full
“That’s A Good One” by Kyell Gold (part 2 of 2)
There are no shortcuts in comedy, but Mahari the wolf thinks he’s found one: make fun of armadillos. What he’s about to learn is that there is always a price to success.
Today’s story is the second and final part of “That’s A Good One” by Kyell Gold, award-winning author of Out of Position and many more, and you can find more of his stories at FurPlanet.com, Sofawolf.com, or wherever fine furry books are sold.
Last time, Mahari the comedian went viral with armadillo jokes and built his success on them. Now he’s about to learn the price of that success.
Read for you by Rob MacWolf — werewolf hitchhiker.
thevoice.dog | Apple podcasts | Spotify | Google Podcasts
If you have a story you think would be a good fit, you can check out the requirements, fill out the submission template and get in touch with us.
https://thevoice.dog/episode/thats-a-good-one-by-kyell-gold-part-2-of-2
Transcript
Todays
story
Speaker:concerns
Speaker:subject
Speaker:matter
Speaker:some
Speaker:listeners
Speaker:may
Speaker:find
Speaker:disturbing.
Speaker:Please
Speaker:listen
Speaker:at
Speaker:your
Speaker:own
Speaker:discretion.
Speaker:Should
Speaker:you
Speaker:at
Speaker:any
Speaker:point
Speaker:feel
Speaker:disinclined
Speaker:to
Speaker:continue,
Speaker:then
Speaker:please
Speaker:skip
Speaker:this
Speaker:one
Speaker:and
Speaker:come
Speaker:back
Speaker:for
Speaker:another
Speaker:story,
Speaker:another
Speaker:time.
You’re
listening
Speaker:to
Speaker:The
Speaker:Voice
Speaker:of
Speaker:Dog.
Speaker:This
Speaker:is
Speaker:Rob
Speaker:MacWolf,
Speaker:your
Speaker:fellow
Speaker:traveler,
Speaker:and
Speaker:Today’s
Speaker:story
Speaker:is
Speaker:the
Speaker:second
Speaker:and
Speaker:final
Speaker:part
Speaker:of “That’s
Speaker:A
Speaker:Good
Speaker:One”
Speaker:by
Speaker:Kyell Gold,
Speaker:award-winning
Speaker:author
Speaker:of
Speaker:Out
Speaker:of
Speaker:Position
Speaker:and
Speaker:many
Speaker:more, and
Speaker:you
Speaker:can
Speaker:find
Speaker:more
Speaker:of
Speaker:his
Speaker:stories
Speaker:at
Speaker:FurPlanet.com, Sofawolf.com, or
Speaker:wherever
Speaker:fine
Speaker:furry
Speaker:books
Speaker:are
Speaker:sold.
Last
time,
Speaker:Mahari
Speaker:the
Speaker:comedian
Speaker:went
Speaker:viral
Speaker:with
Speaker:armadillo
Speaker:jokes
Speaker:and
Speaker:built
Speaker:his
Speaker:success
Speaker:on
Speaker:them.
Speaker:Now
Speaker:he’s
Speaker:about
Speaker:to
Speaker:learn
Speaker:the
Speaker:price
Speaker:of
Speaker:that
Speaker:success.
Please
enjoy
“That’s
A
Speaker:Good
Speaker:One”
Speaker:by Kyell Gold, Part 2 of 2
He can hardly believe
it
Speaker:when
Speaker:he
Speaker:gets
Speaker:booked
Speaker:on
Speaker:The
Speaker:Late
Speaker:Show,
Speaker:even
Speaker:though
Speaker:for
Speaker:the
Speaker:last
Speaker:month
Speaker:he’s
Speaker:been
Speaker:kind
Speaker:of
Speaker:in
Speaker:the
Speaker:back
Speaker:of
Speaker:his
Speaker:head
Speaker:expecting
Speaker:it
Speaker:to
Speaker:happen,
Speaker:enough
Speaker:time
Speaker:to
Speaker:theorize
Speaker:that
Speaker:his
Speaker:politics
Speaker:are
Speaker:holding
Speaker:him
Speaker:back
Speaker:and
Speaker:to
Speaker:build
Speaker:up
Speaker:resentment
Speaker:about
Speaker:it.
Speaker:Still,
Speaker:when
Speaker:the
Speaker:call
Speaker:comes
Speaker:from
Speaker:his
Speaker:agent, he’s
Speaker:thrilled,
Speaker:and
Speaker:it’s
Speaker:like
Speaker:he’s
Speaker:twenty-three
Speaker:again,
Speaker:watching
Speaker:Moreno
Speaker:with
Speaker:Chet
Speaker:and
Speaker:Koro,
Speaker:telling
Speaker:each
Speaker:other
Speaker:they’d
Speaker:be
Speaker:on
Speaker:there
Speaker:one
Speaker:day.
It’s
only
Speaker:on
Speaker:the
Speaker:day
Speaker:he
Speaker:gets
Speaker:to
Speaker:Port
Speaker:City
Speaker:that he
Speaker:finds
Speaker:out
Speaker:he’s
Speaker:not
Speaker:going
Speaker:to
Speaker:be
Speaker:doing
Speaker:his
Speaker:material
Speaker:on
Speaker:the
Speaker:show;
Speaker:he’s
Speaker:there
Speaker:for
Speaker:an
Speaker:interview
Speaker:only.
Speaker:Which
Speaker:is
Speaker:a
Speaker:little
Speaker:disappointing,
Speaker:right?
Speaker:Singers
Speaker:get
Speaker:to
Speaker:sing,
Speaker:actors
Speaker:show
Speaker:a
Speaker:clip
Speaker:from
Speaker:their
Speaker:movie;
Speaker:comedians
Speaker:usually
Speaker:get
Speaker:to
Speaker:do
Speaker:a
Speaker:short
Speaker:bit.
Speaker:But
Speaker:it’s
Speaker:okay.
Speaker:Millions
Speaker:of
Speaker:people
Speaker:will
Speaker:see
Speaker:him.
He
buys
Speaker:a
Speaker:new
Speaker:suit
Speaker:for
Speaker:the
Speaker:show
Speaker:and prepares a
Speaker:couple
Speaker:bits
Speaker:ahead
Speaker:of
Speaker:time
Speaker:about
Speaker:the
Speaker:suit
Speaker:in
Speaker:case
Speaker:Moreno
Speaker:asks.
Speaker:A
Speaker:genial
Speaker:panda
Speaker:introduces
Speaker:himself
Speaker:as
Speaker:Chuck,
Speaker:Moreno’s
Speaker:assistant. “Cris
Speaker:is
Speaker:really
Speaker:busy
Speaker:this
Speaker:afternoon,
Speaker:sorry.
Speaker:He
Speaker:asked
Speaker:me
Speaker:to
Speaker:go
Speaker:over
Speaker:the
Speaker:interview
Speaker:with
Speaker:you.”
“Okay.”
