Kieran.Stories

There is Tupelo.

Elvis celebrates – in his own way – turning seventy. He lies back in his barber chair, and buries his toes into the hot sand. The chair was taken from a barber shop on Beale Street, although he has no actual proof of that. He has to trust his man.

He shuts those tired eyes, beds his head into the leather. He feels beaten but rested. He had an argument with Sam before Sam flew away. He’ll be back in five days with more presents.

Elvis crosses the island. In the house, he settles into another chair, and then after not too long in that chair, he goes to his bed. He then visits Sam’s room. The sheets on the bed are so tight. Pulled to within an inch of their life.     

Kneeling by the bed, he presses his right cheek into the mattress. He presses down until his eye waters. He thinks about the toucan he saw yesterday. All the colours of the rainbow.