tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3969070220294261962024-02-18T21:37:18.124-05:00My 3,000 Loving Armspoetry, politics, fiction . . . memoir, this life, the sublimeSarah Saraihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17780959351098643176noreply@blogger.comBlogger724125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-396907022029426196.post-75305499035064107342023-08-05T20:02:00.005-04:002023-09-04T02:09:56.694-04:00Pine Hills Review LOW-LIFE MALIBU (a #poem)<p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVzCWIWHpYf0vGVbhuevZTdYvKbka1sBI9vQSBH7EJc_ETZj-G8TDQs9cwipYstJz649WzXbsGfVMKfSxYUjvQk_404tIQbCaU-9nop8H9shkqGUMYD82Xgc9skpZKPGHVxYwakjxrO9KYSmXF_fD1v485im_Ge0KUOVLiMa1a_TsW2FEoSe_9_qWNLQI/s633/Screen%20Shot%202023-08-05%20at%207.57.39%20PM.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="473" data-original-width="633" height="239" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVzCWIWHpYf0vGVbhuevZTdYvKbka1sBI9vQSBH7EJc_ETZj-G8TDQs9cwipYstJz649WzXbsGfVMKfSxYUjvQk_404tIQbCaU-9nop8H9shkqGUMYD82Xgc9skpZKPGHVxYwakjxrO9KYSmXF_fD1v485im_Ge0KUOVLiMa1a_TsW2FEoSe_9_qWNLQI/s320/Screen%20Shot%202023-08-05%20at%207.57.39%20PM.png" width="320" /></a></span></div><span style="font-size: medium;"><br />Adventurous lit journal <i>Pine Hills Review </i>is published at The College of St Rose in Albany, New York. </span><div><p style="text-align: left;"></p><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><a href="https://pinehillsreview.com/2023/08/02/sarahsarai2/"><i>Pine Hills Review</i>, "Low Life, Malibu" by Sarah Sarai</a>. </span></p><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Dig it. And also, the perfect <i>i</i><span face="Source Sans Pro, sans-serif" style="color: #222222;"><span><i>mage.“Lunch Break” by Nicole Monroe. That's what life felt like when I was young and shiftless. </i></span></span></span></p><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Check out the PHR submission policies for art and poetry and prose. </span></p><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium;">The end. (Sorry to be so brief.)</span></p></div>Sarah Saraihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12121360766766316902noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-396907022029426196.post-45366781697389345922023-07-31T21:24:00.007-04:002023-08-05T20:04:56.123-04:00Their Every Yellow Leaf #poem #NewOhioReview <p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEh8Lqiz2-1hFTmxWYUzgq1YASAL8UCaL8MlTCndAM-qM7aI6MrfBGso_S3b9KwC73zGVpqFCNXH150zzGuR_7WWFBKCC0aCoz22iMCEItKU05ifw8q19bpvoF9eW_wqefN5Vg-v0k2gkF2cYga6GIF_Fa_phmqnlJQppfunrGGYkVNiwfCvZs7LRfMTKAk" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="589" data-original-width="593" height="397" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEh8Lqiz2-1hFTmxWYUzgq1YASAL8UCaL8MlTCndAM-qM7aI6MrfBGso_S3b9KwC73zGVpqFCNXH150zzGuR_7WWFBKCC0aCoz22iMCEItKU05ifw8q19bpvoF9eW_wqefN5Vg-v0k2gkF2cYga6GIF_Fa_phmqnlJQppfunrGGYkVNiwfCvZs7LRfMTKAk=w400-h397" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>Aspen leaves still green but ever fluttery.</i></div><div style="text-align: center;">https://budburst.org/plants/38</div><br /><br /><p></p><p><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: x-large;">Their Every Yellow Leaf</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; margin: 0in;"><o:p><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: large;">Jacinth looks at the pig and <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: large;">asks what she did in another lifetime<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: large;">to be<i> so beautiful. </i><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: large;"><i>Maybe not everyone</i> <i>would see it<o:p></o:p></i></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: large;"><i>but she’s perfect.</i><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: large;">I am not everyone. I agree. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: large;">Alice is perfect, <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: large;">a hippopotamus made compact. <i><o:p></o:p></i></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: large;">I stroke her dark hide and feed her <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: large;">fruit cup from breakfast. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: large;">Cauliflower and a toasted bagel. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: large;">Plum jam. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: large;">With the pig, Jacinth <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: large;">and I break bread. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: large;">Jacob, who is new to this poem,<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: large;">buries his cigarette in a late Fall lawn <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: large;">to take a call from Quebec. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: large;">In bright sunlight Alice considers<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: large;">eternally recycling life. Is my guess. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: large;">Jacinth has no interest in me or Jacob <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: large;">and praises only the pig, who is complete. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: large;">Is her guess. The heart gets lonely <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: large;">some days. Is Jacob’s guess. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: large;">Feeding Alice renders longing and irritation <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: large;">irrelevant, without obliterating either. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: large;">Aspens snap their every yellow leaf. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: large;">The trees expected we’d be gone by now. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: large;">Their every yellow leaves don’t guess. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p><span style="font-family: Times;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br clear="all" style="break-before: page;" /></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: Times;"><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></span></p><p><span style="color: #393939; font-family: Lora, serif; font-size: medium;"><span style="background-color: white; caret-color: rgb(57, 57, 57);">Thank you to the editors of <i>New Ohio Review</i>, 2023 for selecting this poem.</span></span></p>Sarah Saraihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12121360766766316902noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-396907022029426196.post-51891497485012979632023-05-07T20:55:00.003-04:002023-05-08T03:36:27.219-04:00Renegade Sonnets Once Removed<p></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg34vHAl5eTZ27l5rjXEnLR8YlRysMTC_LTEqusRZOByUx7a8bszqBU7Nv-mH1lchD5f2_xIvfWE_v1xvZz6-kN9Pnfe8gw3ZxM_dQC6uUrLOGSOXLO7Vw6WHmqbCeCGnwxWLizrJQWjtMwTWJBuBKZ8AX4IkT0HL_mu_jonyQtHoFyJeyPWcRPa3NP/s722/Screen%20Shot%202023-05-07%20at%208.46.16%20PM.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="521" data-original-width="722" height="231" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg34vHAl5eTZ27l5rjXEnLR8YlRysMTC_LTEqusRZOByUx7a8bszqBU7Nv-mH1lchD5f2_xIvfWE_v1xvZz6-kN9Pnfe8gw3ZxM_dQC6uUrLOGSOXLO7Vw6WHmqbCeCGnwxWLizrJQWjtMwTWJBuBKZ8AX4IkT0HL_mu_jonyQtHoFyJeyPWcRPa3NP/s320/Screen%20Shot%202023-05-07%20at%208.46.16%20PM.png" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">"September" by Gerhard Richter<br />Museum of Modern Art, N.Y.C.</td></tr></tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><h2 style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif;">Renegade Sonnets Rendered via Ekphrasis</span></h2><p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; margin: 0in;"><o:p></o:p></p><h3 style="text-align: left;">A few notes on Rob Stanton’s <i>Once Removed</i> (Nono Press/2022)</h3><h3 style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif;"> </span></h3><h3 style="text-align: left;">by Sarah Sarai</h3><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; margin: 0in;"><o:p></o:p></p><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><o:p> <br /></o:p>We look to the past to understand the past. Also repetitive disorders and daily stupidities. We look to the past to understand a shared present, greed and hauteur acted out, to divine a future we pretend we can’t foresee. Or we try to persuade our leaders in a pursuit of common sense, kindness, equality. One much-studied and globally shared event of the past, the attack on the Twin Towers, is interrogated by Rob Stanton in his ekphrastic chapbook <i>Once Removed</i>. <br /><o:p> <br /></o:p>The object of Stanton’s contemplation is, of course, not the attack but the remarkable painting <i>September</i> by Gerhard Richter, whose work often magnetizes viewers. I’ve watched museum patrons squint and study his canvases in a manner that feels unique from interrogations of other artwork. Strictly anecdotal, on my part. <br /><o:p> <br /></o:p>Nudged by an anniversary of the attack on the Twin Towers and through a study of Richter’s 2005 painting, Stanton created these stencil sonnets. My term. They are a cry from a heftier sonnet of classical literary history and the many contemporary iterations. They are stripped. As in <i>September</i>. Neither better nor worse than earlier iterations of a loved form of poetry, each wee sonnet is comprised of four stanzas: two brief, each four lines, all short; then two stanzas, three lines each. Each a puff of word or each word is a puff of smoke. Appropriate by design as <i>September</i> depicts the Towers after the second building was hit. Matching what we witnessed on that day, in Richter’s work the structures are discernable only through menace of dust and aggregation. From Rob Stanton’s Sonnet 154:<br /><o:p> <br /></o:p>A corona of suddenly<br />insignificant <br /><o:p> <br /></o:p> litter spills<br /> Blow back.<br /> blow back <br /><o:p> <br /></o:p>On the twentieth anniversary of the attack I broke down and watched the documentaries. That’s what there was, “litter spill.” For the record, Richter was flying to New York in a commercial plane that had to be diverted to Halifax. But that fact makes him no more privy to this wound that will not heal than anyone else. <br /><o:p> <br /></o:p>From “160.” “...already / pockets of flouted sky / cerulean blue / are being tendered.” <br /><o:p> <br /></o:p><i>Once Removed</i> is a Nono Press venture, as is <i>Sonnets 1-159</i>, in a longer work “dedicated to the work of Luc Tuymans.” <br /><o:p> <br /></o:p><o:p> <br /></o:p><o:p> <br /></o:p>A native of the UK, Rob Stanton teaches in Austin, Texas. He is the author of The Method (Penned in the Margins, 2011) and Trip- (Knives Forks and Spoons, 2013). Contact him for more information.<br /><o:p> <br /></o:p><o:p> <br /></o:p><o:p> <br /></o:p><o:p> <br /></o:p><o:p> <br /></o:p><o:p> </o:p></span></div><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; margin: 0in;"><o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; margin: 0in;"><o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; margin: 0in;"><o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; margin: 0in 0in 0in 0.5in; text-indent: 0.5in;"><o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; margin: 0in 0in 0in 0.5in; text-indent: 0.5in;"><o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; margin: 0in;"><o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; margin: 0in;"><o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; margin: 0in;"><o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; margin: 0in;"><o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; margin: 0in;"><o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; margin: 0in;"><o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; margin: 0in;"><o:p></o:p></p>Sarah Saraihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12121360766766316902noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-396907022029426196.post-1569924750393144062023-02-15T00:53:00.001-05:002023-02-15T00:53:41.288-05:00Blackbird v Blackbird: Stevens v Sarai: Two Poems<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhG0mNhpjWGkrltey1IVRELAKI98cm60o0KIhpsABWAk5p3DHjfjYAmv9gahMCaWZceoP_BcpmM0us4HZ62Qat6lONWmmIqY7E53JIrgMUfbhEeqYESnDn6qr6ZbVaAAsyyRpMUhhlB1A-rfQgKW7v5qMSQtIB0ZUhlk27lthViOISG6KvAkvOkyyyl/s376/Screen%20Shot%202023-02-15%20at%2012.32.03%20AM.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="367" data-original-width="376" height="312" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhG0mNhpjWGkrltey1IVRELAKI98cm60o0KIhpsABWAk5p3DHjfjYAmv9gahMCaWZceoP_BcpmM0us4HZ62Qat6lONWmmIqY7E53JIrgMUfbhEeqYESnDn6qr6ZbVaAAsyyRpMUhhlB1A-rfQgKW7v5qMSQtIB0ZUhlk27lthViOISG6KvAkvOkyyyl/s320/Screen%20Shot%202023-02-15%20at%2012.32.03%20AM.png" width="320" /></a></div><h1 class="artwork__title js-artwork__title" id="artwork__title"><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span class="artwork__title__inset" itemprop="name">"The End of November: The Birds That Didn't Learn How to Fly" by </span><span class="artwork__artist__name"><a href="https://www.metmuseum.org/art/collection/search#!?q=Thornton%20Dial&perPage=20&sortBy=Relevance&offset=0&pageSize=0">Thornton Dial</a>, </span>2007.</span></span><span style="font-size: small; font-weight: normal;"> The Metropolitan Museum of Art, N.Y.</span></h1><div style="text-align: left;">I am close to embarrassed, but what would be the point. I already know that I am not Wallace Stevens, and he is not Sarah Sarai. That being established may I say I had Stevens<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif;">’</span> poem in mind as I wrote <span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif;">“</span>Another Way of Looking.<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif;">”</span> I was responding to Stevens. Saying, Click a prism and you will see different perspectives with each time.<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif;"> B</span>ut now that I see my poem adjacent to the great Wallace Stevens<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif;">’ </span>poem, <span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif;">“Thirteen Ways...” Well. Yikes and all that. Sigh. I plow on. First my poem. Then his. Thanks to the editor of <i><a href="https://preludemag.com/posts/another-way-of-looking/">Prelude</a></i>, Stu Watson.