Mahari
Speaker:hides
Speaker:his
Speaker:disappointment
Speaker:pretty
Speaker:well,
Speaker:especially
Speaker:since
Speaker:the
Speaker:panda’s
Speaker:cute.
“He’ll
want
Speaker:to
Speaker:ask
Speaker:you
Speaker:about
Speaker:how
Speaker:success has
Speaker:changed your
Speaker:life,
Speaker:and
Speaker:about
Speaker:being
Speaker:gay
Speaker:in
Speaker:the
Speaker:comedy
Speaker:world.”
Speaker:Chuck
Speaker:looks
Speaker:up
Speaker:at
Speaker:him
Speaker:for
Speaker:approval.
Speaker:Mahari
Speaker:nods. “And
Speaker:he’s
Speaker:going
Speaker:to
Speaker:bring
Speaker:up
Speaker:the
Speaker:armadillo
Speaker:stuff.”
He
stops
Speaker:there
Speaker:as
Speaker:though
Speaker:that’s
Speaker:some
Speaker:big
Speaker:controversial
Speaker:landmine,
Speaker:cancer
Speaker:or
Speaker:something,
Speaker:and
Speaker:Mahari
Speaker:says, “Uh-huh?”
“Well,
he’s
Speaker:going
Speaker:to
Speaker:ask
Speaker:if
Speaker:you
Speaker:really
Speaker:believe
Speaker:all
Speaker:that
Speaker:stuff
Speaker:about
Speaker:armadillos.”
“Okay.”
The
Speaker:wolf
Speaker:shrugs. “That’s
Speaker:easy.”
“All
right.”
Speaker:Chuck
Speaker:gives
Speaker:him
Speaker:a
Speaker:smile. “He
Speaker:wanted
Speaker:to
Speaker:make
Speaker:sure
Speaker:you
Speaker:were
Speaker:prepared.
Speaker:Anything
Speaker:you
Speaker:want
Speaker:to
Speaker:talk
Speaker:about?”
“Just
my
Speaker:upcoming
Speaker:tour.
Speaker:And I
Speaker:got
Speaker:a
Speaker:confirmation
Speaker:from
Speaker:my
Speaker:agent
Speaker:that
Speaker:I
Speaker:can
Speaker:talk
Speaker:about
this:this:
I’m
this:putting a
this:special
this:together.”
“I’ll
let
this:Cris
this:know.
this:You
this:need
this:anything?
this:Water,
this:snacks?”
Mahari
shakes
this:his
this:head. “I’m
this:ready
this:to
this:go
this:on.”
“All right.
You’re
this:second,
this:after
this:Dana
this:Ross.
this:One
this:of
this:the
this:PAs
this:will
this:come
this:get you
this:when it’s
this:time.”
Then it’s just
waiting.
this:Half
this:an
this:hour,
this:forty-five
this:minutes.
this:He
this:watches
this:the
this:taping
this:on
this:the
this:monitor
this:in
this:the
this:room.
this:Moreno
this:seems
this:to
this:be
this:in
this:good
this:spirits
this:as
this:he
this:chats
this:with
this:Dana
this:Ross, an
this:attractive
this:antelope
this:actress
this:promoting
this:a
this:movie,
this:some
this:family
this:shit
this:about
this:kids
this:learning
this:to
this:value
this:each
this:other.
this:What
this:a
this:bunch
this:of
this:crap,
this:Mahari
this:thinks.
this:Movies
this:should
this:teach
this:kids
this:that
this:life
this:is
this:about
this:taking
this:whatever
this:you
this:can
this:whenever
this:you
this:can
this:get
this:it.
this:Nobody “valued”
this:him
this:to
this:a
this:million
this:YouTube
this:subscribers,
this:or
this:to the
this:Late
this:Show
this:green
this:room.
this:He
this:took
this:the
this:opportunity
this:and
this:put
this:himself
this:there.
this:He
this:earned
this:it.
A
young
this:otter
this:comes
this:back
this:to
this:the
this:green
this:room
this:to
this:lead
this:him
this:to
this:the
this:stage.
this:Moreno’s
this:still
this:chatting
this:with
this:Dana
this:Ross
this:when
this:he
this:gets
this:there,
this:and
this:for
this:a
this:moment
this:he
this:hesitates,
this:but
this:then
this:she
this:gets
this:up
this:and
this:lets him
this:sit
this:in
this:the
this:seat
this:next
this:to
this:the
this:host.
“Hey,”
he
this:says
this:to
this:Moreno. “It’s
this:a
this:real
this:pleasure
this:to
this:meet
this:you.”
The
red
this:fox
this:is
this:dressed as
this:stylishly
this:as
this:ever,
this:in a
this:navy
this:blue suit with a
this:pale
this:yellow
this:shirt and
this:one
this:of
this:his
this:trademark
this:garish
this:ties.
this:It’s
this:crazy
this:seeing
this:him
this:this
this:close,
this:where Mahari
this:can
this:see
this:his
this:whiskers,
this:the
this:scar
this:halfway
this:up
this:the
this:edge
this:of
this:one
this:ear,
this:the
this:amber
this:eyes whose
this:pupils
this:narrow
this:to
this:slits
this:under
this:the
this:bright
this:lights. “Good
this:to
this:meet
this:you,
this:too,”
this:the
this:fox
this:says,
this:cool,
this:studying
this:his
this:notes. “Chuck
this:told
this:you
this:what
this:we’re
this:talking
this:about?”
Mahari
feels
this:fifteen
this:again,
this:approaching
this:the
this:cool
this:kids
this:at
this:lunch
this:in
this:high
this:school,
this:cracking
this:a
this:joke,
this:being
this:ignored.
this:It’s
this:unfair;
this:he’s
this:been
this:selling
this:out
this:clubs
this:for
this:months
this:now.
this:He’s
this:got
this:a
this:special
this:in
this:the
this:works.
this:He’s
this:accomplished
this:things—sure,
this:not
this:as
this:much
this:as
this:Moreno,
this:sitting
this:here
this:in
this:the
this:twenty-first
this:year
this:of
this:hosting
this:his
this:show,
this:but
this:still.
this:He’s not
this:just some
this:young punk-ass wolf
this:from a middle-class suburb
this:of
this:Pelagia.
The
director
this:tells
this:Mahari
this:to
this:relax.
this:Then
this:the
this:guy
this:next
this:to
this:the
this:camera
this:counts
this:them
this:in
this:and Moreno
this:comes
this:alive
this:with
this:a
this:bright
this:smile. “Welcome
this:back.
this:I’m
this:here with Mahari Metzlan. Did I pronounce that
this:right?”
“Flawlessly.”
Mahari
this:smiles.
“Mahari,
your
this:act
this:has
this:exploded
this:over
this:the
this:last
this:six
this:months.
this:We’ve
this:got
this:a
this:lot
this:to
this:talk
this:about,
this:but
this:the
this:first
this:thing
this:I
this:want
this:to
this:ask
this:about
this:is
this:being
this:openly
this:gay.
this:How
this:has
this:that
this:affected
this:your
this:career?”
