Read Cut Back for Free Online

ain’t that conscious, if you know what I mean,” Curtis said. “It’s more of an irrational kinda thing. But yeah, that’s what it all sort of boils down to, if you ask me.”
    â€œThat why you drink?” Kai asked.
    â€œYeah, probably,” Curtis said. “Probably why guys my age dye their hair and buy fast cars and chase younger women. Why ladies dye their hair and get face-lifts and boob jobs and all the crap they do with makeup. And it’s sure as hell why people go to church on Sunday morning.”
    â€œThen what’s the answer?” Kai asked.
    â€œAnswer?” Curtis grinned. “Ride the biggest, most dangerous wave ever and make sure they get it on film. Hell, grom, I don’t know what the friggin’ answer is. Except maybe that this is just the way it’s supposed to be. Death’s a part of life. It’s natural for things to be born and live and die.”
    â€œWhat if you die before your time?” Kai asked.
    â€œWho says when it’s someone’s time?” Curtis said.
    â€œLike a mother who’s got a kid who’s too young to be on his own,” Kai said.
    â€œWell, that’s probably what fathers are for,” Curtis said.
    â€œWhat if the father isn’t around?” Kai asked. “Or he’s around but he doesn’t give a crap?”
    Curtis studied Kai closely “We’re not talkin’ philosophy anymore, are we? We’re talkin’ about someone we both know pretty darn well.”
    Kai nodded.
    â€œWell, that kid’s gonna have to grow up and get on with it faster than he planned,” Curtis said. “But he’s a good person and there’ll be people around who’ll recognize that and want to help.”
    They heard the desk bell in the office ring.
    â€œSpeak of the devil.” Curtis hefted himself up off the couch, and he and Kai went out into the office. Pat and Sean were there, looking around. Pat had that sour expression on his face, as if the Driftwood was such a fleabag that even
he
wasn’t sure he could bring himself to stay there.
    â€œEvening, gentlemen,” Curtis said. “How may I help you?”
    Pat got right to the point. He nodded at Kai. “My son here says you might give us a deal on a room.”
    Curtis looked at Kai, and for a moment Kai feared Curtis might say something like what a fine young man he was or some such garbage like that. But Curtis looked back atPat and said, “Forty-five dollars a night.”
    â€œHow about for a week?” Pat asked.
    â€œForty-five a night,” said Curtis.
    â€œHow about a month?”
    â€œSame thing,” said Curtis.
    â€œSo where’s the deal?” Pat asked.
    â€œThe deal, my good man, is that this is high season and from now until Labor Day you won’t find a motel room within a hundred miles of here for less than a hundred eighty a night. So you’re lookin’ at a seventy-five percent discount off the going rate.”
    â€œSuppose we agree you don’t have to give us clean sheets and towels every day,” Pat said.
    â€œYou think for forty-five a night you get clean sheets and towels every day?” Curtis asked. “For that price you should be thankful you get a sheet or towel, period.”
    Pat’s sour look got even more sour. “What kind of place is this, anyway?”
    â€œI kind of think it’s the only place left for you,” Curtis said. “Now, I’ve enjoyed our little chat, gentlemen, but right now I feel I’d like to spend the rest of the evening with my good friend, Mr. Jack Daniel’s, so if you would be so kind as to make up your mind I’ll be able toshut off the lights, lock the door, and return to my reflections on immortality.”
    Pat frowned. “Okay, we’ll take a room for a night and see how it goes,” he said, as if he were doing Curtis some huge favor.
    â€œThat’ll be