</span></div><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><b><br /></b><b>Another Way of Looking<br /></b>by Sarah Sarai</span></p><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">The poem on the page<br />remains on the page</span></p><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">the page with the poem is<br />the page with the poem it</span></p><div style="text-align: left;"><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0.1in 0in 0in;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">may lift it self (up)</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0.1in 0in 0in;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">or snack and nap</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0.1in 0in 0in;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0.1in 0in 0in;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">but there it is on the page</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0.1in 0in 0in;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">in all its theory</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0.1in 0in 0in;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0.1in 0in 0in;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">in all its wisdom which</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0.1in 0in 0in;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">is not all wisdom</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0.1in 0in 0in;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0.1in 0in 0in;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">hey, a blackbird knows wisdom</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0.1in 0in 0in;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">just one blackbird</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0.1in 0in 0in;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0.1in 0in 0in;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">no need to cast shade over</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0.1in 0in 0in;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">the whole of them</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0.1in 0in 0in;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0.1in 0in 0in;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">from <i>Prelude Journal</i>, Stu Watson, ed.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0.1in 0in 0in;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></p></div><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><o:p></o:p></span></p><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><b>Thirteen Ways of Looking at a Blackbird</b><br /><span style="text-indent: -20px;">by Wallace Stevens</span></span></p><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="border: 0px; font-style: inherit; font-weight: 700; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">I<br /></span>Among twenty snowy mountains, <br />The only moving thing <br />Was the eye of the blackbird. </span></p><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="border: 0px; font-style: inherit; font-weight: 700; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">II<br /></span>I was of three minds, <br />Like a tree <br />In which there are three blackbirds. </span></p><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="border: 0px; font-style: inherit; font-weight: 700; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">III<br /></span>The blackbird whirled in the autumn winds. <br />It was a small part of the pantomime. </span></p><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="border: 0px; font-style: inherit; font-weight: 700; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">IV<br /></span>A man and a woman <br />Are one. <br />A man and a woman and a blackbird <br />Are one. </span></p><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="border: 0px; font-style: inherit; font-weight: 700; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">V<br /></span>I do not know which to prefer, <br />The beauty of inflections <br />Or the beauty of innuendoes, <br />The blackbird whistling <br />Or just after. </span></p><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="border: 0px; font-style: inherit; font-weight: 700; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">VI<br /></span>Icicles filled the long window <br />With barbaric glass. <br />The shadow of the blackbird <br />Crossed it, to and fro. <br />The mood <br />Traced in the shadow <br />An indecipherable cause. </span></p><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="border: 0px; font-style: inherit; font-weight: 700; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">VII<br /></span>O thin men of Haddam, <br />Why do you imagine golden birds? <br />Do you not see how the blackbird <br />Walks around the feet <br />Of the women about you? </span></p><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br /><span style="border: 0px; font-style: inherit; font-weight: 700; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">VIII<br /></span>I know noble accents <br />And lucid, inescapable rhythms; <br />But I know, too, <br />That the blackbird is involved <br />In what I know. </span></p><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="border: 0px; font-style: inherit; font-weight: 700; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">IX<br /></span>When the blackbird flew out of sight, <br />It marked the edge <br />Of one of many circles. </span></p><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="border: 0px; font-style: inherit; font-weight: 700; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">X<br /></span>At the sight of blackbirds <br />Flying in a green light, <br />Even the bawds of euphony <br />Would cry out sharply. </span></p><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="border: 0px; font-style: inherit; font-weight: 700; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">XI<br /></span>He rode over Connecticut <br />In a glass coach. <br />Once, a fear pierced him, <br />In that he mistook <br />The shadow of his equipage <br />For blackbirds. </span></p><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="border: 0px; font-style: inherit; font-weight: 700; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">XII<br /></span>The river is moving. <br />The blackbird must be flying. </span></p><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="border: 0px; font-style: inherit; font-weight: 700; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">XIII<br /></span>It was evening all afternoon. <br />It was snowing <br />And it was going to snow. <br />The blackbird sat <br />In the cedar-limbs.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: small;">from the Poetry Foundation website.</span></p>Sarah Saraihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12121360766766316902noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-396907022029426196.post-86471082405162031452023-02-11T14:36:00.001-05:002023-02-14T23:36:57.746-05:00Sarah Sarai's Editorial Services (to be continued)<p><span><span style="font-size: x-large;">F</span><span style="font-family: georgia;">irst draft, 2/11/23. I'm a stone cold, birthright English major who can edit the sense out of the angels and proofread the evil out of Satan's cold soul. </span></span></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqfYBZsEKYspwIzArWf0wV9GkGRVjiuLeWtxEl2Ow5tqn0PoK0FzZ2Hd_CqDGyaoz67lJN2RjZF6NUDUI3XdxbTSTN4LsQImfZkasa7zhEVSb-_zNTEIuUOHpg6SjbSo9sTJ2X5MHn6PWQbztFUC2Fak9mIUO86548yOExDpe9Hu7LnDfFyJl9UaO8/s578/Screen%20Shot%202023-02-11%20at%201.56.58%20PM.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="578" data-original-width="340" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqfYBZsEKYspwIzArWf0wV9GkGRVjiuLeWtxEl2Ow5tqn0PoK0FzZ2Hd_CqDGyaoz67lJN2RjZF6NUDUI3XdxbTSTN4LsQImfZkasa7zhEVSb-_zNTEIuUOHpg6SjbSo9sTJ2X5MHn6PWQbztFUC2Fak9mIUO86548yOExDpe9Hu7LnDfFyJl9UaO8/s320/Screen%20Shot%202023-02-11%20at%201.56.58%20PM.png" width="188" /></a></div><p></p><div style="text-align: center;"><div class="longdesc-wrapper" style="text-align: center;">Hildegard of Bingen</div><div class="longdesc-wrapper" style="text-align: center;">12th-century editor (and writer) </div></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span><i><b>In Brief</b></i></span></div><div><span>I am an editor of most anything with words. Fiction. Nonfiction. Poetry. Your manuscript. </span></div><div><span><br /></span></div><div><span>My <b>rates</b> are in accord with the Editorial Freelancer Association's rate sheet. I charge by the number of pages plus the challenge your writing may present (i.e., scholarly; medical; fiction or memoir; poetry...). </span></div><div><span> </span></div><div><span><i>How It Works</i></span></div><div><span><i><br /></i></span></div><div><span>We talk and/or email. I look at your manuscript (or a portion) and make an estimate in accord with the Editorial Freelancers Association (EFA) rate sheet, so there is no mystery. If you approve, I draw up a contract which includes a projection of due dates for both of us. I've never had any problem getting paid, but the contract lays out what to can expect, including a timeline. I require a downpayment before I begin, and full payment on completion.</span></div><div><div style="text-align: center;"><span><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><span><i>My Story </i></span></b></div><div><div style="text-align: center;"><span>(Feel Free to Skip This. I'm Interest in Process and How the Backstory of Journeys so </span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span>I Am Revealing a Bit of Mine)</span></div><div><span><br /></span></div><p style="text-align: left;"><span>I was about twenty-five years old when I first realized I could edit. I hadn't thought about it, rarely used the word "edit." But my oldest sister mailed me a few of her poems. I read them, and realized they could use a change here or there. And I would never make a suggestion to my sister about anything. I both worshipped her and found her a bit scary. It's a shame I didn't speak up. I buried my editing self to read read read, smoke marijuana, go back to school for a secondary diploma, teach high school English for three years. That was all in Los Angeles. I moved to Seattle, where I was invited to participate in a small workshop for writers. I was writing short fiction. A woman in the workshop very much appreciated my editing finesse and mentioned me to her supervisor who hired me, when the woman (let's say Queen of Queens) left. For four year I was the Writing Lab person at Antioch College in Seattle. That's close to editing. </span></p><div><span><br /></span></div><div><span>Even closer to editing is editing. I became the editor-in-chief of <i>Northwest Ethnic News</i>. I don't know how. I'd taken one class in journalism in college and felt kinda sorta shamed by the grumpy geezer journalists in charge. I fled to English Lit. Thomas Hardy. Like that. But there I was and there I stayed for four years, working on a monthly newspaper. The original job of NWEN editors was to publish articles about the many types of Scandinavians in the Pacific Northwest and their dances, artwork, and such. Its ... (I'm not finished here.)</span></div><div><span><br /></span></div><div><span>(I hope this isn't too much. I'm incredibly shy yet incredibly pushy. Go figure.)</span></div><div><br /></div><div><span><br />Sarah Sarai</span></div></div></div>Sarah Saraihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12121360766766316902noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-396907022029426196.post-23535035223207002072023-01-02T19:24:00.001-05:002023-01-02T19:24:51.518-05:00Hi, 2023! + "O Faded Elegant World" + MacQueen's Quinterly<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNtOuGKx4o1ILH5mspwJurgxE1BhNe3CSnFFJEVdSqJKP-PWqOpbxlI29Jxtej8axyZ6--ZXksmdFKjUnGiM7c0cZQy6B0lm4EUX8KjR6Nhj5-nFVLl4vWLpyU-ttZjcIjt9LS-2GIPg83WfyPBilZMTYb_xI6yOE_KvDpbszqxuowz0t1xAaJI0o6/s402/Screen%20Shot%202023-01-02%20at%207.13.13%20PM.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="313" data-original-width="402" height="311" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNtOuGKx4o1ILH5mspwJurgxE1BhNe3CSnFFJEVdSqJKP-PWqOpbxlI29Jxtej8axyZ6--ZXksmdFKjUnGiM7c0cZQy6B0lm4EUX8KjR6Nhj5-nFVLl4vWLpyU-ttZjcIjt9LS-2GIPg83WfyPBilZMTYb_xI6yOE_KvDpbszqxuowz0t1xAaJI0o6/w400-h311/Screen%20Shot%202023-01-02%20at%207.13.13%20PM.png" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: left;"><div style="text-align: center;">These kids predate me, I suspect, but still, happy </div><div style="text-align: center;">and goofy kids is what kindergarten is about. </div></div><p></p><p> </p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">I started the year with a long walk, longer than expected, on the sidewalks of musty New York, first to a bar where I discovered an event had been canceled then across town to a building complex that demands I walk an extra ten blocks in the wrong direction before it will allow me into its time-honored walls. Every time. There, people I know, all warm smiles, warm hugs. And in-between the Lower East Side and the evasive building down some from the Whitney Museum I ran into a friend. And that was unexpected - insofar as, what! you? yay! - and delightful. An unexpected, impromptu, generous meet-up. Somehow helped me clear a bit of the baggage I was hauling from 2022. </span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">After seeing some warm acquaintances, and friends, on top of two-and-a-half hours of walking on sidewalks, I caught a bus, but only part way. It gets complicated. Once home I popped into bed, fully clothed, fell asleep. Woke. Did some things people do when awake, such as removing a sports bra, reading a poem, watching a t.v. show I knew would lull me back to sleep.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">So no booze, no big parties. I like booze and I like big parties. Another time. Soon!</span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">One more event. When I woke for the small portion of time I saw that new work of mine had been published. A Flash autobiographical essay* of mine was online. "<a href="http://www.macqueensquinterly.com/MacQ16/Sarai-Faded-World.aspx?fbclid=IwAR3im7e3uJYMwZx14PdcgkzHKCE4An9u5sXn_-Jho9DpFXHYi5yKgeQ0IcM">O Faded Elegant World</a>" in <i>MacQueen's Quinterly. That</i> surely wins the prize for a journal name. It mixes the hip and the quaint. My mini-essay is personal history as recalled by the personal historian who was seven? six? when the events took place. So. Grain of sand. Definitely with a toss of salt over your left shoulder. And truth.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">Here's to 2023! Peace and sanity, please. </span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">*500 words or less, in this case</span></p>Sarah Saraihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12121360766766316902noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-396907022029426196.post-46207143911532473752022-08-29T18:26:00.001-04:002022-08-29T18:26:19.750-04:00If Ezekiel could see it, why not me<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
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(A Chinese dwarf, courtesy of the Met; my alter ego)
As a follow-up to my August 4 posting, I’ve done it, revisited my not-yet-published fiction.
Deleted: several paragraphs on what a dumb schmuck I am.
Yesterday I submitted one of the revived stories to a contest and charged the fee. Thank you, Chase.
On the 21st of I sent off another of these revived stories. Not for a contest but there’s money if they take it. Two stories now out there, waiting. Last month I pulled together a novella I’d started again years ago. Found a reader who has a great eye. So now it’s ready to go asking for what it's worth. It's a delight. Two stories and a novella. Then a novel is collecting dust, all the dust there is in my Cloud. The
one solid piece of advice I was given in grad school was: Leave New York. I don't belong here. I never have. I wonder if I'd feel better about my work if I'd moved. I'll be back to this blog in September. Ezekiel? Read the skies. Was he in pain?