He
puts
this:on
this:a
this:winning
this:smile. “It
this:makes
this:sure
this:that
this:the
this:right
this:gender
this:comes
this:on to
this:me
this:after
this:the
this:shows.”
Laugh,
and
this:a
this:good
this:one.
this:He
this:lets his tail
this:wag as Moreno lets him
this:talk
this:about his
this:groupies
this:a
this:little, then
this:steers
this:the
this:conversation
this:to
this:gay
this:rights.
this:They
this:agree
this:that it’s
this:becoming
this:less
this:an
this:issue,
this:and
this:Mahari
this:talks
this:briefly
this:about
this:the
this:comedians
this:who
this:came
this:out
this:and
this:paved
this:the
this:way
this:for
this:them.
this:The
this:respect
this:is
this:sincere;
this:he
this:tells
this:the
this:story
this:of
this:thinking
this:about
this:Polly
this:Madison (her
this:stage
this:name)
this:and
this:her
this:coming-out
this:when
this:he
this:was
this:deciding
this:whether
this:to
this:be
this:public
this:himself.
Moreno
appreciates
this:that,
this:he
this:can
this:tell, and
this:he
this:thinks
this:he’s
this:forging
this:a
this:real
this:connection
this:with the
this:fox.
this:Like
this:maybe
this:a
this:he’ll-get-asked-back
this:kind
this:of
this:connection.
this:And
this:then
this:the
this:fox
this:says, “And
this:I
this:want
this:to
this:touch
this:on
this:the
this:most
this:popular
this:part
this:of
this:your
this:act,
this:these
this:armadillo
this:jokes.”
A
few
this:people
this:in
this:the
this:crowd
this:hoot;
this:more are
this:silent. “They’re
this:not
this:popular
this:everywhere,
this:I
this:guess,”
this:Mahari quips.
“But
you’ve
this:done
this:quite
this:well
this:with
this:them.
this:Tell
this:us
this:a
this:bit
this:about
this:how
this:that
this:happened.
this:Did an
this:armadillo
this:steal
this:your
this:boyfriend?”
“No,”
he
this:says, “that
this:was
this:a
this:stag.”
this:Part
this:of
this:him
this:hopes
this:Gary’s
this:watching
this:somewhere,
this:ears
this:flat. “No,
this:it
this:was
this:just…you
this:know,
this:when
this:you’re
this:workshopping
this:material,
this:you
this:want
this:to
this:give
this:everything
this:a
this:shot.
this:There
this:are
this:a
this:couple
this:guys
this:and
this:gals,”
this:he
this:won’t
this:name
this:them, “who
this:pulled
this:grade
this:school
this:jokes
this:and
this:updated
this:them,
this:and
this:they
this:played
this:well. Look, it’s
this:not,
this:like,
this:humor
this:you
this:need
this:two
this:college
this:degrees
this:to
this:understand,
this:but
this:everyone
this:wants
this:to
this:laugh,
this:right?
this:So
this:I
this:pulled
this:up
this:some
this:grade
this:school
this:jokes
this:we
this:told
this:about
this:armadillos.”
“Isn’t that
speciesism?”
He’s
ready
this:for
this:this.
this:He
this:sits
this:up
this:in
this:the
this:chair. “Some
this:people
this:say
this:that.
this:But
this:I’m
this:telling
this:them
this:as
this:satire.”
“Satire
of
this:what?”
“Of
actual
this:speciesism.
this:The
this:jokes
this:are
this:so
this:ridiculous,
this:I
this:mean,
this:nobody
this:would
this:take
this:them
this:seriously.”
Moreno
nods
this:and
this:taps a
this:mechanical
this:pencil
this:against
this:his
this:water
this:glass. The
this:clicking
this:is
this:probably
this:louder
this:to
this:him
this:than
this:to
this:Mahari,
this:but
this:it
this:still
this:irritates
this:Mahari.
“It
seems
this:like
this:some
this:of
this:the
this:people
this:who
this:comment
this:on
this:your
this:videos
this:take
this:them
this:seriously.”
Shit,
he
this:read
this:the
this:comments?
this:Who
this:reads
this:the
this:comments? “Look,
this:if
this:you
this:get
this:your
this:political
this:thinking
this:from
this:a
this:second-rate
this:comedian,
this:then
this:it’s
this:bound
this:to
this:be
this:laughable.”
Behind
him,
this:Dana
this:Ross
this:says, “I
this:think
this:it’s
this:cruel.”
Mahari
turns,
this:feeling
this:stabbed
this:in
this:the
this:back. “What?”
“There
are
this:armadillos
this:in
this:my
this:crew.
this:Four
this:sisters.
this:They’re
this:great.”
“And
you
this:don’t
this:think
this:it’s
this:a
this:little
this:weird
this:that
this:they’re four
this:identical
this:sisters?”
She
hesitates. “A
this:little?”
He
turns
this:back
this:to
this:Moreno. “That’s
this:all
this:I’m
this:saying.
this:I’m
this:pointing
this:out
this:the
this:weirdness
this:in
this:all
this:of
this:us
this:by
this:focusing
this:on
this:one
this:of
this:us.”
Tap
tap
this:tap. “So
this:you’d
this:be
this:okay,”
this:the
this:fox
this:says, “with
this:someone
this:doing
this:a
this:comedy
this:act
this:about
this:how
this:weird
this:gay
this:people
this:are?”
“You
mean
this:like
this:every
this:other
this:comedian
this:in the
this:seventies?”
this:Mahari
this:has
this:no
this:idea
this:if
this:this
this:is
this:actually
this:true,
this:but
this:he’s
this:seen
this:clips
this:of
this:some
this:pretty
this:homophobic
this:acts
this:from
this:that
this:era.
“Sure.”
The
this:fox
this:smiles. “You’re
this:saying
this:your
this:comedy
this:is
this:forty
this:years
this:out
this:of
this:date?”
Dammit. Mahari
laughs,
this:giving
this:the
this:host
this:credit
this:for
this:the
this:joke. “I’m
this:saying
this:that
this:if
this:we
this:can’t
this:laugh
this:at
this:our
this:differences,
this:then
this:we’ll
this:never
this:be
this:able
this:to
this:have
this:a
this:discussion
this:about
this:them.”
“It
seems
this:like
this:laughing
this:at
this:them
this:is
this:just
this:another
this:way
this:to
this:avoid
this:having
this:a
this:discussion
this:about
this:them.”
this:Moreno
this:sits
this:back
this:before
this:Mahari
this:can
this:respond. “Mahari Metzlan,
this:ladies
this:and
this:gentlemen,
this:a
this:very
this:funny
this:wolf
this:who
this:has
this:a
this:thing
this:for
this:armadillos.”
this:He
this:sneaks
this:a
this:sideways glance
this:at Mahari. “Maybe
this:someone
this:around
this:here
this:can
this:set
this:up
this:a
this:five-way
this:for
this:him.
this:He
this:has
this:a
this:special
this:coming
this:up
this:and
this:is touring the
this:country.
this:Check
this:him
this:out.
this:We’ll
this:be
this:right
this:back.”
