I went to talk to the lonely guy at the customs shack by the docks. I was wondering what he thinks about all the time when he’s at work. He told me amazing things.
“Yesterday,” he said, “I saw a merman swimming by. When I asked him where he was going, he said nothing. Maybe fishmen don’t have ears.”
He looked off into the middle distance. “One time I saw a naked couple arguing in the French Market. They were not open for conversation either. In fact, you are the first one to talk to me, about anything other than cargo, in a while,” he said, smiling.
“For a while there were girls coming to the docks and dressing up for parties, as if this were their boudoir. Well, I didn’t mind.” He smirked and drew his hand over his cheek. “But then they didn’t come back anymore. I guess they found a better place to change clothes.”
He said, “That Jack crawls by sometimes when he’s had too much whiskey—that’s pretty fun to watch. And the little silent frog lady in her very nice outfit, she is fun too. She dances. Other than that, nothing much happens around here. But thanks for asking.” He smiled and went back to reading his book.
The Ghost of Liza Veliz fell in love with New Toulouse at first sight. She publishes books by various authors; find them at her reading cafe on Shotgun Row.