Sarah Saraihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12121360766766316902noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-396907022029426196.post-11834126791354766922022-08-04T20:20:00.001-04:002022-08-04T20:20:10.525-04:00Words and their heftier cousins...invited to the writing party<p> <table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjasXl1uz9hFcnRg-78PHVVIjQccgZkbmG2_EDwqvHExZpbORuyIX-kzDPqNSyHW4ufcQI2-XwhaGz2AGI7RResT28c7KRHQcFVrAy53k117WaMoS5WG5BrsuUcCHjRqbrMquYKTpZ43H3i--HC9aelP6405NLPrjRsJ8FvY0_5PPfpbUXReT6JWfJ5/s529/Screen%20Shot%202022-08-04%20at%208.15.02%20PM.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="483" data-original-width="529" height="230" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjasXl1uz9hFcnRg-78PHVVIjQccgZkbmG2_EDwqvHExZpbORuyIX-kzDPqNSyHW4ufcQI2-XwhaGz2AGI7RResT28c7KRHQcFVrAy53k117WaMoS5WG5BrsuUcCHjRqbrMquYKTpZ43H3i--HC9aelP6405NLPrjRsJ8FvY0_5PPfpbUXReT6JWfJ5/w301-h230/Screen%20Shot%202022-08-04%20at%208.15.02%20PM.png" width="301" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">You tell me.</td></tr></tbody></table></p><p>Reviving drafts of unfinished short stories which is proving to be enormously rewarding. And by rewarding I mean I'm diggin' the words. The current drafts are just that - fiction that's unfinished or finished but not polished. Stores not new to the party, such as the writing party is. Well, obviously the cellar's been dug and the foundation laid so there's that. Yeah. Stop. Okay.</p><p>I haven't sent one of the previously unpublished (and now reworked) stories out yet, mainly because there are few and when the few are gone ... girl, they'll be gone. They'll be gone, girl.</p><p>We're talking two or three new stories one of which is novella-like. It's like a novella because it is one.</p><p>Some days I am up against depression. It throws me to the ground and holds me down with vicious glee. The counteractive to depression is joy.</p><p>Repeat: The counteractive is joy. Words and their heftier cousins, sentences, are joy. New and reworked and working on reworking. Joy. Sarah Sarai 8/4/22</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyvs_VqKAppF03JFuhAin7LrfyucXncPIA0_RzCn_8poE6ayRr8WLgIzXH6HAHf5K2Q7S1s34v_2O2L6ppgIoWETenWnPq3l9IaPYjSejrJKC0F1udj4jPuP2hMHh45bWkoFiiPpkLdkVPmPR2T3YYlnm6CF-BL-pvm9ZxMbKwwZIbDj-IypkrmHPH/s517/Screen%20Shot%202022-08-04%20at%208.07.26%20PM.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="485" data-original-width="517" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyvs_VqKAppF03JFuhAin7LrfyucXncPIA0_RzCn_8poE6ayRr8WLgIzXH6HAHf5K2Q7S1s34v_2O2L6ppgIoWETenWnPq3l9IaPYjSejrJKC0F1udj4jPuP2hMHh45bWkoFiiPpkLdkVPmPR2T3YYlnm6CF-BL-pvm9ZxMbKwwZIbDj-IypkrmHPH/s320/Screen%20Shot%202022-08-04%20at%208.07.26%20PM.png" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">a hefty cousin</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><p><br /></p>Sarah Saraihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12121360766766316902noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-396907022029426196.post-2838650006661051022022-06-07T14:56:00.002-04:002022-08-04T18:51:01.757-04:00Ahab's tale never gets old. Changes by way of perspective. <p> </p><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://static01.nyt.com/images/2020/06/14/books/review/00Safina/00Safina-jumbo.jpg?quality=90&auto=webp" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="450" data-original-width="800" height="289" src="https://static01.nyt.com/images/2020/06/14/books/review/00Safina/00Safina-jumbo.jpg?quality=90&auto=webp" width="515" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Ahab's white whale, courtesy of the <i>NYTimes</i>.<br /><br /></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><p><br /></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">The Avoirdupois Chic</span></p><blockquote style="border-left-style: none; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: "Libre Baskerville", serif; line-height: 1.6; margin: 0px 0px 1.25rem 30px; padding: 0px;"><p style="box-sizing: border-box; font-family: inherit; line-height: 1.8; margin: 0px 0px 20px; padding: 0px; text-rendering: optimizeLegibility;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="box-sizing: border-box; font-style: italic; line-height: inherit;">More than once did he put forth the faint blossom of a look, which, in any other man, would have soon flowered out in a smile. – </span>Melville</span></p></blockquote><p style="box-sizing: border-box; font-family: "Libre Baskerville", serif; line-height: 1.8; margin: 0px 0px 30px; padding: 0px 0px 0px 40px; text-rendering: optimizeLegibility;"><span style="font-size: medium;">My depraved indifference to death<br style="box-sizing: border-box;" />sets Ahab to thumping his peg<br style="box-sizing: border-box;" />against my leg so we’ll perchance into<br style="box-sizing: border-box;" />that which precedes an heir bearing<br style="box-sizing: border-box;" />his bi-syllabic surname on banners bright<br style="box-sizing: border-box;" />through the belly of the whale warm as<br style="box-sizing: border-box;" />mutton and potatoes tea towel-topped.<br style="box-sizing: border-box;" /><span style="box-sizing: border-box; font-style: italic; line-height: inherit;">If you can’t bear a son, at least a splinter</span><br style="box-sizing: border-box;" />Mr. Ahab says, for use against blubbery<br style="box-sizing: border-box;" />blowhard though how, you might puzzle.<br style="box-sizing: border-box;" />No intimate to his intricacies am I<br style="box-sizing: border-box;" />who harbor soft-spots for heavyweights<br style="box-sizing: border-box;" />fat as concubines, the avoirdupois chic.<br style="box-sizing: border-box;" />Given the length of a life in nautical miles<br style="box-sizing: border-box;" />there’s hardly time for history to congeal<br style="box-sizing: border-box;" />for the slain to raise kin underskin the<br style="box-sizing: border-box;" />abandoned to banshee dreams as locust<br style="box-sizing: border-box;" />swoop hover and hum desert-side<br style="box-sizing: border-box;" />Ahab Uno’s tent on palmy summer eves.<br style="box-sizing: border-box;" />Ecstasy is all it’s cracked up to be,<br style="box-sizing: border-box;" />insufficient, a means to a cul-de-sac.<br style="box-sizing: border-box;" />Are locust merely in love with love?<br style="box-sizing: border-box;" />Starting soon, let’s no longer be afraid.<br style="box-sizing: border-box;" /><span style="box-sizing: border-box; font-style: italic; line-height: inherit;">The locust are at the door, dear. </span><br style="box-sizing: border-box;" /><span style="box-sizing: border-box; font-style: italic; line-height: inherit;">Well, set a plate for the happy couples! </span><br style="box-sizing: border-box;" />Tomorrow Ahab goes with his gut,<br style="box-sizing: border-box;" />with its celiac flora. Sing a seafaring<br style="box-sizing: border-box;" />song of fish fingers, ladies, avast! ahoy!<br style="box-sizing: border-box;" />Childhood fosters the eternal orphan.<br style="box-sizing: border-box;" />God wants what God wants.<br style="box-sizing: border-box;" />You, my dear Ahab, merely want,<br style="box-sizing: border-box;" />though That Can Change, a sea battle<br style="box-sizing: border-box;" />dispatch, a motto conceived of<br style="box-sizing: border-box;" />circumstance and truth, life’s sequels,<br style="box-sizing: border-box;" />now ebooks or available for download<br style="box-sizing: border-box;" />at a workstation near me. Near you.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">by Sarah Sarai. first published in <i>Berfrois</i> in 2011.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;"><i>Berfrois</i> (</span>https://www.berfrois.com)<span style="font-size: large;"> remains a remarkable amalgam of idea, narrative, poetry, perspective, philosophy, natural history, science, art, architecture, you-name-it-ism. </span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></p>Sarah Saraihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12121360766766316902noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-396907022029426196.post-18922151857845865722022-03-01T14:16:00.003-05:002022-03-01T14:16:34.427-05:00In the year of covid-fear all the hairs on my head turned shock-white ... #poem<p> <table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEityJvgkyJMQfInJdOrfP6vXUvXsOckcK17qxNEzPbV2m6P4WKNzOt322IPcWBY8mApwjN6WwC5zBoBPQ_YbdB94JVBThJVTDEFcAjQQolc07eLPAUf7UmYsoS5hIKplN9UF8IVvBwPYlYBgWtnwH5W3wSwM79jJI5e-n-Dgmkob0D-SR-71pTjffwt=s3508" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2481" data-original-width="3508" height="226" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEityJvgkyJMQfInJdOrfP6vXUvXsOckcK17qxNEzPbV2m6P4WKNzOt322IPcWBY8mApwjN6WwC5zBoBPQ_YbdB94JVBThJVTDEFcAjQQolc07eLPAUf7UmYsoS5hIKplN9UF8IVvBwPYlYBgWtnwH5W3wSwM79jJI5e-n-Dgmkob0D-SR-71pTjffwt=s320" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">https://wallpapercave.com/w/uwp2109286</td></tr></tbody></table><br /></p><p>Is March 1 a special day? Do we prank each other? In Arts class do we begin construction of a 15-day calendar to note the advent of the Ides of March. Any day, every day, anyone can be betrayed, being the theme?</p><p>The antidote to betrayal is to keep your expectations low. Don't convince yourself that today is the day your lottery ticket rings a bell. Don't assume that today, today, your luck is amping up and you will meet a gorgeous kind generous fertile not-fertile mate of any persuasion. The earth keeps moving. Most often, when you smile at someone they will not report you to the police. Somewhere, some child is happy. </p><p>I'm ignoring the ruthless man in Russia.</p><p>Back to me. I showed up here to wish everyone a day of hope. Yeah, hope can be a killer of tender dreams, but we need it. This weirdo, me, is less tuned into hope, a future fantasy - not to be turned away but the now. The now. Whatever they're doing the clouds are astounding in their visual brilliance. Clear skies. Atmospheric struggles between pollution and clean air aside, there are pigeons. Always there are pigeons, plump and strutting, at least here in N.Y.C. If pigeons have earned an attitude of superiority and desire to parade their chubby selves, so can I. (I don't know why that's true. Let's pretend it is.)</p><p>I had a poem published in February, one I shall herein, here and now, share with you. It's about a painful swath of my life. About hope and persistence. Pulling away from pain. Moving on. One friend called it a "hair poem." Okay. Not really. Whatever you want.</p><p>"<span style="background-color: #eae9e3; caret-color: rgb(64, 64, 64); color: #404040; font-family: "PT Serif", serif; font-size: 16px;">iv.</span></p><p><span style="box-sizing: inherit; caret-color: rgb(64, 64, 64); color: #404040; font-family: "PT Serif", serif; font-size: 16px; word-wrap: break-word;">In the year of covid-fear all the hairs on my head turned shock-white, all white, only white."</span></p><p><span style="color: #404040; font-family: PT Serif, serif;"><span style="caret-color: rgb(64, 64, 64);"><a href="https://nycbigcitylit.com/article/shock-white/">Read "Shock-White" on the gorgeous and historical site, <i>Big City Lit</i></a>. I love the editors - Alyssa Yankwitt, Christopher Cappeluti, Barry Wallenstein, Richard Levine - who took over from Nick (Nicholas Johnson), who I loved also. Everyone loved. </span></span></p><p><span style="color: #404040; font-family: PT Serif, serif;"><span style="caret-color: rgb(64, 64, 64);">Everyone loves. Yes, we can all love. Don't have to admit it. Just enjoy. We're all forgiven every day.</span></span></p>Sarah Saraihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12121360766766316902noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-396907022029426196.post-14980541841867635402022-02-11T23:55:00.000-05:002022-02-11T23:55:49.154-05:00For the Children of Poets #poem by G.E. Schwartz<p> </p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjY31uPS7BnfxEwomd8791nzM0kHRs3q58RVEBOoH4w-WHsf7HsezAjDtOjjLK0cIWIV19P-5IVdulPxlNpQ-TPFiE9L_R3_REHWV2Ln2JBkmnhZHqX_AGosLIASJiqBx_chFcPg_scCd9EIyWv_LZD9aKjW1-CdMGM8bQMxaKZP4xpIhnyw6h3ivwH=s530" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="475" data-original-width="530" height="274" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjY31uPS7BnfxEwomd8791nzM0kHRs3q58RVEBOoH4w-WHsf7HsezAjDtOjjLK0cIWIV19P-5IVdulPxlNpQ-TPFiE9L_R3_REHWV2Ln2JBkmnhZHqX_AGosLIASJiqBx_chFcPg_scCd9EIyWv_LZD9aKjW1-CdMGM8bQMxaKZP4xpIhnyw6h3ivwH=w309-h274" width="309" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">John Milton and his two daughters, one of whom, <br />Deborah, I believe, is not looking thrilled with time spent taking dictation, <br />even if her learned father is dictating <i>Paradise Lost</i>. Artist: George Romney, 1794.</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><p><span style="font-family: Garamond; font-size: 11pt; font-weight: 700;">For the Children of Poets</span></p><div class="page" title="Page 6"><div class="layoutArea"><div class="column"><div class="page" title="Page 6"><div class="layoutArea"><div class="column"><p><span style="font-family: Garamond; font-size: 11pt;">Children of poets, how do you find Your haven? Maybe you escape to</span></p><p><span style="font-family: Garamond; font-size: 11pt;"> A cousin’s or some other place? If </span><span style="font-family: Garamond; font-size: 11pt;">There are two homes, off and on,</span></p><p><span style="font-family: Garamond; font-size: 11pt;">Separately (the parents’), wo</span><span style="font-family: Garamond; font-size: 11pt;">uld you Be directed by where you have little</span></p><p><span style="font-family: Garamond; font-size: 14.666666984558105px;"> </span><span style="font-family: Garamond; font-size: 11pt;">But private stress to cope with? (With Her mother away, Deborah Milton</span></p><p><span style="font-family: Garamond; font-size: 11pt;">Had to be used, by ear and by pen Especially, at her alternate home.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: Garamond; font-size: 14.666666984558105px;"> </span><span style="font-family: Garamond; font-size: 11pt;">Imagine, in the dark deeps of night, The blind poet, her father, haplessly</span></p><p><span style="font-family: Garamond; font-size: 11pt;">Rounding with a surge of line upon Line till he could bear no burdening</span></p><p><span style="font-family: Garamond; font-size: 14.666666984558105px;"> </span><span style="font-family: Garamond; font-size: 11pt;">Anymore, and at four-thirty a. m., The hired secretary ill, unavailable!)</span></p><p><span style="font-family: Garamond; font-size: 11pt;">You heard, and wrote: a process by-</span><span style="font-family: Garamond; font-size: 11pt;">Passing mind, or heart, I’d guess. </span><span style="font-family: Garamond; font-size: 11pt;">Did</span></p><p><span style="font-family: Garamond; font-size: 14.666666984558105px;"> </span><span style="font-family: Garamond; font-size: 11pt;">Sister Mary, too, have to learn Hebrew, Latin, other languages, he wanted</span></p><p><span style="font-family: Garamond; font-size: 11pt;">Read aloud? Children of dust, the call Can come at harsh hours, disrupting</span></p><p><span style="font-family: Garamond; font-size: 14.666666984558105px;"> </span><span style="font-family: Garamond; font-size: 11pt;">The sleep of nature. The voice must Be heeded, the unfathomable words</span></p><p><span style="font-family: Garamond; font-size: 11pt;">Forming at best a promise that, in Some way, someday, everything will</span></p><p><span style="font-family: Garamond; font-size: 14.666666984558105px;"> </span><span style="font-family: Garamond; font-size: 11pt;">Come into clarity. Warm-hearted Samuel Johnson must have been so</span></p><p><span style="font-family: Garamond; font-size: 11pt;">Exasperated on your behalf, saying That you had ben schooled only in</span></p><p><span style="font-family: Garamond; font-size: 14.666666984558105px;"> </span><span style="font-family: Garamond; font-size: 11pt;">Alphabets and sounds of all those Languages, not in the words, their</span></p><p><span style="font-family: Garamond; font-size: 11pt;">Meanings that might have made all The long hours a little less wearisome.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: Garamond; font-size: 14.666666984558105px;"> </span><span style="font-family: Garamond; font-size: 11pt;">Children, sleep well while all time Runs on. Rise, docile, dim of spirit.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: Garamond; font-size: 11pt;">Someday someone sometime will bless you for it.</span></p></div></div><div class="layoutArea"><div class="column"><div class="page" title="Page 2"><div class="layoutArea"><div class="column"><p><span style="font-family: Garamond; font-size: 11pt;">_ _ _</span></p><p><span style="font-family: Garamond; font-size: 11pt;"><b>G.E. Schwartz</b>. "For the Children of Poets" first appeared in </span><span style="font-family: Garamond; font-size: 11pt;"><i>Dappled Things</i>, and is included in G.E. Schwartz' collection <i>Murmurations</i> (Foothills Publishing, I</span><span style="font-family: Garamond; font-size: 11pt;">SBN: 978-0-951053-32-4; </span><span style="font-family: Garamond; font-size: 11pt;">www.foothillspublishing.com).