, a bizarro novella available from Eraserhead Press. He was born and raised in rural Ohio. It was formative. He now lives in Portland, OR, where he works in a centipede warehouse. Visit him at andrewwayneadams.blogspot.com.