“Clear,”
announces
this:the
this:guy
this:by
this:the
this:camera
this:two
this:seconds
this:later.
“Hey.” Mahari
leans
this:over
this:the
this:desk to
this:where
this:Moreno
this:is scribbling notes on his pad. “You have a
this:problem
this:with
this:my
this:act?”
The fox flicks an ear
and
this:doesn’t
this:look
this:up. “Was
this:that
this:not
this:clear?”
“What,
you
this:think
this:I’m
this:a
this:speciesist?”
“Do
you
this:believe
this:the
this:things
this:you’re
this:making
this:jokes
this:about?”
this:Moreno
this:makes
this:another
this:note
this:and
this:takes
this:a
this:drink,
this:still
this:without
this:looking
this:at
this:Mahari.
this:He
this:waits for an
this:answer.
“I…they’re
jokes.”
this:Aware
this:of
this:the
this:audience,
this:aware
this:of
this:Moreno,
this:he
this:can’t
this:say
this:he
this:doesn’t
this:believe
this:it
this:and
this:he
this:doesn’t
this:want
this:to
this:say
this:he
this:does.
this:He
this:finds
this:in
this:this
this:moment
this:that
this:he
this:doesn’t
this:know
this:what
this:the
this:truth
this:is.
this:He’s
this:never
this:really
this:thought
this:about
this:armadillos
this:outside
this:of
this:his
this:jokes.
this:They
this:might
this:be
this:shifty
this:lazy
this:immigrants.
this:Some
this:of
this:them
this:probably
this:are.
this:At
this:least
this:one
this:or
this:two.
“I
think
this:you’re
this:an
this:opportunist.
this:I
this:think
this:you
this:found
this:something
this:that
this:makes
this:you
this:a
this:lot
this:of
this:money
this:and
this:you’re
this:chasing
this:it
this:regardless
this:of
this:who
this:gets
this:hurt.”
“Like you
wouldn’t
this:do
this:the
this:same.”
this:The
this:wolf
this:sits
this:back,
this:trying
this:to
this:hide
this:the
this:crushing
this:disappointment
this:and
this:confusion in
this:his
this:chest.
“I
wouldn’t.
this:I
this:haven’t.”
“You’ve
got
this:me
this:on
this:your
this:show,”
this:Mahari
this:says,
this:sulkily triumphant. Moreno’s
this:not better
this:than
this:him. “So
this:if
this:I’m
this:doing
this:it,
this:then
this:you’re
this:doing
this:it
this:too,
this:by
this:cashing
this:in
this:on
this:my
this:popularity.”
Now
the
this:fox
this:puts
this:down
this:his
this:pencil
this:and
this:looks
this:him
this:in
this:the
this:eye. “I
this:don’t
this:control all
this:the
this:bookings.
this:But
this:I
this:told
this:them
this:you
this:weren’t
this:going
this:to
this:do
this:any
this:of
this:your
this:material
this:on
this:the
this:show.
this:I
this:think
this:you’re
this:an
this:interesting
this:person,
this:and
this:I
this:wanted
this:to
this:talk
this:to
this:you
this:about
this:your
this:act.
this:It’s
this:clear
this:that
this:you
this:don’t
this:understand
this:what
this:you’re
this:doing
this:or
this:how
this:it
this:hurts
this:people.”
“The
only
this:people
this:it
this:hurts,”
this:Mahari
this:says, “are
this:butthurt
this:liberals
this:who
this:don’t
this:have
this:a
this:sense
this:of
this:humor.
this:I
this:didn’t
this:think
this:you
this:were
this:one
this:of
this:those.”
this:And
this:because
this:he
this:worries
this:that
this:he
this:might
this:explode
this:either
this:in
this:tears
this:or in rage if he stays a moment longer, he
this:gets
this:up
this:and
this:walks
this:off
this:the
this:stage.
*
Of
course
this:someone
this:in
this:the
this:audience
this:had
this:their
this:phone
this:out,
this:and
this:of
this:course it
this:goes
this:viral.
this:Within
this:a
this:week, his
this:booking
this:venues are
this:changed to
this:places
this:with
this:twice
this:the
this:capacity.
this:He
this:gets
this:asked
this:onto
this:a
this:couple
this:right-wing
this:radio
this:shows and
this:onto
this:one
this:right-wing
this:TV
this:show,
this:and
this:he
this:accepts
this:them
this:all.
this:The
this:TV
this:show
this:just
this:talks
this:about
this:his
this:jokes
this:and how
this:liberals
this:don’t
this:have
this:a
this:sense
this:of
this:humor,
this:and
this:that’s
this:fine,
this:but
this:the
this:first
this:radio
this:show
this:makes
this:him feel
this:uncomfortable
this:in
this:a
this:way
this:he
this:can’t
this:articulate.
Where
Moreno
this:was
this:needling
this:him
this:in
this:a
this:way
this:that
this:felt
this:uncomfortable,
this:the
this:hosts
this:of “Union
this:of
this:Friends”
this:gush
this:over
this:him
this:and
this:praise
this:him
this:in
this:a
this:way
this:that
this:feels
this:oddly
this:just
this:as
this:bad.
this:It’s
this:easier
this:to
this:deal
this:with,
this:because
this:he
this:doesn’t
this:know
this:them
this:and
this:honestly
this:doesn’t
this:give
this:a
this:shit
this:what
this:they
this:think
this:of
this:him,
this:so
this:he
this:can
this:smile
this:when
this:they
this:call
this:him “the
this:voice
this:of
this:the
this:people”
this:and
this:nod. And
this:even
this:though
this:they
this:never
this:bring
this:up
this:his
this:line
this:about
this:getting
this:politics
this:from a
this:second-rate
this:comedian,
this:he
this:thinks
this:about
this:it
this:a
this:lot.
this:They
this:don’t
this:ask
this:him
this:whether
this:he
this:believes
this:the
this:jokes
this:he
this:tells
this:are
this:true,
this:but
this:it’s
this:because
this:they
this:take
this:it
this:as a
this:given
this:that
this:he
this:does.
this:He
this:cancels
this:the
this:next
this:radio
this:show
this:appearance,
this:pleading
this:illness.