</span></p></div><div class="column"><p><br /></p></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div>Sarah Saraihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12121360766766316902noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-396907022029426196.post-60981743640103388092022-02-07T14:34:00.003-05:002022-02-07T14:34:59.850-05:00Climate Change and Your Nerves<h2 style="text-align: left;"> Climate Change and Your Nerves</h2><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEh1d9GNOt9vZ9NJGyWDmS5br2T34u38BGG0bEU0R4qKTd-C02QeYTkXn7OKBwZto4kZhcjlXLW2qcNlZ3cHpJsm0bkjt27GkLOOGfnhoiR4rt9N428TJ05F2bftA2Wg9UerdykCQ1qgXG5RYZEd15tG_BtAn_VglOoZ8GS_fAtyHutYHWISn3fYv6XC=s3264" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2448" data-original-width="3264" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEh1d9GNOt9vZ9NJGyWDmS5br2T34u38BGG0bEU0R4qKTd-C02QeYTkXn7OKBwZto4kZhcjlXLW2qcNlZ3cHpJsm0bkjt27GkLOOGfnhoiR4rt9N428TJ05F2bftA2Wg9UerdykCQ1qgXG5RYZEd15tG_BtAn_VglOoZ8GS_fAtyHutYHWISn3fYv6XC=s320" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">East River Park where 400 trees were cut down<br />& mulched to make way for an environmentally dangerous development<br />of fancy apts. Same old same old. [photo by Sarah Sarai]</span><br /></td></tr></tbody></table><p>Last Tuesday my weekly talk group - all of us senior and queer - hit the subject of feeling anxious about climate change - are we?/aren't we? anxious. And our guilt and fear, right-now fear and right-now guilt related to climate change and its inevitable impact on that thing ahead of us: The Future. Did we stop it? No. Many of us, to some degree or another, tried, ie, recycled and sometimes boycotted. If you have tried to mollify the planet or if you haven't, it's coming. We agreed we had the anxiety and probably each of us thought more about the messed up Earth awaiting us. The messed up Earth here and now. That giant iceberg that's about to break free. Birds. Always birds. Often cats, too. </p><p></p><p>So I was relieved to read a very relevant article by reporter<b> Ellen Barry</b> in the New York Times (monthly subscription costs $4!). Here's the first few paras from <a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2022/02/06/health/climate-anxiety-therapy.html">Climate Change Enters the Therapy Room</a>.</p><p class="css-axufdj evys1bk0" style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #333333; font-family: nyt-imperial, georgia, "times new roman", times, serif; font-size: 1.25rem; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: inherit; line-height: 1.875rem; margin: 0px 0px 0.9375rem; max-width: 100%; orphans: 2; padding: 0px; text-decoration-thickness: initial; vertical-align: baseline; widows: 2; width: 600px;">PORTLAND, Ore. — It would hit Alina Black in the snack aisle at Trader Joe’s, a wave of guilt and shame that made her skin crawl.</p><p class="css-axufdj evys1bk0" style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #333333; font-family: nyt-imperial, georgia, "times new roman", times, serif; font-size: 1.25rem; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: inherit; line-height: 1.875rem; margin: 0px 0px 0.9375rem; max-width: 100%; orphans: 2; padding: 0px; text-decoration-thickness: initial; vertical-align: baseline; widows: 2; width: 600px;">Something as simple as nuts. They came wrapped in plastic, often in layers of it, that she imagined leaving her house and traveling to a landfill, where it would remain through her lifetime and the lifetime of her children.</p><p class="css-axufdj evys1bk0" style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #333333; font-family: nyt-imperial, georgia, "times new roman", times, serif; font-size: 1.25rem; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: inherit; line-height: 1.875rem; margin: 0px 0px 0.9375rem; max-width: 100%; orphans: 2; padding: 0px; text-decoration-thickness: initial; vertical-align: baseline; widows: 2; width: 600px;">She longed, really longed, to make less of a mark on the earth. But she had also had a baby in diapers, and a full-time job, and a 5-year-old who wanted snacks. At the age of 37, these conflicting forces were slowly closing on her, like a set of jaws.</p><p class="css-axufdj evys1bk0" style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #333333; font-family: nyt-imperial, georgia, "times new roman", times, serif; font-size: 1.25rem; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: inherit; line-height: 1.875rem; margin: 0px; max-width: 100%; orphans: 2; padding: 0px; text-decoration-thickness: initial; vertical-align: baseline; widows: 2; width: 600px;">In the early-morning hours, after nursing the baby, she would slip down a rabbit hole, scrolling through news reports of droughts, fires, mass extinction. Then she would stare into the dark. con't.</p><p class="css-axufdj evys1bk0" style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #333333; font-family: nyt-imperial, georgia, "times new roman", times, serif; font-size: 1.25rem; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: inherit; line-height: 1.875rem; margin: 0px; max-width: 100%; orphans: 2; padding: 0px; text-decoration-thickness: initial; vertical-align: baseline; widows: 2; width: 600px;"><br /></p><p class="css-axufdj evys1bk0" style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #333333; font-family: nyt-imperial, georgia, "times new roman", times, serif; font-size: 1.25rem; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: inherit; line-height: 1.875rem; margin: 0px; max-width: 100%; orphans: 2; padding: 0px; text-decoration-thickness: initial; vertical-align: baseline; widows: 2; width: 600px;"><span face="-webkit-standard" style="caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-size: medium;">Yeah. The thought of mass extinction will do that to you.</span></p><p class="css-axufdj evys1bk0" style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #333333; font-family: nyt-imperial, georgia, "times new roman", times, serif; font-size: 1.25rem; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: inherit; line-height: 1.875rem; margin: 0px; max-width: 100%; orphans: 2; padding: 0px; text-decoration-thickness: initial; vertical-align: baseline; widows: 2; width: 600px;"><span face="-webkit-standard" style="caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></p><p class="css-axufdj evys1bk0" style="background-color: white; border: 0px; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: inherit; line-height: 1.875rem; margin: 0px; max-width: 100%; orphans: 2; padding: 0px; text-decoration-thickness: initial; vertical-align: baseline; widows: 2; width: 600px;">I would expect that only the captains of industry who push denial like it's soft serve ice cream consider climate change it's a momentary blip. Or believe their fortresses will protect them. Which they won't. God could but God never seems to step in until ten million or sixty million people have been slaughtered. And even then... Anyone's guess. So I recommend you read the article. Here's a little more to bide you over:</p><p class="css-axufdj evys1bk0" style="background-color: white; border: 0px; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: inherit; line-height: 1.875rem; margin: 0px; max-width: 100%; orphans: 2; padding: 0px; text-decoration-thickness: initial; vertical-align: baseline; widows: 2; width: 600px;"><br /></p><p class="css-axufdj evys1bk0" style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #333333; font-family: nyt-imperial, georgia, "times new roman", times, serif; font-size: 1.25rem; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: inherit; line-height: 1.875rem; margin: 0px 0px 0.9375rem; max-width: 100%; orphans: 2; padding: 0px; text-decoration-thickness: initial; vertical-align: baseline; widows: 2; width: 600px;">It was for this reason that, around six months ago, she searched “climate anxiety” and pulled up the name of Thomas J. Doherty, a Portland psychologist who specializes in climate.</p><p class="css-axufdj evys1bk0" style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #333333; font-family: nyt-imperial, georgia, "times new roman", times, serif; font-size: 1.25rem; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: inherit; line-height: 1.875rem; margin: 0px 0px 0.9375rem; max-width: 100%; orphans: 2; padding: 0px; text-decoration-thickness: initial; vertical-align: baseline; widows: 2; width: 600px;">A decade ago, Dr. Doherty and a colleague, Susan Clayton, a professor of psychology at the College of Wooster, <a class="css-1g7m0tk" href="https://psycnet.apa.org/record/2011-09485-003" rel="noopener noreferrer" style="border: 0px; color: #326891; font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant-caps: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;" target="_blank" title="">published a paper</a> proposing a new idea. They argued that climate change would have a powerful psychological impact — not just on the people bearing the brunt of it, but on people following it through news and research. At the time, the notion was seen as speculative.</p><p class="css-axufdj evys1bk0" style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #333333; font-family: nyt-imperial, georgia, "times new roman", times, serif; font-size: 1.25rem; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: inherit; line-height: 1.875rem; margin: 0px 0px 0.9375rem; max-width: 100%; orphans: 2; padding: 0px; text-decoration-thickness: initial; vertical-align: baseline; widows: 2; width: 600px;">That skepticism is fading. Eco-anxiety, a concept introduced by young activists, has entered a mainstream vocabulary. And professional organizations are hurrying to catch up, exploring approaches to treating anxiety that is both existential and, many would argue, rational.</p><p class="css-axufdj evys1bk0" style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #333333; font-family: nyt-imperial, georgia, "times new roman", times, serif; font-size: 1.25rem; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: inherit; line-height: 1.875rem; margin: 0px 0px 0.9375rem; max-width: 100%; orphans: 2; padding: 0px; text-decoration-thickness: initial; vertical-align: baseline; widows: 2; width: 600px;">Again, from the <a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2022/02/06/health/climate-anxiety-therapy.html">Times</a>.</p>Sarah Saraihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12121360766766316902noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-396907022029426196.post-65831541640052420342022-02-06T20:57:00.003-05:002022-02-06T21:09:02.907-05:00East River Park...already in partial ruin<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjS4INcYv04EvXNuqr4-sYA-DbIvwfvtc1_3RMGNtSYl4BjxzDsqkNWFGksK57WurD0jupcSgAiy7xYa10FLT7Bnlrb79n01Ve663cN3QkcoM-SOy8Sic6XBIapyBBOCN8M5bk9Yi5afOZ_HDoTCtbIDZspCY16suR99fNuI0j6xRiLcsbD-aDMYdnC" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="2448" data-original-width="3264" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjS4INcYv04EvXNuqr4-sYA-DbIvwfvtc1_3RMGNtSYl4BjxzDsqkNWFGksK57WurD0jupcSgAiy7xYa10FLT7Bnlrb79n01Ve663cN3QkcoM-SOy8Sic6XBIapyBBOCN8M5bk9Yi5afOZ_HDoTCtbIDZspCY16suR99fNuI0j6xRiLcsbD-aDMYdnC" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjVFmRYmSMdJu06bboQUvlHOF6oXOWUEPLNXhvdM7ZusxIOLjum3rpg-LclPRIztOy80XDFFV7L5Anpa_QLFjdC-zfOtnbfRcZzaSWl91V6YiHumstxUK1dm1XhfvLmCLw48GKdsf2sbWb1Qbtzts5s0w4jv-jASYGD7qUutbqhTnR20euGl95itKqi" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="2448" data-original-width="3264" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjVFmRYmSMdJu06bboQUvlHOF6oXOWUEPLNXhvdM7ZusxIOLjum3rpg-LclPRIztOy80XDFFV7L5Anpa_QLFjdC-zfOtnbfRcZzaSWl91V6YiHumstxUK1dm1XhfvLmCLw48GKdsf2sbWb1Qbtzts5s0w4jv-jASYGD7qUutbqhTnR20euGl95itKqi" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjUpH4gegByW0G-0RnJJP1RrIhjwYLblqrPtJJfAfZDnSRwD31C9S-2Znp3-tbRYSD9c17Mi7tTPLxn00jUI6XRjg8VvnkF2IIIppKxr9TwTpknsCs5mP8kgH2jLBPwV-eg7jZ63Vv1GJZmetY1RtnZmLQPeaoNaiJrpWdTQCKe4ed9r8mS1dHiJqyd" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="2448" data-original-width="3264" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjUpH4gegByW0G-0RnJJP1RrIhjwYLblqrPtJJfAfZDnSRwD31C9S-2Znp3-tbRYSD9c17Mi7tTPLxn00jUI6XRjg8VvnkF2IIIppKxr9TwTpknsCs5mP8kgH2jLBPwV-eg7jZ63Vv1GJZmetY1RtnZmLQPeaoNaiJrpWdTQCKe4ed9r8mS1dHiJqyd" width="320" /></a></div>photos by Sarah Sarai<br /> <p></p>Sarah Saraihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12121360766766316902noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-396907022029426196.post-49347251828126355342022-01-25T00:36:00.001-05:002022-01-25T00:44:54.764-05:00The Gilded Age on HBO - scrapes off the gild to reveal plywood<span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgJVxogM2un0oorW03-VL0N0UIYFyGYZbqm9z9XF1JJTk6_Xp6-UmDeIDLB7QgTr-Uw6IdboD_ue1q3D72fkEijxP5zOUZ_yAeD3VvH69YGy_WJvpnlTJY7pG7BO5C6L1ZxEU7zZK6bT6cwmxd_N1dVDS6a_NhoZ5xws_ZxLrB5kUhtqWxdVPg8SjOg=s1440" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1080" data-original-width="1440" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgJVxogM2un0oorW03-VL0N0UIYFyGYZbqm9z9XF1JJTk6_Xp6-UmDeIDLB7QgTr-Uw6IdboD_ue1q3D72fkEijxP5zOUZ_yAeD3VvH69YGy_WJvpnlTJY7pG7BO5C6L1ZxEU7zZK6bT6cwmxd_N1dVDS6a_NhoZ5xws_ZxLrB5kUhtqWxdVPg8SjOg=s320" width="320" /></a></div><span><div style="text-align: center;">Madison Square Park, photo by Sarah Sarai</div></span><span>I am most unhappy with the first episode of "The Gilded Age," a Julian Fellowes-written jam which is very silly and very white. My HBO subscription ends in a few hours, so this was my farewell and no problem there. </span></span><div><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">This first-of-the-series episode is a fitting send off (to the demise of my subscription). There were many complaints with HBO's The Wire - that it was a white writer's impression of a black city (Baltimore) and a black struggle (Baltimore). That is my perspective of "The Gilded Age" - that it is very very very white and remarkably uninventive in being so. Despite the one young black woman who is a struggling writer. Perhaps her struggle will be representative of the times but why bother representing those times? Why use the history of racism as an excuse to further racism? </span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">And why such a pallid portrayal of the nouveau riche? </span><span style="font-family: georgia;">Hallelujah and thank you, lord, two great and interesting actresses brightened the screen. Christine Baranski as an old school white lady richie rich. And, briefly so far, Audra McDonald as the mother of Baranski's new secretary. (There is no situation or script on God's earth that could not be bettered by Baranski and/or McDonald.) </span></span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">The plot is pallid. Carrie Coon, an actress I dislike (her expressionless face creeps me out - has done so since Fargo [the t.v. show], is the striver in this series. A monied wife who has a house built on Fifth - across from Central Park - as her Cape Canaveral to launch herself into old New York society. Her architect is the great Stanford White but apparently his name means nothing to the first families of New York. New York has always had snobs spinning its social circles with a circus clown's panache. And, yes, snobs are delightful when they are Baranski aided by some of the mustachio twirling men in the series. </span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">In the final scene of Episode 1, the Carrie Coon character, an arriviste, insists she's going to make the snobs of New York admire her or come to her parties. THAT's the issue? Sounds like a<i> Father Knows Best</i> episode with Kitten scrunching her 10-year-old face to reveal gumption. </span><span style="font-family: georgia;">It would work better if Reese Witherspoon were the pushy broad determined to get through Harvard Law. </span></span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">I live in NYC and it is mundo snob-o-licious. It is awful here, in fact, IF you harbor a desire to fit in. Which I stupidly did. Because there are no accommodations for weirdos like me (a simple country lass with no money and a quick tongue). I'll talk about that sometime when my thinking portions are up to par. </span></div>Sarah Saraihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12121360766766316902noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-396907022029426196.post-63288505072032658812022-01-16T14:41:00.000-05:002022-01-16T14:41:05.946-05:00Captain Snowpants: Vermont School Kids Name Their Snowplows<p></p><h4><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhKxzqOzKRA7ZEjXgGixrdWH3fX2CrWp2ulyvrtvGfBAiKnT2HEkYGNPNYCirSebOjv5XOGStczB90nZZRVN8R245Htj2j1UyUxrcP64JxBoRXMrxqDt4TYwfvgTtRVHEWVudMbCmOU_TyoKQbaYxFGJN9FBrxhISkkOO2pqnkvonzChclQUAsVGqf2=s862" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="463" data-original-width="862" height="202" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhKxzqOzKRA7ZEjXgGixrdWH3fX2CrWp2ulyvrtvGfBAiKnT2HEkYGNPNYCirSebOjv5XOGStczB90nZZRVN8R245Htj2j1UyUxrcP64JxBoRXMrxqDt4TYwfvgTtRVHEWVudMbCmOU_TyoKQbaYxFGJN9FBrxhISkkOO2pqnkvonzChclQUAsVGqf2=w365-h202" width="365" /></a></div></h4><h3 style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Last November, Vermont school kids got to name their local snowplow. Click below for the news story and below the below, read the names, i.e., William Scrape-speare, The Plowinator, </span><span style="font-size: medium;">Brr-ito, JFK Snow You Didn't, Darth Blader, Captain Snowpants</span></h3><h3 style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /><span style="font-weight: normal;"><a