The Ballad of BonadukeThe Ballad of Bonaduke—
Episode 15: A Walk In The Park

by R.T. Slaywood

DETAILS:
Series: The Ballad of Bonaduke, #15
Format: Kindle Vella Story
Read Date: February 9, 2023

The Story So Far…

A drunken Michael Bonaduke decides to use a grift (with maybe some sort of magic/magic-like “help”) to win on a scratch-off lottery ticket so he has money to buy more to drink. He pulls off whatever he did, gets his money and some booze and stumbles off into the darkness to drink himself into oblivion so he can start again the next day. He’s hit by dark memories (probably what’s driving him to the drinking) of fire, pleading, and screaming. There’s going to be a price to pay for his grift, and he’s trying to be ready.

Before then, he gets himself drunk and we get some of his tragic backstory. As he ponders this, he decides to use some of his ill-gotten-gains to buy more booze and walks into a liquor store robbery. He foils it in some sort of magical fashion, gets some more to drink, and heads off to the park to drink until he’s arrested (probably for the failed robbery). At least that’s his plan, but it gets interrupted by being hit by a car. He wakes up on some sort of short, metal bed and is unsure what’s going on. It turns out that some group is subjecting him to a test—if he passes, everything will be explained to him (and hopefully the reader, too). He passes—and is brought somewhere for answers, or maybe training, or maybe another test. Time will tell (or things are going to get really annoying). Answers aren’t quick to come—but the mysteries and questions keep piling up.

Things get hairy and Bonaduke leaves and finds himself back in the neighborhood he started from.

What’s A Walk In The Park About?

So, our man needs a place to lay low and make some choices, so he heads to a homeless encampment he used to stay at. He apparently left under a cloud and it doesn’t seem he’s welcome.

So, what did I think about A Walk In The Park?

I think it’s fitting to just repeat what I said about the last episode here. If the story isn’t going to move, there’s no reason for my posts to move.

This is another filler episode where not much (anything) happens. I’m getting really tired of these. It’s hard to have an opinion about treading water. I feel shallow complaining about this, but…

2 Stars