Every Saturday, we’ll be posting a new illustration by David Lester. The Mecca Normal guitarist is visually documenting people, places and events from his band’s 29-year run, with text by vocalist Jean Smith.
Friday is housekeeping day. Anna, the maid, will arrive soon. I’m out of soap in “my” bathroom, and I’ve looked everywhere for a tiny green replacement bar. Not to be found. Anna doesn’t speak English, and I only speak English. I was thinking I’d try to get a new bar of soap off her. I play such scenarios out in my mind, in advance, to weigh pitfalls versus the potential for success. I would approach her with my question, but of course we would not connect, and soon enough I’d have to take her down the hall to the bathroom and show her the empty soap dish. Before that though, I’m afraid I’d blurt out “soap,” which I’m pretty sure is soup and not soap, and so, I think I’ll just go without soap for the remaining five days to avoid taking Anna down the hall to the bathroom talking about soup. Not good.
“Alibi,” from Sitting On Snaps (Matador, 1995; Smarten UP!, 2009) (download):