href="https://vtdigger.org/2021/11/21/vermont-schoolchildren-got-to-name-163-snowplows-and-the-results-are-as-fantastic-as-youd-think/">Vermont grammar school kids name their snowplow</a>, 2021</span></span></h3><h4><table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" style="border-collapse: collapse; color: black; width: 856px;"><colgroup><col style="width: 247pt;" width="329"></col><col style="width: 185pt;" width="247"></col><col style="width: 210pt;" width="280"></col></colgroup></table></h4><h4><table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" style="border-collapse: collapse; color: black; width: 856px;"><colgroup><col style="width: 247pt;" width="329"></col><col style="width: 185pt;" width="247"></col><col style="width: 210pt;" width="280"></col></colgroup><tbody><tr height="24" style="height: 18pt;"><td class="xl64" colspan="3" height="24" style="border: none; color: #333333; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt; font-weight: 700; height: 18pt; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; padding-top: 1px; vertical-align: bottom; white-space: nowrap; width: 642pt;" width="856"><table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" style="border-collapse: collapse; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; width: 652px;"><colgroup><col style="width: 211pt;" width="281"></col><col style="width: 111pt;" width="148"></col><col style="width: 167pt;" width="223"></col></colgroup><tbody><tr height="23" style="height: 17pt;"><td class="xl67" height="23" style="border: none; color: #333333; font-size: 13pt; height: 17pt; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; padding-top: 1px; vertical-align: bottom; white-space: nowrap;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Academy School</span></td><td class="xl67" style="border: none; color: #333333; font-size: 13pt; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; padding-top: 1px; vertical-align: bottom; white-space: nowrap;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Brattleboro</span></td><td class="xl67" style="border: none; color: #333333; font-size: 13pt; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; padding-top: 1px; vertical-align: bottom; white-space: nowrap;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Astro</span></td></tr><tr height="23" style="height: 17pt;"><td class="xl67" height="23" style="border: none; color: #333333; font-size: 13pt; height: 17pt; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; padding-top: 1px; vertical-align: bottom; white-space: nowrap;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Albany Community School </span></td><td class="xl67" style="border: none; color: #333333; font-size: 13pt; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; padding-top: 1px; vertical-align: bottom; white-space: nowrap;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Albany</span></td><td class="xl67" style="border: none; color: #333333; font-size: 13pt; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; padding-top: 1px; vertical-align: bottom; white-space: nowrap;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Wolf Tracks</span></td></tr><tr height="23" style="height: 17pt;"><td class="xl67" height="23" style="border: none; color: #333333; font-size: 13pt; height: 17pt; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; padding-top: 1px; vertical-align: bottom; white-space: nowrap;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Allen Brook School </span></td><td class="xl67" style="border: none; color: #333333; font-size: 13pt; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; padding-top: 1px; vertical-align: bottom; white-space: nowrap;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Williston</span></td><td class="xl67" style="border: none; color: #333333; font-size: 13pt; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; padding-top: 1px; vertical-align: bottom; white-space: nowrap;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Salty</span></td></tr><tr height="23" style="height: 17pt;"><td class="xl67" height="23" style="border: none; color: #333333; font-size: 13pt; height: 17pt; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; padding-top: 1px; vertical-align: bottom; white-space: nowrap;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Bakersfield Elementary and Middle School </span></td><td class="xl67" style="border: none; color: #333333; font-size: 13pt; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; padding-top: 1px; vertical-align: bottom; white-space: nowrap;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Bakersfield</span></td><td class="xl67" style="border: none; color: #333333; font-size: 13pt; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; padding-top: 1px; vertical-align: bottom; white-space: nowrap;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Jennifer Snowpez</span></td></tr><tr height="23" style="height: 17pt;"><td class="xl67" height="23" style="border: none; color: #333333; font-size: 13pt; height: 17pt; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; padding-top: 1px; vertical-align: bottom; white-space: nowrap;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Barnet Elementary School</span></td><td class="xl67" style="border: none; color: #333333; font-size: 13pt; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; padding-top: 1px; vertical-align: bottom; white-space: nowrap;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Barnet</span></td><td class="xl67" style="border: none; color: #333333; font-size: 13pt; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; padding-top: 1px; vertical-align: bottom; white-space: nowrap;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Storm Breaker</span></td></tr><tr height="23" style="height: 17pt;"><td class="xl67" height="23" style="border: none; color: #333333; font-size: 13pt; height: 17pt; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; padding-top: 1px; vertical-align: bottom; white-space: nowrap;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Barre Town Middle/Elementary School</span></td><td class="xl67" style="border: none; color: #333333; font-size: 13pt; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; padding-top: 1px; vertical-align: bottom; white-space: nowrap;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Barre</span></td><td class="xl67" style="border: none; color: #333333; font-size: 13pt; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; padding-top: 1px; vertical-align: bottom; white-space: nowrap;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Snow Destroyer</span></td></tr><tr height="23" style="height: 17pt;"><td class="xl67" height="23" style="border: none; color: #333333; font-size: 13pt; height: 17pt; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; padding-top: 1px; vertical-align: bottom; white-space: nowrap;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Barstow Memorial School</span></td><td class="xl67" style="border: none; color: #333333; font-size: 13pt; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; padding-top: 1px; vertical-align: bottom; white-space: nowrap;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Chittenden</span></td><td class="xl67" style="border: none; color: #333333; font-size: 13pt; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; padding-top: 1px; vertical-align: bottom; white-space: nowrap;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Frostbite</span></td></tr><tr height="23" style="height: 17pt;"><td class="xl67" height="23" style="border: none; color: #333333; font-size: 13pt; height: 17pt; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; padding-top: 1px; vertical-align: bottom; white-space: nowrap;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Barton Graded School</span></td><td class="xl67" style="border: none; color: #333333; font-size: 13pt; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; padding-top: 1px; vertical-align: bottom; white-space: nowrap;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Barton </span></td><td class="xl67" style="border: none; color: #333333; font-size: 13pt; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; padding-top: 1px; vertical-align: bottom; white-space: nowrap;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Eye of the Tiger</span></td></tr><tr height="23" style="height: 17pt;"><td class="xl67" height="23" style="border: none; color: #333333; font-size: 13pt; height: 17pt; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; padding-top: 1px; vertical-align: bottom; white-space: nowrap;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Bennington Elementary School</span></td><td class="xl67" style="border: none; color: #333333; font-size: 13pt; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; padding-top: 1px; vertical-align: bottom; white-space: nowrap;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Bennington</span></td><td class="xl67" style="border: none; color: #333333; font-size: 13pt; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; padding-top: 1px; vertical-align: bottom; white-space: nowrap;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Snowy the Plow</span></td></tr><tr height="23" style="height: 17pt;"><td class="xl67" height="23" style="border: none; color: #333333; font-size: 13pt; height: 17pt; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; padding-top: 1px; vertical-align: bottom; white-space: nowrap;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Berlin Elementary School</span></td><td class="xl67" style="border: none; color: #333333; font-size: 13pt; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; padding-top: 1px; vertical-align: bottom; white-space: nowrap;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Berlin</span></td><td class="xl67" style="border: none; color: #333333; font-size: 13pt; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; padding-top: 1px; vertical-align: bottom; white-space: nowrap;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Yo Bro, No Snow</span></td></tr><tr height="23" style="height: 17pt;"><td class="xl67" height="23" style="border: none; color: #333333; font-size: 13pt; height: 17pt; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; padding-top: 1px; vertical-align: bottom; white-space: nowrap;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Bethel Elementary School</span></td><td class="xl67" style="border: none; color: #333333; font-size: 13pt; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; padding-top: 1px; vertical-align: bottom; white-space: nowrap;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Bethel</span></td><td class="xl67" style="border: none; color: #333333; font-size: 13pt; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; padding-top: 1px; vertical-align: bottom; white-space: nowrap;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Plowtron</span></td></tr><tr height="23" style="height: 17pt;"><td class="xl67" height="23" style="border: none; color: #333333; font-size: 13pt; height: 17pt; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; padding-top: 1px; vertical-align: bottom; white-space: nowrap;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Bishop John A. Marshall School</span></td><td class="xl67" style="border: none; color: #333333; font-size: 13pt; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; padding-top: 1px; vertical-align: bottom; white-space: nowrap;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Morristown</span></td><td class="xl67" style="border: none; color: #333333; font-size: 13pt; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; padding-top: 1px; vertical-align: bottom; white-space: nowrap;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Snowbegone Kenobi</span></td></tr><tr height="23" style="height: 17pt;"><td class="xl67" height="23" style="border: none; color: #333333; font-size: 13pt; height: 17pt; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; padding-top: 1px; vertical-align: bottom; white-space: nowrap;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Blue Mountain Union School </span></td><td class="xl67" style="border: none; color: #333333; font-size: 13pt; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; padding-top: 1px; vertical-align: bottom; white-space: nowrap;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Newbury</span></td><td class="xl67" style="border: none; color: #333333; font-size: 13pt; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; padding-top: 1px; vertical-align: bottom; white-space: nowrap;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">BMU Monster Buck</span></td></tr><tr height="23" style="height: 17pt;"><td class="xl67" height="23" style="border: none; color: #333333; font-size: 13pt; height: 17pt; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; padding-top: 1px; vertical-align: bottom; white-space: nowrap;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Bradford Elementary School </span></td><td class="xl67" style="border: none; color: #333333; font-size: 13pt; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; padding-top: 1px; vertical-align: bottom; white-space: nowrap;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Bradford</span></td><td class="xl67" style="border: none; color: #333333; font-size: 13pt; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; padding-top: 1px; vertical-align: bottom; white-space: nowrap;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Blizzard Wizard</span></td></tr><tr height="23" style="height: 17pt;"><td class="xl67" height="23" style="border: none; color: #333333; font-size: 13pt; height: 17pt; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; padding-top: 1px; vertical-align: bottom; white-space: nowrap;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Braintree Elementary School</span></td><td class="xl67" style="border: none; color: #333333; font-size: 13pt; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; padding-top: 1px; vertical-align: bottom; white-space: nowrap;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Braintree</span></td><td class="xl67" style="border: none; color: #333333; font-size: 13pt; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; padding-top: 1px; vertical-align: bottom; white-space: nowrap;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Captain Snowmerica</span></td></tr><tr height="23" style="height: 17pt;"><td class="xl67" height="23" style="border: none; color: #333333; font-size: 13pt; height: 17pt; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; padding-top: 1px; vertical-align: bottom; white-space: nowrap;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Brewster Pierce Memorial School</span></td><td class="xl67" style="border: none; color: #333333; font-size: 13pt; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; padding-top: 1px; vertical-align: bottom; white-space: nowrap;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Huntington</span></td><td class="xl67" style="border: none; color: #333333; font-size: 13pt; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; padding-top: 1px; vertical-align: bottom; white-space: nowrap;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Yogi</span></td></tr><tr height="23" style="height: 17pt;"><td class="xl67" height="23" style="border: none; color: #333333; font-size: 13pt; height: 17pt; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; padding-top: 1px; vertical-align: bottom; white-space: nowrap;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Bridge School</span></td><td class="xl67" style="border: none; color: #333333; font-size: 13pt; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; padding-top: 1px; vertical-align: bottom; white-space: nowrap;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Middlebury</span></td><td class="xl67" style="border: none; color: #333333; font-size: 13pt; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; padding-top: 1px; vertical-align: bottom; white-space: nowrap;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Plowy McPlowFace</span></td></tr><tr height="23" style="height: 17pt;"><td class="xl67" height="23" style="border: none; color: #333333; font-size: 13pt; height: 17pt; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; padding-top: 1px; vertical-align: bottom; white-space: nowrap;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Bridport Central School </span></td><td class="xl67" style="border: none; color: #333333; font-size: 13pt; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; padding-top: 1px; vertical-align: bottom; white-space: nowrap;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Bridport</span></td><td class="xl67" style="border: none; color: #333333; font-size: 13pt; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; padding-top: 1px; vertical-align: bottom; white-space: nowrap;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Spooky the Square Pumpkin</span></td></tr><tr height="23" style="height: 17pt;"><td class="xl67" height="23" style="border: none; color: #333333; font-size: 13pt; height: 17pt; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; padding-top: 1px; vertical-align: bottom; white-space: nowrap;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Bristol Elementary School</span></td><td class="xl67" style="border: none; color: #333333; font-size: 13pt; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; padding-top: 1px; vertical-align: bottom; white-space: nowrap;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Bristol</span></td><td