The Missouri Review

We have a lot of runners-up, alright. We thought these were all great. 

“I should’ve known butter with a girl like you. Lot of girls here tonight. Yeah. Yeah! Can’t see them but I can hear them. Can they hear us? Stay with Paul, locked in. Ba doom bap. Collar is itching me. I hate shaving, I do. Gotta use the gramophone, call Mo. What did she say last time? Mum wanted to take the baby where? St. Nicholas gardens. Be fine for him. Unless there’s rain. Shouldn’t go Merseyside in the rain. All that wind off the water. Goom gap… goom-gap. Big finish and yeah! They love it. Feels top, it does. Seated bow. I’m not going to stand up after every song, am I? Lost me ciggies on Act Naturally. Can’t see them down there, don’t want to step on them. Could use one though. No smoking on stage, eh? Not in the wings. Must be in the crowd. The same set every night’s for tossers. Let’s play the blues. Extra sticks where they should be. John’s on about something. Can’t hear him. Biting the hand that rocks the cradle. As usual. Love to get away. Not til after the tour. Florida Keys, marvelous. How soon til you can bring a baby on a plane? “Oi!” What’s George—? He’s at his amp. Quick nod with his eyes that way. Oh, the birds. Hi, girls. Smile at him. Last number and we’re off. Wang Dang Doodle, we gonna break down all the doors.” 

from Dan Souder, who can be summed up in these few words:

Dan Souder has been published by The Book Republic, X-Ray Magazine,
Cincinnati Magazine, Frontier Publishing, Caliber Comics, and the
federal government. US