The Parkway Plaza cowboys have a code. “If you can’t fuck it, and you can’t drink it, break it.” And they have a very specific attitude towards women. “Good friends are hard to find. Women you can get anywhere.” It is this latter belief, that in later life, Daniel will often turn to his sexual advantage.

The cowboys come from post-war two-bedroom bungalows and rent-subsidized apartments. They come from two-year trade schools. From gas station and factory jobs. From jobs because they want a car, because they want some good clothes, because they can’t stand it at home anymore.

They walk the strip from bowling alley to liquor store. Liquor store to bowling alley. Bowling alley to liquor store. There is nothing else to do. The cowboys walk side-by-side, cigarettes at the corners of their mouths, jackets open to the waist in winter, shoulders hunched against the cold. In summer the uniform is Cowboy King jean jackets and tight black t-shirts. The metal cleats on their Cuban-heeled boots tap out a code mums and dads understand well enough to quickly move aside.

On the way into the downstairs bowling alley, they usually gob on the handrail and leave a wet gooey message for the unwary. Once inside the bowling alley, they plug up the sinks in the bathroom and turn on the taps. They blame this on Edwin who sets pins and cleans up whatever messes the bowlers make.

Edwin is slow. The bowling alley owner underpays him. His mother takes the rest and gives him a tiny allowance. Girls laugh at him and are frightened. He is not allowed to clean the women’s washroom. Edwin will do tricks for money, or for candy, or for fear. He will do a flat-footed tap dance if you ask him, or if you make him. Edwin has a cleft palate and can put his fingers in his mouth and bring them out his nose. The cowboys like this trick the best.

“Come on Edwin. Do your trick. Do your trick and we’ll give you a quarter. Do your trick and you can hang out with us. Do you dance and the same time. Come on Edwin, do your trick. Do your dance.” The voice inside Daniel’s head often asks him if he really wants to be a part of the ugliness of the plaza. He doesn’t have an answer for the voice. He has no idea what his options are.

Almost all the plaza cowboys, and some of the cowgirls, have tattoos. Tattoos come from Bill the Chink’s place. However, Bill is Japanese. Plaza cowboys get tattoos when they’re drunk. They stagger in, pick out their designs and joke around as Bill buzzes them into their arms.

The most popular tattoo is a little red devil called Hot Stuff. Why it is the most popular nobody knows. Some cowboys have elaborate daggers which look as if they pierce the skin. Underneath is often written “born to lose”. Sometimes it is “death before dishonour” or “born to raise hell”. “Born to lose” is the most popular inscription. No one has to ask why. Bill often asks them if they want their name written in Japanese characters under their tattoos. Bill has an odd smile on his face when he asks this. It is just as likely the characters he uses will say “I am a racist asshole.”

Pete’s real dumb. He’s often an embarrassment to his family and sometimes to his friends. Pete’s got more tattoos than half a dozen sailors. He has a scar from a hockey puck under his left eye. The scar reminds you of the dog in the Little Rascals. Except the dog is smarter. Pete’s so dumb he will believe anything if you tell him often enough.

“Man, I am always hungry no matter how much I eat,” Pete says to the group.

It’s because you have a tapeworm,” says one of the guys.

“I do not,” says Bill.

“For sure you do,” says someone else.

“What can I do about it?” asks Bill.

“Well, you have to go to the doctor. the doctor will put a little piece of meat on your tongue.

When the tapeworm smells the meat, it will try to come out to eat it,” says a cowboy.

“He will?” asks Bill

“For sure he will. The doctor will grab the tapeworm with a large pair of tweezers and pull it

out.”

Really?” asks Bill.

“For sure. The tapeworm will take a long time to pull out. It’s at least six feet long and it’s all curled up inside you.”

“Wow!” says Bill. “I think that’s really cool. I’ve never had a pet. My parents won’t let me have one. So, I think I am going to keep the tapeworm. I’m going to call him Fred.”

Chunk has no front teeth. He has “Love” and “Hate” tattooed on his knuckles. Love is on the right hand. Hate is on the left. Chunk looks mean as hell. He looks as if he would kick your eyes out. And he would, if you happened to faint in front of him, and he didn’t like you.

Chunk is not as tough as he looks, and Daniel has figured that out. Daniel is low in the pecking order of the plaza. He gets pushed around. Guys steal his cigarettes. He is a nobody. The only way he can change that is to rise higher in the pecking order. He figures out that Chunk is all thunder and no lightening. He will wait for the next time Chunk tries push him around. When he does, Daniel responds with a left jab that so shocks Chunk he doesn’t respond.

As he stands there stunned, Daniel hits him with a right upside his head and Chunk goes down like a big sack of rice. Chunk does not get up and as he lies on the ground, he spits blood from his mouth and takes out the partial plate Daniel has driven into the roof of his mouth.

Chuck’s time as a supposed tough guy is over. He’s no longer seen as tough, just stupid. Chuck takes Daniel’s place and everyone will now use him for sport. Daniel takes Chuck’s place further up the pecking order and his life at Parkway Plaza gets immeasurably better. The voice inside Daniel’s head asks him if this is who he really wants to be. Does he actually want to do what it takes to be a part of the Parkway Plaza mob?