class="xl67" style="border: none; color: #333333; font-size: 13pt; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; padding-top: 1px; vertical-align: bottom; white-space: nowrap;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Captain Snowpants</span></td></tr><tr height="23" style="height: 17pt;"><td class="xl67" height="23" style="border: none; color: #333333; font-size: 13pt; height: 17pt; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; padding-top: 1px; vertical-align: bottom; white-space: nowrap;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Brookfield Elementary School </span></td><td class="xl67" style="border: none; color: #333333; font-size: 13pt; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; padding-top: 1px; vertical-align: bottom; white-space: nowrap;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Brookfield</span></td><td class="xl67" style="border: none; color: #333333; font-size: 13pt; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; padding-top: 1px; vertical-align: bottom; white-space: nowrap;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Ole Bessy</span></td></tr><tr height="23" style="height: 17pt;"><td class="xl67" height="23" style="border: none; color: #333333; font-size: 13pt; height: 17pt; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; padding-top: 1px; vertical-align: bottom; white-space: nowrap;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Brookside Primary School </span></td><td class="xl67" style="border: none; color: #333333; font-size: 13pt; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; padding-top: 1px; vertical-align: bottom; white-space: nowrap;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Waterbury</span></td><td class="xl67" style="border: none; color: #333333; font-size: 13pt; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; padding-top: 1px; vertical-align: bottom; white-space: nowrap;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Brookside Beast</span></td></tr><tr height="23" style="height: 17pt;"><td class="xl67" height="23" style="border: none; color: #333333; font-size: 13pt; height: 17pt; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; padding-top: 1px; vertical-align: bottom; white-space: nowrap;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Brownington Central School</span></td><td class="xl67" style="border: none; color: #333333; font-size: 13pt; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; padding-top: 1px; vertical-align: bottom; white-space: nowrap;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Brownington</span></td><td class="xl67" style="border: none; color: #333333; font-size: 13pt; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; padding-top: 1px; vertical-align: bottom; white-space: nowrap;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">The BCS Beast</span></td></tr><tr height="23" style="height: 17pt;"><td class="xl67" height="23" style="border: none; color: #333333; font-size: 13pt; height: 17pt; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; padding-top: 1px; vertical-align: bottom; white-space: nowrap;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Burke Town School </span></td><td class="xl67" style="border: none; color: #333333; font-size: 13pt; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; padding-top: 1px; vertical-align: bottom; white-space: nowrap;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">West Burke</span></td><td class="xl67" style="border: none; color: #333333; font-size: 13pt; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; padding-top: 1px; vertical-align: bottom; white-space: nowrap;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Frosty's Demise</span></td></tr><tr height="23" style="height: 17pt;"><td class="xl67" height="23" style="border: none; color: #333333; font-size: 13pt; height: 17pt; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; padding-top: 1px; vertical-align: bottom; white-space: nowrap;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">C.P. Smith Elementary School</span></td><td class="xl67" style="border: none; color: #333333; font-size: 13pt; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; padding-top: 1px; vertical-align: bottom; white-space: nowrap;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Burlington</span></td><td class="xl67" style="border: none; color: #333333; font-size: 13pt; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; padding-top: 1px; vertical-align: bottom; white-space: nowrap;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Storm Slayer</span></td></tr><tr height="23" style="height: 17pt;"><td class="xl67" height="23" style="border: none; color: #333333; font-size: 13pt; height: 17pt; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; padding-top: 1px; vertical-align: bottom; white-space: nowrap;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Calais Elementary School</span></td><td class="xl67" style="border: none; color: #333333; font-size: 13pt; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; padding-top: 1px; vertical-align: bottom; white-space: nowrap;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Plainfield</span></td><td class="xl67" style="border: none; color: #333333; font-size: 13pt; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; padding-top: 1px; vertical-align: bottom; white-space: nowrap;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">The Calais Snow Cat</span></td></tr><tr height="23" style="height: 17pt;"><td class="xl67" height="23" style="border: none; color: #333333; font-size: 13pt; height: 17pt; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; padding-top: 1px; vertical-align: bottom; white-space: nowrap;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Cambridge Elementary School </span></td><td class="xl67" style="border: none; color: #333333; font-size: 13pt; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; padding-top: 1px; vertical-align: bottom; white-space: nowrap;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Jeffersonville</span></td><td class="xl67" style="border: none; color: #333333; font-size: 13pt; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; padding-top: 1px; vertical-align: bottom; white-space: nowrap;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Baby Snowda</span></td></tr><tr height="23" style="height: 17pt;"><td class="xl67" height="23" style="border: none; color: #333333; font-size: 13pt; height: 17pt; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; padding-top: 1px; vertical-align: bottom; white-space: nowrap;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Camels Hump Middle School</span></td><td class="xl67" style="border: none; color: #333333; font-size: 13pt; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; padding-top: 1px; vertical-align: bottom; white-space: nowrap;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Richmond</span></td><td class="xl67" style="border: none; color: #333333; font-size: 13pt; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; padding-top: 1px; vertical-align: bottom; white-space: nowrap;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Plower Power</span></td></tr><tr height="23" style="height: 17pt;"><td class="xl67" height="23" style="border: none; color: #333333; font-size: 13pt; height: 17pt; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; padding-top: 1px; vertical-align: bottom; white-space: nowrap;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Castleton Elementary School</span></td><td class="xl67" style="border: none; color: #333333; font-size: 13pt; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; padding-top: 1px; vertical-align: bottom; white-space: nowrap;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Bomoseen</span></td><td class="xl67" style="border: none; color: #333333; font-size: 13pt; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; padding-top: 1px; vertical-align: bottom; white-space: nowrap;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Stardust</span></td></tr><tr height="23" style="height: 17pt;"><td class="xl67" height="23" style="border: none; color: #333333; font-size: 13pt; height: 17pt; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; padding-top: 1px; vertical-align: bottom; white-space: nowrap;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Central Elementary School</span></td><td class="xl67" style="border: none; color: #333333; font-size: 13pt; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; padding-top: 1px; vertical-align: bottom; white-space: nowrap;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Bellows Falls</span></td><td class="xl67" style="border: none; color: #333333; font-size: 13pt; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; padding-top: 1px; vertical-align: bottom; white-space: nowrap;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">The Maple Machine </span></td></tr><tr height="23" style="height: 17pt;"><td class="xl67" height="23" style="border: none; color: #333333; font-size: 13pt; height: 17pt; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; padding-top: 1px; vertical-align: bottom; white-space: nowrap;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Champlain Elementary School</span></td><td class="xl67" style="border: none; color: #333333; font-size: 13pt; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; padding-top: 1px; vertical-align: bottom; white-space: nowrap;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Burlington</span></td><td class="xl67" style="border: none; color: #333333; font-size: 13pt; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; padding-top: 1px; vertical-align: bottom; white-space: nowrap;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">The Snowlebrator</span></td></tr><tr height="23" style="height: 17pt;"><td class="xl67" height="23" style="border: none; color: #333333; font-size: 13pt; height: 17pt; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; padding-top: 1px; vertical-align: bottom; white-space: nowrap;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Charleston Elementary School </span></td><td class="xl67" style="border: none; color: #333333; font-size: 13pt; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; padding-top: 1px; vertical-align: bottom; white-space: nowrap;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">West Charleston </span></td><td class="xl67" style="border: none; color: #333333; font-size: 13pt; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; padding-top: 1px; vertical-align: bottom; white-space: nowrap;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Dorito</span></td></tr><tr height="23" style="height: 17pt;"><td class="xl67" height="23" style="border: none; color: #333333; font-size: 13pt; height: 17pt; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; padding-top: 1px; vertical-align: bottom; white-space: nowrap;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Chelsea Public School</span></td><td class="xl67" style="border: none; color: #333333; font-size: 13pt; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; padding-top: 1px; vertical-align: bottom; white-space: nowrap;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Chelsea</span></td><td class="xl67" style="border: none; color: #333333; font-size: 13pt; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; padding-top: 1px; vertical-align: bottom; white-space: nowrap;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Kirby</span></td></tr><tr height="23" style="height: 17pt;"><td class="xl67" height="23" style="border: none; color: #333333; font-size: 13pt; height: 17pt; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; padding-top: 1px; vertical-align: bottom; white-space: nowrap;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Christ the King School</span></td><td class="xl67" style="border: none; color: #333333; font-size: 13pt; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; padding-top: 1px; vertical-align: bottom; white-space: nowrap;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Burlington</span></td><td class="xl67" style="border: none; color: #333333; font-size: 13pt; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; padding-top: 1px; vertical-align: bottom; white-space: nowrap;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Carl</span></td></tr><tr height="23" style="height: 17pt;"><td class="xl67" height="23" style="border: none; color: #333333; font-size: 13pt; height: 17pt; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; padding-top: 1px; vertical-align: bottom; white-space: nowrap;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Concord School</span></td><td class="xl67" style="border: none; color: #333333; font-size: 13pt; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; padding-top: 1px; vertical-align: bottom; white-space: nowrap;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Concord</span></td><td class="xl67" style="border: none; color: #333333; font-size: 13pt; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; padding-top: 1px; vertical-align: bottom; white-space: nowrap;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Pumpkin</span></td></tr><tr height="23" style="height: 17pt;"><td class="xl67" height="23" style="border: none; color: #333333; font-size: 13pt; height: 17pt; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; padding-top: 1px; vertical-align: bottom; white-space: nowrap;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Cornwall School</span></td><td class="xl67" style="border: none; color: #333333; font-size: 13pt; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; padding-top: 1px; vertical-align: bottom; white-space: nowrap;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Cornwall</span></td><td class="xl67" style="border: none; color: #333333; font-size: 13pt; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; padding-top: 1px; vertical-align: bottom; white-space: nowrap;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">The Snow Eagle</span></td></tr><tr height="23" style="height: 17pt;"><td class="xl67" height="23" style="border: none; color: #333333; font-size: 13pt; height: 17pt; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; padding-top: 1px; vertical-align: bottom; white-space: nowrap;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Currier Memorial School</span></td><td class="xl67" style="border: none; color: #333333; font-size: 13pt; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; padding-top: 1px; vertical-align: bottom; white-space: nowrap;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Danby</span></td><td class="xl67" style="border: none; color: #333333; font-size: 13pt; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; padding-top: 1px; vertical-align: bottom; white-space: nowrap;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Snow Hunter</span></td></tr><tr height="23" style="height: 17pt;"><td class="xl67" height="23" style="border: none; color: #333333; font-size: 13pt; height: 17pt; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; padding-top: 1px; vertical-align: bottom; white-space: nowrap;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Danville School</span></td><td class="xl67" style="border: none; color: #333333; font-size: 13pt; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; padding-top: 1px; vertical-align: bottom; white-space: nowrap;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Danville</span></td><td class="xl67" style="border: none; color: #333333; font-size: 13pt; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; padding-top: 1px; vertical-align: bottom; white-space: nowrap;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Blizzard</span></td></tr><tr height="23" style="height: 17pt;"><td class="xl67" height="23" style="border: none; color: #333333; font-size: 13pt; height: 17pt; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; padding-top: 1px; vertical-align: bottom; white-space: nowrap;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Davis Community School</span></td><td class="xl67" style="border: none; color: #333333; font-size: 13pt; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; padding-top: 1px; vertical-align: bottom; white-space: nowrap;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">South Burlington</span></td><td class="xl67" style="border: none; color: #333333; font-size: 13pt; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; padding-top: 1px; vertical-align: bottom; white-space: nowrap;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Snowy the Snowlifter</span></td></tr><tr height="23" style="height: 17pt;"><td class="xl67" height="23" style="border: none; color: #333333; font-size: 13pt; height: 17pt; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; padding-top: 1px; vertical-align: bottom; white-space: nowrap;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Derby Elementary School </span></td><td class="xl67" style="border: none; color: #333333; font-size: 13pt; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; padding-top: 1px; vertical-align: bottom; white-space: nowrap;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Derby Line</span></td><td class="xl67" style="border: none; color: #333333; font-size: 13pt; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; padding-top: 1px; vertical-align: bottom; white-space: nowrap;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Tiger Force</span></td></tr><tr