The Ballad of Bonaduke—
Episode 17: In Tents
DETAILS: Series: The Ballad of Bonaduke, #17 Format: Kindle Vella Story Read Date: March 2, 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. Taking refuge in a homeless encampment, Bonaduke has to make some decisions.
What’s In Tents About?
Bonaduke goes into his tent for some wine and some introspection–he brushes against memories of that tragedy that set him on his current trajectory, what he did after passing the test the day before, and so on. He then settles to sleep and dreams a very vivid dream.
So, what did I think about In Tents?
This was okay–Slaywood’s still trying to be mysterious about Bonaduke’s past while having him dwell on it–which just makes it vague and annoying (if you ask me). I appreciate what I think he’s trying to do there, but I’m convinced it’s working.
I did like this one a bit more than the last couple of episodes, which helped my patience build regarding Slaywood’s long game. Still, I want some clarity, some movement, and less waffling. Maybe that’s because I’m shallow, but I don’t think so.
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