the photograph

I.
"Good to be home, friend."
"I knows it."
"Yeap"
"How's it goin' over't there in Norman anyhow?"
"It's goin.' Haven't made much in the way o'friends o'er there. Tryin' ta stay outta trouble, mostly."
"I see. Nothing like the good ole days, huh?"
"No, def'nitely not. I miss them days."
"C'mon these are the good old days, bud. Look t'us. Settin on this ole bear cage sippm' back 40's. Bullshittin. Just like in high school. Sheeit this moment is... well, timeless."
"Yeap. Though the times they are a changing, as the saying goes."
"Bullshit."

II.
"You know I'm thinkin' if you e'er wrote a book or sumpin', I'd be in one a 'em chapters. Hell, without a doubt I'd be."
"Well, I s'pose you're prolly right 'bout that, but I ne'er thought 'bout writin' no biography, man."
"Naw, man, not like no biography. I'm talkin like a fiction. Some char'cter, you know. Based on none uther 'n me. Ha. Whattaya think?"
"Aren't you sumpin'? Got-damn it , yer right. Hell, we only grew up t'gether, 'course an orn'ry sumbitch like you's bound t' pop up in 'ere somewheres. Sheeit."

III.
"Whate'er happen' t'that ole bear, man?"
"Shit if I know - it died, probly."
"You think they got its ghost caged up in here? Hey, watch yer spittin'"
"Well, I sure 'ope not."
"Don' wanna get haunted by no ghost bear for settin' on 'is rusty ole cage, huh?"
"Nope."
"You ever wonder why they kep' a bear in this cage out here? I mean, in a public park in our town of all places?"
"Naw, never gave 'er a thought act'lly."
"I reckon you will now."
"Mm."

IV.
"Well, then what's got you all hush' up?"
"I was thinkin' 'bout the good ole days, like you'd said."
"What about 'em."
"Maybe I'm drunk, but I'm thinkin' of how much I'm tryna commit this moment to memory. We don't get many opp'tunities like this to hang out no more."
"Wanna keep this Kodak moment, huh? I s'ggest you take a picture then."
"I'm serious man. You been away an' all. Y' should be a'le t' reco'nize the change in this town e'en more'n I can. I mean, back in th' day there 'as a got-damn bear'n this cage and now it's long gone. Hardly a trace 'cept for this big cage out in the middle o' the park. It's a landmark, ya know."
"Well, I got an idea then."
"What?"
"Take a damn picture of this cage, man."
"What, tonight? I haint got a cam'ra with me, fool."
"Naw, man. I mean t'morrow."
"Hmm."
"Yeah."
"What for?"
"I don't know. Keep this moment."
"'Morrow won't be this moment."
"Will be represent've at least."
"Well, yer def'nitely drunker 'n I am"
"A'right, suit yerself."
"Take a pict're of an empty bear cage, sheeit."
"Heh, well just an idear."
"What they doin to you o'er at that lib'ral arts college anyways? Makin you all funny."
"Yer the one gettin all reflective one me, sheeit. Take a picture if yer wantin ta r'member this. Aint nothin wrong with that. Don't have to be all artistic neither."
"S'pose yer right."
"I know. I only s'ggested that 'cause I don' want you 'xpectin' me ta write about it in my book one day. This aint hardly worth writin' about t'begin with. Not fit fer publishin'. No action. You'll have to 'member this moment by some other way, bud."
"Hehe. Well I s'pose yer right 'bout that."
"Damn right I'm right."