height="23" style="height: 17pt;"><td class="xl67" height="23" style="border: none; color: #333333; font-size: 13pt; height: 17pt; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; padding-top: 1px; vertical-align: bottom; white-space: nowrap;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Doty Memorial School</span></td><td class="xl67" style="border: none; color: #333333; font-size: 13pt; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; padding-top: 1px; vertical-align: bottom; white-space: nowrap;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Worcester</span></td><td class="xl67" style="border: none; color: #333333; font-size: 13pt; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; padding-top: 1px; vertical-align: bottom; white-space: nowrap;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Snow Pickle</span></td></tr><tr height="23" style="height: 17pt;"><td class="xl67" height="23" style="border: none; color: #333333; font-size: 13pt; height: 17pt; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; padding-top: 1px; vertical-align: bottom; white-space: nowrap;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Echo Valley Elementary School</span></td><td class="xl67" style="border: none; color: #333333; font-size: 13pt; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; padding-top: 1px; vertical-align: bottom; white-space: nowrap;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Washington</span></td><td class="xl67" style="border: none; color: #333333; font-size: 13pt; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; padding-top: 1px; vertical-align: bottom; white-space: nowrap;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Snow Wolf</span></td></tr><tr height="23" style="height: 17pt;"><td class="xl67" height="23" style="border: none; color: #333333; font-size: 13pt; height: 17pt; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; padding-top: 1px; vertical-align: bottom; white-space: nowrap;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Eden Central School </span></td><td class="xl67" style="border: none; color: #333333; font-size: 13pt; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; padding-top: 1px; vertical-align: bottom; white-space: nowrap;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Eden</span></td><td class="xl67" style="border: none; color: #333333; font-size: 13pt; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; padding-top: 1px; vertical-align: bottom; white-space: nowrap;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Brr-rito</span></td></tr><tr height="23" style="height: 17pt;"><td class="xl67" height="23" style="border: none; color: #333333; font-size: 13pt; height: 17pt; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; padding-top: 1px; vertical-align: bottom; white-space: nowrap;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Edmunds Elementary School</span></td><td class="xl67" style="border: none; color: #333333; font-size: 13pt; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; padding-top: 1px; vertical-align: bottom; white-space: nowrap;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Burlington</span></td><td class="xl67" style="border: none; color: #333333; font-size: 13pt; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; padding-top: 1px; vertical-align: bottom; white-space: nowrap;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Timberwolf</span></td></tr><tr height="23" style="height: 17pt;"><td class="xl67" height="23" style="border: none; color: #333333; font-size: 13pt; height: 17pt; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; padding-top: 1px; vertical-align: bottom; white-space: nowrap;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Essex Elementary School</span></td><td class="xl67" style="border: none; color: #333333; font-size: 13pt; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; padding-top: 1px; vertical-align: bottom; white-space: nowrap;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Essex</span></td><td class="xl67" style="border: none; color: #333333; font-size: 13pt; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; padding-top: 1px; vertical-align: bottom; white-space: nowrap;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Scoop</span></td></tr><tr height="23" style="height: 17pt;"><td class="xl67" height="23" style="border: none; color: #333333; font-size: 13pt; height: 17pt; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; padding-top: 1px; vertical-align: bottom; white-space: nowrap;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Fayston Elementary School </span></td><td class="xl67" style="border: none; color: #333333; font-size: 13pt; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; padding-top: 1px; vertical-align: bottom; white-space: nowrap;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Waitsfield</span></td><td class="xl67" style="border: none; color: #333333; font-size: 13pt; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; padding-top: 1px; vertical-align: bottom; white-space: nowrap;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Snow Day Crusher</span></td></tr><tr height="23" style="height: 17pt;"><td class="xl67" height="23" style="border: none; color: #333333; font-size: 13pt; height: 17pt; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; padding-top: 1px; vertical-align: bottom; white-space: nowrap;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Ferrisburgh Central School </span></td><td class="xl67" style="border: none; color: #333333; font-size: 13pt; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; padding-top: 1px; vertical-align: bottom; white-space: nowrap;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Ferrisburg</span></td><td class="xl67" style="border: none; color: #333333; font-size: 13pt; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; padding-top: 1px; vertical-align: bottom; white-space: nowrap;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Midnight</span></td></tr><tr height="23" style="height: 17pt;"><td class="xl67" height="23" style="border: none; color: #333333; font-size: 13pt; height: 17pt; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; padding-top: 1px; vertical-align: bottom; white-space: nowrap;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Fisher Elementary School </span></td><td class="xl67" style="border: none; color: #333333; font-size: 13pt; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; padding-top: 1px; vertical-align: bottom; white-space: nowrap;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Arlington</span></td><td class="xl67" style="border: none; color: #333333; font-size: 13pt; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; padding-top: 1px; vertical-align: bottom; white-space: nowrap;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Snow Day Reaper</span></td></tr><tr height="23" style="height: 17pt;"><td class="xl67" height="23" style="border: none; color: #333333; font-size: 13pt; height: 17pt; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; padding-top: 1px; vertical-align: bottom; white-space: nowrap;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Flood Brook Elementary </span></td><td class="xl67" style="border: none; color: #333333; font-size: 13pt; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; padding-top: 1px; vertical-align: bottom; white-space: nowrap;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Londonderry </span></td><td class="xl67" style="border: none; color: #333333; font-size: 13pt; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; padding-top: 1px; vertical-align: bottom; white-space: nowrap;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">The Mighty Snow Tiger</span></td></tr><tr height="23" style="height: 17pt;"><td class="xl67" height="23" style="border: none; color: #333333; font-size: 13pt; height: 17pt; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; padding-top: 1px; vertical-align: bottom; white-space: nowrap;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Founders Memorial School </span></td><td class="xl67" style="border: none; color: #333333; font-size: 13pt; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; padding-top: 1px; vertical-align: bottom; white-space: nowrap;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Essex Junction</span></td><td class="xl67" style="border: none; color: #333333; font-size: 13pt; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; padding-top: 1px; vertical-align: bottom; white-space: nowrap;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Ice Claw</span></td></tr><tr height="23" style="height: 17pt;"><td class="xl67" height="23" style="border: none; color: #333333; font-size: 13pt; height: 17pt; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; padding-top: 1px; vertical-align: bottom; white-space: nowrap;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Franklin Elementary School</span></td><td class="xl67" style="border: none; color: #333333; font-size: 13pt; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; padding-top: 1px; vertical-align: bottom; white-space: nowrap;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Franklin</span></td><td class="xl67" style="border: none; color: #333333; font-size: 13pt; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; padding-top: 1px; vertical-align: bottom; white-space: nowrap;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Plow-A-Tron 6,000</span></td></tr><tr height="23" style="height: 17pt;"><td class="xl67" height="23" style="border: none; color: #333333; font-size: 13pt; height: 17pt; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; padding-top: 1px; vertical-align: bottom; white-space: nowrap;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Georgia Elementary School </span></td><td class="xl67" style="border: none; color: #333333; font-size: 13pt; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; padding-top: 1px; vertical-align: bottom; white-space: nowrap;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Georgia</span></td><td class="xl67" style="border: none; color: #333333; font-size: 13pt; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; padding-top: 1px; vertical-align: bottom; white-space: nowrap;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Snow Dragon</span></td></tr><tr height="23" style="height: 17pt;"><td class="xl67" height="23" style="border: none; color: #333333; font-size: 13pt; height: 17pt; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; padding-top: 1px; vertical-align: bottom; white-space: nowrap;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Gertrude Chamberlin School</span></td><td class="xl67" style="border: none; color: #333333; font-size: 13pt; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; padding-top: 1px; vertical-align: bottom; white-space: nowrap;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">South Burlington</span></td><td class="xl67" style="border: none; color: #333333; font-size: 13pt; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; padding-top: 1px; vertical-align: bottom; white-space: nowrap;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Chamberlin Chomper</span></td></tr><tr height="23" style="height: 17pt;"><td class="xl67" height="23" style="border: none; color: #333333; font-size: 13pt; height: 17pt; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; padding-top: 1px; vertical-align: bottom; white-space: nowrap;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Good Shepherd Catholic School </span></td><td class="xl67" style="border: none; color: #333333; font-size: 13pt; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; padding-top: 1px; vertical-align: bottom; white-space: nowrap;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">St. Johnsbury</span></td><td class="xl67" style="border: none; color: #333333; font-size: 13pt; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; padding-top: 1px; vertical-align: bottom; white-space: nowrap;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Arctic Angel</span></td></tr><tr height="23" style="height: 17pt;"><td class="xl67" height="23" style="border: none; color: #333333; font-size: 13pt; height: 17pt; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; padding-top: 1px; vertical-align: bottom; white-space: nowrap;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Grafton Elementary School </span></td><td class="xl67" style="border: none; color: #333333; font-size: 13pt; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; padding-top: 1px; vertical-align: bottom; white-space: nowrap;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Grafton</span></td><td class="xl67" style="border: none; color: #333333; font-size: 13pt; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; padding-top: 1px; vertical-align: bottom; white-space: nowrap;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Snow Panther</span></td></tr><tr height="23" style="height: 17pt;"><td class="xl67" height="23" style="border: none; color: #333333; font-size: 13pt; height: 17pt; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; padding-top: 1px; vertical-align: bottom; white-space: nowrap;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Halifax Elementary School</span></td><td class="xl67" style="border: none; color: #333333; font-size: 13pt; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; padding-top: 1px; vertical-align: bottom; white-space: nowrap;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Halifax</span></td><td class="xl67" style="border: none; color: #333333; font-size: 13pt; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; padding-top: 1px; vertical-align: bottom; white-space: nowrap;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Midnight Monster</span></td></tr><tr height="23" style="height: 17pt;"><td class="xl67" height="23" style="border: none; color: #333333; font-size: 13pt; height: 17pt; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; padding-top: 1px; vertical-align: bottom; white-space: nowrap;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Hardwick Elementary school </span></td><td class="xl67" style="border: none; color: #333333; font-size: 13pt; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; padding-top: 1px; vertical-align: bottom; white-space: nowrap;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Hardwick</span></td><td class="xl67" style="border: none; color: #333333; font-size: 13pt; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; padding-top: 1px; vertical-align: bottom; white-space: nowrap;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">The Snow Bobcat</span></td></tr><tr height="23" style="height: 17pt;"><td class="xl67" height="23" style="border: none; color: #333333; font-size: 13pt; height: 17pt; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; padding-top: 1px; vertical-align: bottom; white-space: nowrap;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Hartford High School</span></td><td class="xl67" style="border: none; color: #333333; font-size: 13pt; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; padding-top: 1px; vertical-align: bottom; white-space: nowrap;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">White River Junction</span></td><td class="xl67" style="border: none; color: #333333; font-size: 13pt; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; padding-top: 1px; vertical-align: bottom; white-space: nowrap;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Snowicane</span></td></tr><tr height="23" style="height: 17pt;"><td class="xl67" height="23" style="border: none; color: #333333; font-size: 13pt; height: 17pt; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; padding-top: 1px; vertical-align: bottom; white-space: nowrap;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Harwood Middle School</span></td><td class="xl67" style="border: none; color: #333333; font-size: 13pt; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; padding-top: 1px; vertical-align: bottom; white-space: nowrap;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Moretown </span></td><td class="xl67" style="border: none; color: #333333; font-size: 13pt; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; padding-top: 1px; vertical-align: bottom; white-space: nowrap;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Snow Day Dream Crusher</span></td></tr><tr height="23" style="height: 17pt;"><td class="xl67" height="23" style="border: none; color: #333333; font-size: 13pt; height: 17pt; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; padding-top: 1px; vertical-align: bottom; white-space: nowrap;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Head Start - N. Bennington </span></td><td class="xl67" style="border: none; color: #333333; font-size: 13pt; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; padding-top: 1px; vertical-align: bottom; white-space: nowrap;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">North Bennington </span></td><td class="xl67" style="border: none; color: #333333; font-size: 13pt; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; padding-top: 1px; vertical-align: bottom; white-space: nowrap;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Pumpkin the Plow Truck</span></td></tr><tr height="23" style="height: 17pt;"><td class="xl67" height="23" style="border: none; color: #333333; font-size: 13pt; height: 17pt; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; padding-top: 