The
meeting
this:about
this:the
this:special,
this:early
this:the
this:next
this:month,
this:is
this:bumpy.
this:Two
this:of
this:the
this:guys (one
this:is
this:a
this:vixen,
this:but
this:they
this:all
this:four
this:talk and act
this:so
this:similar
this:that
this:they
this:blend
this:for
this:him
this:into “network
this:guys”
this:of
this:indeterminate
this:species)
this:like
this:his
this:popularity
this:and
this:want
this:to
this:get
this:him in
this:for
this:a
this:pilot
this:as
this:soon
this:as
this:possible.
this:The
this:other
this:two
this:don’t
this:want
this:to
this:give
this:him
this:a
this:vehicle,
this:but
this:not
this:necessarily
this:because
this:they
this:disagree
this:with
this:his
this:comedy. “Remember
this:the duck hunters?”
this:one
this:says. “We
this:don’t
this:want
this:to
this:dump
this:a
this:lot
this:of
this:money
this:into
this:this
this:thing
this:only to
this:have
this:him
this:say
this:something
this:about
this:some
this:loud
this:minority
this:group
this:and
this:then
this:force
this:us
this:to
this:pull
this:him.”
“The
Armadillos
this:United
this:people
this:have
this:already
this:protested.”
“What’s
their
this:reach?”
“Negligible.”
“Okay, but
what
this:if he offends
this:someone with reach?”
“Look,”
Mahari’s
this:agent
this:breaks
this:in, “my
this:client
this:isn’t
this:in
this:the
this:business
this:of
this:offending
this:people.
this:He’s
this:in
this:the
this:business
this:of
this:speaking
this:truth
this:to
this:power.”
“What
power?”
this:one
this:of
this:the
this:suits
this:says. “Kit
this:just
this:said
this:their
this:reach
this:is
this:negligible.”
“The
power
this:of
this:free
this:speech,”
this:his
this:agent
this:says.
This
doesn’t
this:reassure
this:them.
this:Eventually
this:the
this:meeting
this:just
this:sort
this:of
this:ends,
this:and
this:his
this:agent
this:tells
this:him
this:that the
this:four suits
this:will
this:circle
this:back
this:and
this:there’ll
this:be
this:another
this:meeting
this:in
this:a
this:month
this:or
this:so. “That’s
this:how
this:things
this:get
this:done
this:in
this:Hollywood,”
this:she reassures
this:him.
The
second
this:meeting
this:goes
this:a
this:little
this:better.
this:Four
this:more
this:suits
this:come
this:in,
this:three
this:female,
this:split
this:on Mahari’s prospects, but the ones
this:in
this:favor of
this:him
this:seem
this:to
this:be
this:a
this:little
this:more
this:high
this:up.
this:Again
this:his
this:agent
this:tells
this:him
this:it’ll
this:be
this:another couple
this:weeks
this:once
this:that
this:meeting
this:ends. “I’ve
this:got
this:this,”
this:she
this:reassures
this:him. “Go
this:do
this:your
this:tour.”
He
wants
this:to
this:ask
this:her
this:for
this:another
this:meeting.
this:He
this:has
this:the
this:feeling
this:that the
this:suits
this:are
this:just
this:looking
this:at
this:his
this:comedy, that
this:if
this:they
this:just get
this:to
this:know
this:him,
this:they’ll
this:like
this:him.
this:He
this:wants
this:to
this:ask
this:her
this:if
this:the
this:armadillo
this:jokes
this:are
this:bad,
this:if
this:he’s a
this:bad
this:person
this:and
this:that’s
this:why
this:the
this:suits
this:don’t
this:want
this:him
this:to
this:have
this:a
this:special,
this:but
this:he
this:knows
this:what
this:she’ll
this:say.
this:She
this:likes
this:the
this:money
this:as
this:much
this:as
this:he
this:does,
this:and
this:bringing
this:in
this:money
this:isn’t
this:bad.
this:It’s
this:good.
He’s
been
this:touring
this:all
this:this
this:time,
this:hitting
this:big
this:venues
this:in
this:the
this:south
this:and
this:even
this:a
this:few
this:big
this:ones
this:in
this:cities.
this:He’s
this:learned
this:to
this:cut
this:the
this:armadillo
this:material
this:down
this:in
this:the
this:cities
this:and
this:bring
this:out
this:more
this:of
this:the
this:anti-government
this:stuff, and
this:those
this:shows
this:go
this:better.
But
it’s
this:in
this:the
this:small
this:towns
this:that
this:he
this:gets
this:the
this:best
this:receptions,
this:roaring
this:audiences,
this:standing
this:ovations, and
this:the
this:love
this:washes
this:over
this:him.
this:He
this:doesn’t
this:wonder
this:then
this:whether he’s
this:a
this:good
this:person or
this:not.
this:All
this:those
this:questions
this:aren’t
this:answered
this:by
this:the
this:ovations
this:so
this:much
this:as
this:washed
this:away
this:by
this:them.
*
It
ends
this:in
this:the
this:southwest,
this:in
this:one
this:of
this:those
this:renovated
this:theaters
this:from
this:the
this:fifties,
this:velvet
this:upholstery
this:and
this:thick
this:purple
this:curtains,
this:elaborate
this:wooden
this:balustrades
this:and a
this:gaudy
this:chandelier, a
this:theater
this:built
this:in
this:the
this:flush
this:of
this:oil
this:money
this:which
this:has
this:since
this:dried
this:up.
this:Thanks
this:to a
this:determined
this:historical
this:society,
this:the
this:kangaroo
this:rat
this:who
this:manages
this:the
this:theater
this:tells
this:him,
this:the theater
this:has
this:been
this:returned
this:to
this:its
this:former
this:glory.
And
now
this:hosts
this:a
this:second-rate
this:comedian,
this:Mahari
this:thinks,
this:but
this:it’s
this:gorgeous
this:and
this:he
this:kills
this:it
this:out
this:there
this:on
this:stage.
this:A
this:second-rate
this:comedian
this:maybe,
this:but
this:still
this:successful
this:enough
this:to
this:keep
this:the
this:apartment
this:when
this:Chet
this:moved
this:out
this:a
this:month
this:ago,
this:to
this:be
this:able
this:to
this:pay
this:Koro to
this:write
this:some
this:jokes
this:for
this:him.
this:He
this:offered
this:to
this:have
this:the
this:mouse
this:open
this:for
this:him
this:on
this:the
this:road,
this:but
this:Koro
this:wouldn’t
this:do
this:that
this:and
this:wouldn’t
this:say
this:why.
this:He
this:didn’t
this:really
this:have
this:to.
this:His
this:loss,
this:Mahari
this:thinks with
this:every
this:show,
this:especially
this:here
this:where he
this:plays to a
this:packed
this:house and gets called
this:back
this:out for his encore,
this:all
this:those
this:things
this:that
this:keep
this:his
this:tail
this:arched
this:high.
Feeling
good,
this:he
this:goes
this:out
this:back
this:to where the
this:groupies
this:always
this:wait.
this:There’s
this:only
this:a
this:few
this:of
this:them—the
this:problem with the
this:small towns who
this:love him
this:is that
this:they’re
this:not
this:so
this:hot
this:on
this:the
this:gay
this:thing,
this:but
this:usually
this:there
this:are
this:a
this:few who
this:are
this:out
this:these
this:days.
this:He
this:isn’t
this:really
this:sure
this:if
this:he’s
this:in
this:the
this:mood
this:for
this:one
this:tonight,
this:and
this:none
this:of
this:the
this:three
this:are
this:particularly
this:hot.
this:He
this:signs
this:autographs
this:and
this:chats
this:with
this:them,
this:and
this:is
this:close
this:to
this:calling
this:it
this:quits
this:for the night
this:when
this:a
this:big
this:brown
this:rat
this:comes
this:up
this:to
this:the
this:group.
