"Joe's a big stupid cowboy. He definitely don't know his way 'round a city like I do. Dumb country boy. Probably got off the bus to take a piss and got himself lost."
She had him pegged well. Ratso was lost without Joe. Well, with Joe they were kind of lost together. But not that he was back by himself again, Ratso felt a little bit empty. And it was a sad feeling. Even for a guy who did his best to chase most people off.
He wasn't as sick as he was when he'd gotten on the bus in the first place, but he still wasn't perfect. He'd been sick for a long time. A very long time. A voice deep inside of him told him it was only a matter of when, but he had himself convinced that the Florida sun was going to clear it all up. That's all he needed. Sunshine and palm trees and beautiful women by the beach.
Cough. Hack.
"What? Do I look like a picture o'health to ya? I feel like my eyes are gonna fall outta my head and my legs are gonna turn into pudding. And I can't find my friend and this definitely isn't Florida and--"
Ratso rested his head the top of the mail box. Maybe if he closed his eyes he'd wake up back on the bus again.
"I really need some breath mints. And maybe some coffee."