Big Grand Daddy’s rolling, “Tic-toc! tic-toc!” he watched Grandmother, she went; and he watched Mom, too, “Tic-toc! tic-toc!” she’s gone now, I guess – finally – it was her heart (tic-tic-tic-___). In my dream we meet. We’re back at the old place, nothing but strangers, people I don’t know milling around, working/not working out front..a re-model? more road-work being done on the main drag?? (Caltrans gots traffic backed-up all the way to Sugarloaf). I put my key in, it’s unlocked, loose..different door I don’t remember made out of glass. I go in, they follow me, “Tic-toc! tic-toc!” Shawn’s squareback’s sitting up on a lift, down a block across the street getting fixed or, something about the carburetor..I went to get him smokes (nerves). I have to have my sax serviced. It all happens right here at the old homestead..nobody’s seen O’Brien all day, “Tic-toc, Tic-toc.” Tell him The County’s looking for him about his fork-lift he’s gotta move it, or, –“Tic-Toc!Tic-toc!Tic-toc!Tic-toc!” I’m s’posed to come back with cigarettes from the store I can’t find it (the store). Where’s Uncle Ken? “Tic..” (He) went to get North Shore Debbie’s car started, “-toc.” she overheated trying to get to Blythe. Who said? Russian Debbie, “Tic..” Oh. The Russian. K.P.’s buying everybody beers, “Tic-toc! Tic-toc!” Can I buy a nickel? No..Anybody gotta cigarette? Here..Gotta light? There, want me to smoke it for you, too? Listen up! hey everybody, –Listen, cops are on their way doing the warrant-sweeps, just went out over the radio, they’ll be here, in about five..8-balls into pockets, Klickety-klick! beers getting gulped. Everyone splits (everyone, except Firewood Bob coming out of the rest-room didn’t hear it, got pinched and speeded off to the local lock-up, jukebox in shadows now silent..stillness). Meanwhile, back outside by the shop in full daylight and less smoke, tourists are making demands on me for lower price-quotes..What! for this fabulous stuff?? No. Sorry. I won’t budge, –here comes the Fire-chief. “Tic-toc!” Grabbing the rail I, “Tic-toc!Tic-toc!” pull myself up the stone steps, turn my key in the dead-bolt on the side-door, its lock disintegrates instantly and spills in my hand like a bunch of odd-size B.B.’s..I can only locate a few of the parts they all migrated. SOUTH. Tic! tickety-toc! Just then this banged-up white, big delivery-truck tears out of the old filling-station lot next-door by the Fire-department that still had its gas-pumps planted on the islands until only recently (because somebody whispered something to somebody with The County; which leaned on the new owner), –white, wide-open empty van with its door rolled up, barreling out! rear wheel comes loose, it’s dragging it by a chain, SPARKS, –Tic!Tic!Tic! bouncing down the boulevard teeter-tottering, heading west into the sun; everybody’s running behind including the mechanic, chasing after it to flag the guy down he’s probly illegal, or just a plain idiot, –Oh well! some local color. “Tic-toc.” I get told my saxophone’s ready, now..here it is, on the counter, –my counter! where’s my wallet? I have to go back out in the parking-lot where I last saw it somewhere around all the new people I don’t know and find it, there, in the middle of the valley of junk. It’s July, haven’t seen burros for about a week..road crews rolling asphalt, traffic’s jammed, a wedding’s in progress..under that tree, smell the cherry blossoms? “Tic-” I’ll need my sax to, –“toc!” to play a song I wrote for Grandfather Clock, “Tic-toc-Tic-toc! Tic-toc-Tic-toc!” he’s watching me now..record the dream “Tic-toc! Tic-toc!” like he watched Dad, writing sermons and reading the Bible; and Mom..and Grandmother crocheting, reading their Bibles; like he watches everybody “..Tic” You follow me? “-toc!” “Arrivederci!” “Tic-toc! Tic-toc! Tic-toc! Tic-toc! Tic-toc! Tic-toc! Tic-toc! Tic-toc!”, Italy! yeah it does, it kinda does feel that way, like the Swiss Alp’s in It’ly all covered with snow; just like Ol’ Smokey..on top! Si, Signores? Oh! and next week we gain an hour, too, because of fall so don’t forget to change time’s, it’s “Tic..”