Fallow Fields of Wisdom

   That night at dinner, Coyoteman showed up just as the cooked birds were set down at the table.  He was filthy, and had chicken feathers stuck semi-randomly in his hair.  Without a word, he sat down and reached for a duck with his hands.

   “Hold it right there, dog-dude!”  Joanne barked.  “How about some clean hands at least?”

   “No thanks,” Coyoteman responded, attempting to pick up the whole duck.  “Crap!  It’s hot!”  He dropped it on the floor.

   Taine walked over and stood behind him.  “Get out of here, you miserable jerk!”

   “What’s that?  My ears must be blocked.”  Coyoteman reached down and picked up the cooked duck from the floor.

   “You heard me.  You’re not welcome around here anymore.  Take your dinner and get out!”

   Coyoteman stood up.  He was a good deal shorter than Taine at this point. But for all the dirt, he had a certain poise about him – a certain craftiness.  He seemed very smooth and self-confident.  Taine had his work cut out for him to match that.

   “Well, do my eyes deceive me!  Here is young Taine, finally exercising his decision-making capability.  You’re way past due, buddy-boy!”  He shifted around casually, but putting himself in a better defensive posture.  Taine recognized the move, and backed up a bit.

   “I’m smart enough to realize that I could never win a fight with you, Coyoteman.  But we want you gone.  Joanne and I want to work with this place, but you seem fixated on destroying it.  Look at yourself!"