Birl

Birl sat against the cab, with his long legs spread out before him, and stared sullenly at Perry.

To The Bright and Shining Sun James Lee Burke 1989

The work leader gets extra pay every month for copping out on his crew, Birl said.

To The Bright and Shining Sun James Lee Burke 1989

Birl stepped back, his one hand rolled into a fist by his side.

To The Bright and Shining Sun James Lee Burke 1989

The man looked like Birl, and the rage welled up inside Perry again.

To The Bright and Shining Sun James Lee Burke 1989

Birl reached down inside his rubber boot and switched open a long, double-edged Italian knife.

To The Bright and Shining Sun James Lee Burke 1989

Out of the corner of his eye he saw Birl sitting on a metal chair against the wall, watching him.

To The Bright and Shining Sun James Lee Burke 1989

Mr. Henson put his machine in neutral and let it idle when he saw Perry and Birl come towards him.

To The Bright and Shining Sun James Lee Burke 1989

“The director says I lost the fifty bucks a month they been putting in the bank for me because I got expelled,” Birl said.

To The Bright and Shining Sun James Lee Burke 1989

As Perry started around the pool table Birl stood up quickly in the shadows and lifted a cue stick with both arms high above his head.

To The Bright and Shining Sun James Lee Burke 1989

“Popcorn and the others told the director what happened, and he had Birl put in the county jail overnight and shipped him home this morning.”

To The Bright and Shining Sun James Lee Burke 1989