Page 136

By Jack Joseph Smith

Colonel decided to order a rye. The women master of the dog with initials for a name had sat with Colonel, placing her elbow on the table, and her palm stretched out over her chin. Animal threw his head back smiling with his clown- face; "What do you think of your dog J & B?" "You mean, what do I think of the duck?" J & B had a softcool way; and a moon face. The moon shadows outside stopped ontop of the city lights. The shadows in the tavern seemed to be brush- ed aside; like the dog's hair in the air running side- ways. The electric lights inside and outside were like counterband; instead of a glass or atmosphereish ceil- ing. As the duckman and the dog swirled; leaped; and paused around the tavern, Animal felt as if he were peering out at what would never be his in a city he felt magical in; innoticeability! "Pay the man for his entertainment, Colonel." "I certainly will Animal." "Good business." "Good Business." "And good night from J. & B;" to Animal walking toward the door, while the people then began picking up the eggs the duck had laid; finding out that quite true it was that they were eggs of duckness.

Original Scan

Page 136

AI Interpretation

GPT

Animal's clowning with J & B, the dog, the duckman, and the geese eggs turns tavern absurdity into a miniature city-magic show.

The comedy matters because it reveals how the room wants spectacle. Animal briefly feels himself peering into a life that will never be his, and that distance gives the silliness a faint ache. The closing discovery that the duck's eggs are eggs of duckness turns the performance into a joke about belief and proof.

Claude

Animal's clowning with J & B, the dog, the duckman, and the geese eggs turns tavern absurdity into choreography. The page's comedy depends on the reader knowing every animal in the room.