“Hey,” he says. “Metzlan. C’mon, I want to show you
something.”
Mahari eyes him.
Big,
this:young,
this:probably got
this:muscles
this:and
this:is
this:in
this:pretty
this:good
this:shape.
this:Shitty
this:dresser, but
this:with
this:his
this:clothes
this:off
this:it won’t
this:matter.
this:And
this:he’s
this:direct,
this:which
this:is a
this:good
this:counter
this:to
this:the
this:wolf’s
this:apathy.
this:Maybe
this:he’s
this:a
this:top,
this:which
this:would
this:be
this:a
this:nice
this:change
this:of
this:pace. “Sure,
this:okay.
this:G’night,
this:you
this:guys,
this:thanks
this:for
this:coming
this:around.”
He
leaves
this:three
this:disappointed
this:muzzles
this:and
this:follows
this:the rat down
this:a
this:back
this:alley
this:and
this:around
this:a
this:corner. “Me
this:and
this:my
this:friends,
this:we’re
this:huge
this:fans,”
this:he
this:says. “Dude,
this:you
this:say
this:things
this:nobody
this:else
this:dares
this:to,
this:you
this:really
this:just…”
this:He
this:smacks a
this:fist
this:into
this:his
this:paw. “You
this:lay
this:it
this:right
this:out
this:there.”
“Thanks.”
The rat
this:smells
this:like
this:exertion
this:and
this:greasy
this:food.
this:Mahari
this:wonders
this:where
this:they’re
this:going.
this:The guy’s
this:car?
this:A
this:hotel?
this:This
this:isn’t
this:a
this:real
this:residential
this:area. “It’s
this:always
this:nice
this:to
this:know
this:you’ve
this:made
this:a
this:difference.”
“Oh
yeah.”
this:The rat
this:chuckles
this:deeply. “Hey,
this:Rudy,”
this:he
this:calls ahead. “I
this:got
this:him.”
“Awesome.”
A
this:wolf
this:appears
this:out
this:of
this:the
this:shadows,
this:a
this:grey
this:wolf
this:like
this:Mahari but
this:with
this:darker
this:fur
this:and
this:wider
this:shoulders. “Hey.”
this:The
this:wolf extends
this:a
this:paw. “It’s a
this:real
this:pleasure
this:to
this:meet
this:you.”
This
isn’t
this:going
this:to
this:be
this:a
this:three-way,
this:Mahari
this:understands. “Thanks.”
this:He
this:matches
this:the
this:wolf’s
this:firm
this:grip
this:as best he can, and
this:now,
this:up
this:close,
this:he
this:catches
this:a
this:whiff
this:of…blood?
this:His
this:hackles
this:rise. “What’s
this:going
this:on?”
“Oh,
you
this:inspired
this:us.
this:We
this:went
this:out
this:and
this:did
this:what
this:you
this:told
this:us
this:to.”
this:The
this:wolf’s
this:teeth
this:gleam
this:in
this:the
this:dimness
this:of
this:the
this:alley. “With
this:what
this:we
this:did
this:they’ll
this:be
this:able
this:to
this:tell
this:him
this:apart
this:from
this:the
this:other
this:three
this:now.”
The
rat
this:guffaws;
this:clearly
this:they’ve
this:prepared
this:this
this:joke.
this:Mahari
this:shakes
this:his
this:head. “What
this:are
this:you
this:talking
this:about?”
“An
armadillo!”
this:The
this:wolf
this:gestures
this:for him to follow. “Come
this:on,
this:he’s
this:just
this:down
this:the
this:alley
this:here.
this:You
this:can
this:get
this:in
this:a
this:couple
this:kicks
this:too.”
Kicks? “What,”
he
this:croaks,
this:loses
this:his
this:voice,
this:swallows, tries
this:again.
this:Past the wolf,
this:the
this:alley is
this:dark
this:and
this:there’s
this:a
this:corner.
this:There
this:are
this:shapes;
this:one
this:of
this:them
this:might
this:be
this:a
this:person
this:with a
this:rounded
this:shell.
this:Or
this:it
this:might
this:just
this:be
this:bags
this:of
this:trash. “Kicks?”
Their
smiles
this:vanish. “These
this:things
this:come
this:here
this:illegally,
this:take
this:our
this:jobs,
this:have
this:four goddamn
this:kits
this:at
this:a
this:time.”
this:The
this:rat
this:glares
this:at
this:him. “Replacing
this:us.
this:Like
this:you
this:said. We
this:figured
this:you’d
this:understand.
this:Hell,
this:you
this:told
this:us
this:to
this:crack
this:some
this:shells.
this:So
this:we
this:did.”
“I,”
his
this:voice
this:rises, “I
this:didn’t
this:tell
this:you
this:to—to—"
“Sure
you
this:did.
this:I
this:got
this:the
this:video.
this:You
this:said
this:you
this:wanted
this:to
this:crack
this:one
this:of
this:their
this:shells,
this:just
this:once.
this:No
this:wait.
this:It
this:was
this:like,
this:you
this:said
this:you
this:were
this:making
this:an
this:omelette.”
The
wolf
this:breaks in. “You’re fucking it up, asshole. He said you
this:can’t
this:make
this:an
this:omelette
this:without
this:cracking
this:some
this:shells.”
He
remembers
this:that
this:now, from
this:a
this:few
this:months
this:ago.
this:He’d
this:gotten
this:carried
this:away
this:at
this:a
this:gig
this:and
this:his
this:agent
this:had
this:told
this:him
this:to
this:cut
this:back
this:on
this:anything
this:that
this:might
this:suggest
this:physical
this:violence.
this:It
this:was
this:just
this:a
this:metaphor,
this:he’d
this:told
this:her
this:at
this:the
this:time.
this:Anyone
this:with
this:half
this:a
this:brain
this:can
this:see
this:that.
“He’s
pussyin’
this:out
this:on
this:us.” The wolf
this:looks
this:up
this:to
this:the
this:rat
this:and
this:steps
this:back. “Come
this:on,
this:let’s
this:go
this:before
this:he
this:calls
this:the
this:cops
this:or something.”
The rat gives Mahari
a long,
this:disappointed
this:look. “Dude,
this:I
this:thought
this:you
this:understood,”
this:he
this:says.
this:For
this:a
this:moment,
this:Mahari
this:is
this:genuinely
this:afraid
this:they’re
this:going
this:to
this:crack
this:his
this:shell,
this:metaphorically.
this:They’re
this:both
this:bigger
this:than
this:he
this:is
this:and
this:there’s
this:nobody
this:else
this:around.
this:But
this:they
this:just
this:walk
this:away.
The
police.
this:Mahari
this:should
this:call
this:the
this:police,
this:get
this:them
this:a
this:picture
this:of
this:the
this:rat
this:and
this:wolf.
this:But
this:the
this:alley
this:is
this:dark, and
this:by
this:the
this:time
this:he
this:has
this:the
this:phone
this:out,
this:they’re
this:too
this:far
this:away
this:to
this:show
this:up
this:in
this:any
this:useful
this:capacity.
this:He
this:might
this:as well
this:just
this:have
this:taken
this:a
this:picture
this:of
this:a
this:couple
this:strangers
this:walking
this:by.
His
paws
this:shake
this:as
this:he
this:puts
this:the
this:phone
this:away.
this:He
this:should
this:call
this:the
this:police
this:anyway,
this:should
this:report
this:this
this:crime.
this:But,
this:he
this:thinks,
this:then
this:he’d
this:have
this:to
this:go
this:over
this:and
this:see
this:if
this:that
this:pile
this:is
this:actually
this:a
this:person
this:who
this:needs
this:help.
this:And
this:what
this:excuse
this:would
this:he
this:have
this:for
this:having
this:found
this:the
this:guy,
this:if
this:that
this:is
this:a
this:guy? “Right,”
this:he
this:imagines
this:the
this:officer
this:saying,
this:looming
this:over
this:him
this:in
this:an
this:interrogation
this:room, “and
this:what
this:were
this:you
this:doing
this:walking
this:in
this:that
this:old
this:alley
this:that
this:time
this:of
this:night?”
He
could
this:tell
this:them
this:about
this:the
this:rat
this:and
this:wolf,
this:the two
this:guys
this:he
this:wouldn’t
this:be
this:able
this:to
this:identify
this:again.
this:But
this:because
this:of
this:his
this:material,
this:the
this:cops
this:would
this:think
this:he
this:had
this:something
this:to
this:do
this:with
this:it,
this:like
this:he
this:put
this:them
this:up
this:to
this:it.
this:But
this:he
this:didn’t.
this:He’s a
this:good
this:person.
this:Those
this:two
this:assholes—those
this:violent
this:assholes—they
this:would’ve
this:beaten
this:up
this:someone
this:no
this:matter
this:what.
this:They
this:just
this:happened
this:to
this:listen
this:to
this:him
this:and
this:picked
this:an
this:armadillo. If
this:they’d
this:been
this:listening
this:to
this:some
this:other
this:show,
this:they
this:might’ve
this:picked
this:a
this:chinchilla.
(Or
a
this:gay
this:guy.)
No,
he
this:has to
this:just
this:distance
this:himself,
this:and
this:the
this:sooner
this:and
this:faster
this:the
this:better.
this:So
this:he
this:hightails
this:it
this:out
this:of
this:the
this:alley
this:and
this:back
this:to
this:his
this:hotel,
this:going
this:in
this:the
this:side
this:door so
this:the
this:front
this:desk
this:won’t
this:see
this:him
this:come
this:in.
this:Paranoid,
this:he
this:chides
this:himself,
this:but
this:he
this:still
this:breathes
this:a
this:sigh
this:of
this:relief
this:when
this:he
this:made
this:it
this:to
this:his
this:room
this:without
this:being
this:seen.
But
a
this:few
this:days
this:later,
this:at his next
this:show,
this:when
this:he
this:starts
this:doing
this:the
this:armadillo
this:jokes,
this:he
this:falters
this:and can’t
this:do
this:the
this:set.
this:He
this:apologizes
this:and
this:does
this:some
this:of
this:his
this:newer
this:material,
this:and
this:the
this:crowd
this:applauds
this:politely,
this:still
this:enough
this:for
this:an
this:encore.
this:Just
this:another
this:day
this:or
this:two,
this:he
this:thinks,
this:and he’ll
this:have
this:his
this:confidence
this:back.
*
But
it’s
this:not
this:the
this:same. The
this:tour
this:fizzles
this:out
this:as
this:news
this:spreads
this:that
this:he’s
this:not doing the armadillo
this:bit
this:anymore,
this:and
this:the
this:dwindling
this:crowds
this:at
this:each
this:show
this:still
this:yell, “Do
this:the
this:armadillo
this:jokes!”
this:His
this:agent
this:tells
this:him
this:the
this:TV
this:suits
this:asked
this:if
this:the
this:armadillo
this:stuff
this:will
this:be
this:in
this:the
this:special
this:and
this:he
this:tells
this:her
this:no.
this:She
this:asks
this:if
this:he
this:wants
this:to
this:reconsider
this:and
this:he
this:hangs
this:up
this:on
this:her.
Mahari
drinks
this:more
this:after
this:his
this:shows,
this:and
this:thinks
this:it
this:isn’t
this:fair
this:that
this:his
this:career
this:is
this:suffering
this:because
this:two
this:small-town
this:assholes
this:can’t
this:tell
this:comedy
this:from
this:real
this:life.
this:He
this:tried
this:to
this:look
this:up
this:assault
this:records to
this:see
this:if
this:an
this:armadillo
this:really
this:did
this:get
this:beaten
this:up
this:in
this:that
this:town,
this:and
this:he
this:can’t
this:find
this:out
this:for
this:sure.
this:He
this:gets
this:angry
this:at
this:the
this:guys
this:either
this:for
this:lying
this:or
this:for
this:being
this:violent
this:assholes;
this:angry
this:at
this:the
this:crowds yelling
this:for
this:the
this:jokes
this:even
this:though a
this:guy
this:got
this:beaten
this:up,
this:for
this:fuck’s sake,
this:maybe;
this:angry
this:at
this:himself
this:for
this:not
this:sticking
this:to
this:his
this:guns
this:and
this:telling
this:the
this:jokes;
this:angry
this:at
this:himself
this:for
this:coming
this:up
this:with
this:them
this:in
this:the
this:first
this:place. The
this:laughs
this:aren’t
this:coming,
this:and
this:remembering
this:the
this:high
this:when
this:he’d
this:coast
this:on
this:waves
this:of laughter from
this:his
this:first
this:word
this:to
this:the
this:thunderous
this:applause at
this:the
this:end
this:of
this:shows
this:makes
this:him
this:feel
this:worse.
He
remembers
this:something
this:one
this:of
this:his
this:mentors
this:told
this:him
this:about
this:audiences.
this:They’re
this:like
this:a
this:big
this:dumb
this:animal,
this:always
this:hungry
this:for
this:something.
this:They’re
this:looking
this:to
this:you
this:for
this:comedy
this:food,
this:and
this:sometimes
this:the
this:stuff
this:they
this:think
this:they
this:want
this:isn’t
this:good
this:for
this:them.
this:It’s
this:up
this:to
this:you
this:to
this:decide
this:what
this:to
this:feed
this:them.
A
couple
this:other
this:comedians
this:picked
this:up
this:the
this:armadillo
this:shtick
this:when
this:he
this:got
this:hot,
this:but
this:they’re
this:terrible;
this:the
this:better
this:ones
this:stayed
this:away.
this:Out
this:of
this:professional
this:courtesy,
this:he
this:thought
this:at
this:the
this:time,
this:but
this:now
this:he
this:wonders
this:if
this:it
this:wasn’t
this:something
this:more.
this:As
this:word
this:spreads
this:that
this:Mahari’s
this:not
this:doing
this:it
this:anymore,
this:two
this:or
this:three
this:mediocre
this:guys
this:try
this:to
this:add
this:armadillo
this:material,
this:proving
this:a
this:point
this:one
this:of
this:his
this:other
this:mentors
made:made:
if
made:you
made:don’t
made:make
made:the
made:joke,
made:someone
made:else
made:will.
made:Mahari
made:holds
made:this in his
made:mind
made:and
made:tries
made:one
made:last
made:time
made:to
made:do
made:the bit at a club in Mesa Alto, but his
made:gorge
made:rises
made:and
made:he
made:switches
made:quickly
made:to
made:gay
made:relationship
made:jokes.
Then
there’s
made:a
made:club
made:in
made:Date
made:Springs, a
made:quiet
made:resort
made:town.
made:An
made:armadillo’s
made:behind
made:the
made:bar,
made:and
made:when
made:he
made:sees
made:that,
made:Mahari
made:slides a
made:fifty
made:across
made:the
made:bar
made:when
made:he
made:gets
made:his
made:club
made:soda.
made:It’s
made:more
made:than
made:he
made:should
made:tip,
made:a
made:significant
made:chunk
made:of
made:what
made:he’ll
made:make
made:tonight,
made:but
made:he
made:doesn’t
made:think
made:about
made:that.
made:The
made:armadillo
made:looks
made:at
made:him
made:steadily
made:and
made:pushes
made:the
made:fifty
made:back.
Mahari
scowls
made:and
made:feels
made:like
made:shit,
made:and is
made:angry
made:at
made:the
made:guy
made:for
made:making
made:him
made:feel
made:like
made:shit.
made:He’s
made:trying
made:to
made:be
made:a
made:good
made:person.
made:How
made:the
made:hell
made:is
made:he
made:supposed
made:to
made:do
made:it
made:if
made:they
made:won’t
made:let
made:him?
made:He
made:goes up
made:to do
made:his
made:bit,
made:and
made:there’s
made:more
made:of
made:an
made:edge
made:to
made:it,
made:like
made:there’s
made:been
made:to
made:a
made:lot
made:of
made:his
made:material
made:lately.
made:The
made:material
made:doesn’t
made:make
made:him
made:feel
made:good
made:anymore,
made:even
made:the
made:stuff
made:that
made:got
made:laughs
made:between
made:the
made:armadillo
made:jokes.
made:Those
made:bits
made:doesn’t
made:get
made:laughs
made:now,
made:not
made:really,
made:not
made:like
made:they
made:used
made:to.
made:So
made:hey,
made:he
made:might
made:as
made:well
made:use
made:them
made:to
made:let
made:out
made:some
made:of
made:his
made:frustration,
made:right?
made:Comedy
made:is
made:therapy,
made:isn’t
made:that
made:what
made:they
made:say?
When
a
made:big
made:cat
made:in
made:the
made:front
made:yells, “Armadillos!”
made:Mahari
made:explodes
made:at
made:him.
“That
about
made:figures,”
made:he
made:snaps. “The
made:guys
made:who want
made:to
made:hear
made:the
made:armadillo
made:jokes
made:can’t
made:even
made:form
made:complete
made:sentences.”
made:He
made:lets
made:his
made:jaw
made:hang
made:slack
made:and
made:unfocuses
made:his
made:eyes,
made:doing
made:a
made:very
made:unflattering
made:impression
made:of
made:the
made:guy. “Aaaaarmadilloooooooos!”
The crowd
laughs;
made:the
made:guy
made:sort
made:of
made:chuckles.
made:He’s
made:a jaguar, Mahari sees
made:now.
made:Not
made:terribly
made:unusual,
made:but
made:not
made:common.
made:Weren’t there
made:jokes
made:he
made:knew
made:about
made:some
made:species
made:being
made:dumb?
made:Was
made:it
made:jaguars?
made:He
made:could
made:work
made:with
made:that.
made:Something
like:like:
I
like:guess
like:this
like:guy
like:didn’t
like:make
like:it to
like:third
like:grade
like:where
like:they
like:taught
like:verbs.
like:Come
like:to
like:think
like:of
like:it,
like:there
like:was
like:a
like:jaguar
like:in
like:my
like:grade
like:school
like:and
like:I’m
like:pretty
like:sure
like:he
like:was
like:drunk
like:the
like:whole
like:time.
like:Jaguars,
like:am
like:I
like:right?
He hears
the
like:riffs,
like:feels
like:the
like:wash
like:of
like:laughter
like:they’ll
like:bring.
like:This
like:crowd,
like:this
like:hungry
like:animal,
like:they
like:want
like:to
like:be
like:fed,
like:and
like:he
like:knows
like:what
like:to
like:feed
like:them.
like:And
like:he
like:needs
like:the
like:laughs,
like:needs that
like:high.
But
he
like:hesitates
like:long
like:enough
like:to
like:look
like:up
like:and
like:see
like:the
like:armadillo
like:bartender.
like:The
like:riffs
like:sour
like:in
like:his
like:mind
like:and
like:he
like:pushes
like:them
like:aside.
“Hey,
bud,”
like:he
like:says
like:to the
like:jaguar, “when
like:they
like:said ‘two
like:drink
like:minimum,’
like:that
like:wasn’t
like:every
like:ten
like:minutes.
like:Slow
like:down,
like:okay?”
That
gets
like:a
like:little
like:more
like:laughter.
like:It’s
like:enough
like:to
like:keep
like:him
like:going
like:as
like:he
like:wraps
like:up
like:the
like:set.
like:It’s
like:not
like:the
like:giddy
like:highs
like:he’d
like:been
like:getting,
like:but
like:for
like:the
like:first
like:time
like:in
like:weeks,
like:Mahari
like:feels
like:good.
This
was
like:the
like:second
like:and
like:final
like:part
like:of “That’s
like:A
like:Good
like:One”
like:by
like:Kyell Gold,
like:read
like:for you
like:by
like:Rob MacWolf,
like:werewolf
like:hitchhiker.
As
always,
like:you
like:can
like:find
like:more
like:stories
like:on
like:the
like:web
like:at thevoice.dog,
like:or find the
like:show
like:wherever
like:you
like:get
like:your
like:podcasts.
like:Thank
like:you
like:for
like:listening
like:to
like:The
like:Voice
like:of
like:Dog.