1px; vertical-align: bottom; white-space: nowrap;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Head Start - Pownal Center</span></td><td class="xl67" style="border: none; color: #333333; font-size: 13pt; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; padding-top: 1px; vertical-align: bottom; white-space: nowrap;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Pownal</span></td><td class="xl67" style="border: none; color: #333333; font-size: 13pt; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; padding-top: 1px; vertical-align: bottom; white-space: nowrap;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Snowdigger</span></td></tr><tr height="23" style="height: 17pt;"><td class="xl67" height="23" style="border: none; color: #333333; font-size: 13pt; height: 17pt; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; padding-top: 1px; vertical-align: bottom; white-space: nowrap;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Head Start - Spring Center </span></td><td class="xl67" style="border: none; color: #333333; font-size: 13pt; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; padding-top: 1px; vertical-align: bottom; white-space: nowrap;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Bennington</span></td><td class="xl67" style="border: none; color: #333333; font-size: 13pt; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; padding-top: 1px; vertical-align: bottom; white-space: nowrap;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Snowasaurus</span></td></tr><tr height="23" style="height: 17pt;"><td class="xl67" height="23" style="border: none; color: #333333; font-size: 13pt; height: 17pt; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; padding-top: 1px; vertical-align: bottom; white-space: nowrap;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Hiawatha Elementary School</span></td><td class="xl67" style="border: none; color: #333333; font-size: 13pt; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; padding-top: 1px; vertical-align: bottom; white-space: nowrap;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Essex Junction</span></td><td class="xl67" style="border: none; color: #333333; font-size: 13pt; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; padding-top: 1px; vertical-align: bottom; white-space: nowrap;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Crystal Royalty</span></td></tr><tr height="23" style="height: 17pt;"><td class="xl67" height="23" style="border: none; color: #333333; font-size: 13pt; height: 17pt; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; padding-top: 1px; vertical-align: bottom; white-space: nowrap;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Highgate Elementary School</span></td><td class="xl67" style="border: none; color: #333333; font-size: 13pt; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; padding-top: 1px; vertical-align: bottom; white-space: nowrap;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Highgate</span></td><td class="xl67" style="border: none; color: #333333; font-size: 13pt; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; padding-top: 1px; vertical-align: bottom; white-space: nowrap;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">The Ice Crusher</span></td></tr><tr height="23" style="height: 17pt;"><td class="xl67" height="23" style="border: none; color: #333333; font-size: 13pt; height: 17pt; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; padding-top: 1px; vertical-align: bottom; white-space: nowrap;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Hiland Hill School</span></td><td class="xl67" style="border: none; color: #333333; font-size: 13pt; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; padding-top: 1px; vertical-align: bottom; white-space: nowrap;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Bennington</span></td><td class="xl67" style="border: none; color: #333333; font-size: 13pt; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; padding-top: 1px; vertical-align: bottom; white-space: nowrap;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Ducky</span></td></tr><tr height="23" style="height: 17pt;"><td class="xl67" height="23" style="border: none; color: #333333; font-size: 13pt; height: 17pt; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; padding-top: 1px; vertical-align: bottom; white-space: nowrap;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Homeschooling Student</span></td><td class="xl67" style="border: none; color: #333333; font-size: 13pt; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; padding-top: 1px; vertical-align: bottom; white-space: nowrap;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Bradford</span></td><td class="xl67" style="border: none; color: #333333; font-size: 13pt; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; padding-top: 1px; vertical-align: bottom; white-space: nowrap;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Scrapes the Snowplow</span></td></tr><tr height="23" style="height: 17pt;"><td class="xl67" height="23" style="border: none; color: #333333; font-size: 13pt; height: 17pt; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; padding-top: 1px; vertical-align: bottom; white-space: nowrap;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Homeschooling Students</span></td><td class="xl67" style="border: none; color: #333333; font-size: 13pt; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; padding-top: 1px; vertical-align: bottom; white-space: nowrap;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Ripton</span></td><td class="xl67" style="border: none; color: #333333; font-size: 13pt; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; padding-top: 1px; vertical-align: bottom; white-space: nowrap;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">William Scrape-speare</span></td></tr><tr height="23" style="height: 17pt;"><td class="xl67" height="23" style="border: none; color: #333333; font-size: 13pt; height: 17pt; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; padding-top: 1px; vertical-align: bottom; white-space: nowrap;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Hyde Park Elementary School</span></td><td class="xl67" style="border: none; color: #333333; font-size: 13pt; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; padding-top: 1px; vertical-align: bottom; white-space: nowrap;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Hyde Park</span></td><td class="xl67" style="border: none; color: #333333; font-size: 13pt; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; padding-top: 1px; vertical-align: bottom; white-space: nowrap;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Snow Hawk</span></td></tr><tr height="23" style="height: 17pt;"><td class="xl67" height="23" style="border: none; color: #333333; font-size: 13pt; height: 17pt; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; padding-top: 1px; vertical-align: bottom; white-space: nowrap;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Irasburg Village School </span></td><td class="xl67" style="border: none; color: #333333; font-size: 13pt; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; padding-top: 1px; vertical-align: bottom; white-space: nowrap;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Irasburg</span></td><td class="xl67" style="border: none; color: #333333; font-size: 13pt; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; padding-top: 1px; vertical-align: bottom; white-space: nowrap;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Thunder</span></td></tr><tr height="23" style="height: 17pt;"><td class="xl67" height="23" style="border: none; color: #333333; font-size: 13pt; height: 17pt; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; padding-top: 1px; vertical-align: bottom; white-space: nowrap;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Jamaica Village School</span></td><td class="xl67" style="border: none; color: #333333; font-size: 13pt; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; padding-top: 1px; vertical-align: bottom; white-space: nowrap;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Jamaica</span></td><td class="xl67" style="border: none; color: #333333; font-size: 13pt; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; padding-top: 1px; vertical-align: bottom; white-space: nowrap;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Vermont Bob</span></td></tr><tr height="23" style="height: 17pt;"><td class="xl67" height="23" style="border: none; color: #333333; font-size: 13pt; height: 17pt; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; padding-top: 1px; vertical-align: bottom; white-space: nowrap;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Jericho Elementary School</span></td><td class="xl67" style="border: none; color: #333333; font-size: 13pt; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; padding-top: 1px; vertical-align: bottom; white-space: nowrap;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Jericho</span></td><td class="xl67" style="border: none; color: #333333; font-size: 13pt; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; padding-top: 1px; vertical-align: bottom; white-space: nowrap;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Snow Day Stopper</span></td></tr><tr height="23" style="height: 17pt;"><td class="xl67" height="23" style="border: none; color: #333333; font-size: 13pt; height: 17pt; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; padding-top: 1px; vertical-align: bottom; white-space: nowrap;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">JFK Elementary School </span></td><td class="xl67" style="border: none; color: #333333; font-size: 13pt; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; padding-top: 1px; vertical-align: bottom; white-space: nowrap;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Winooski</span></td><td class="xl67" style="border: none; color: #333333; font-size: 13pt; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; padding-top: 1px; vertical-align: bottom; white-space: nowrap;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">JFK Snow You Didn't</span></td></tr><tr height="23" style="height: 17pt;"><td class="xl67" height="23" style="border: none; color: #333333; font-size: 13pt; height: 17pt; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; padding-top: 1px; vertical-align: bottom; white-space: nowrap;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Killington Elementary School</span></td><td class="xl67" style="border: none; color: #333333; font-size: 13pt; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; padding-top: 1px; vertical-align: bottom; white-space: nowrap;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Killington</span></td><td class="xl67" style="border: none; color: #333333; font-size: 13pt; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; padding-top: 1px; vertical-align: bottom; white-space: nowrap;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Snowday Buster</span></td></tr><tr height="23" style="height: 17pt;"><td class="xl67" height="23" style="border: none; color: #333333; font-size: 13pt; height: 17pt; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; padding-top: 1px; vertical-align: bottom; white-space: nowrap;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Lake Champalin Waldorf School</span></td><td class="xl67" style="border: none; color: #333333; font-size: 13pt; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; padding-top: 1px; vertical-align: bottom; white-space: nowrap;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Shelburne</span></td><td class="xl67" style="border: none; color: #333333; font-size: 13pt; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; padding-top: 1px; vertical-align: bottom; white-space: nowrap;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Ice Will Pay the Price</span></td></tr><tr height="23" style="height: 17pt;"><td class="xl67" height="23" style="border: none; color: #333333; font-size: 13pt; height: 17pt; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; padding-top: 1px; vertical-align: bottom; white-space: nowrap;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Lakeview Elementary School</span></td><td class="xl67" style="border: none; color: #333333; font-size: 13pt; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; padding-top: 1px; vertical-align: bottom; white-space: nowrap;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Greensboro</span></td><td class="xl67" style="border: none; color: #333333; font-size: 13pt; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; padding-top: 1px; vertical-align: bottom; white-space: nowrap;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Snow Dog</span></td></tr><tr height="23" style="height: 17pt;"><td class="xl67" height="23" style="border: none; color: #333333; font-size: 13pt; height: 17pt; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; padding-top: 1px; vertical-align: bottom; white-space: nowrap;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Lowell Graded School</span></td><td class="xl67" style="border: none; color: #333333; font-size: 13pt; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; padding-top: 1px; vertical-align: bottom; white-space: nowrap;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Lowell</span></td><td class="xl67" style="border: none; color: #333333; font-size: 13pt; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; padding-top: 1px; vertical-align: bottom; white-space: nowrap;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Snow-manator</span></td></tr><tr height="23" style="height: 17pt;"><td class="xl67" height="23" style="border: none; color: #333333; font-size: 13pt; height: 17pt; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; padding-top: 1px; vertical-align: bottom; white-space: nowrap;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Ludlow Elementary School</span></td><td class="xl67" style="border: none; color: #333333; font-size: 13pt; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; padding-top: 1px; vertical-align: bottom; white-space: nowrap;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Ludlow</span></td><td class="xl67" style="border: none; color: #333333; font-size: 13pt; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; padding-top: 1px; vertical-align: bottom; white-space: nowrap;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Get Out of My Way!</span></td></tr><tr height="23" style="height: 17pt;"><td class="xl67" height="23" style="border: none; color: #333333; font-size: 13pt; height: 17pt; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; padding-top: 1px; vertical-align: bottom; white-space: nowrap;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Lunenburg School</span></td><td class="xl67" style="border: none; color: #333333; font-size: 13pt; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; padding-top: 1px; vertical-align: bottom; white-space: nowrap;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Lunenburg</span></td><td class="xl67" style="border: none; color: #333333; font-size: 13pt; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; padding-top: 1px; vertical-align: bottom; white-space: nowrap;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">The Lion's Snow Destroyer</span></td></tr><tr height="23" style="height: 17pt;"><td class="xl67" height="23" style="border: none; color: #333333; font-size: 13pt; height: 17pt; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; padding-top: 1px; vertical-align: bottom; white-space: nowrap;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Lyndon Town School</span></td><td class="xl67" style="border: none; color: #333333; font-size: 13pt; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; padding-top: 1px; vertical-align: bottom; white-space: nowrap;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Lyndonville</span></td><td class="xl67" style="border: none; color: #333333; font-size: 13pt; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; padding-top: 1px; vertical-align: bottom; white-space: nowrap;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Snow Buddy</span></td></tr><tr height="23" style="height: 17pt;"><td class="xl67" height="23" style="border: none; color: #333333; font-size: 13pt; height: 17pt; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; padding-top: 1px; vertical-align: bottom; white-space: nowrap;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Maple Street School</span></td><td class="xl67" style="border: none; color: #333333; font-size: 13pt; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; padding-top: 1px; vertical-align: bottom; white-space: nowrap;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Manchester Center</span></td><td class="xl67" style="border: none; color: #333333; font-size: 13pt; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; padding-top: 1px; vertical-align: bottom; white-space: nowrap;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Maple Snow Racer</span></td></tr><tr height="23" style="height: 17pt;"><td class="xl67" height="23" style="border: none; color: #333333; font-size: 13pt; height: 17pt; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; padding-top: 1px; vertical-align: bottom; white-space: nowrap;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Mettawee Community School</span></td><td class="xl67" style="border: none; color: #333333; font-size: 13pt; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; padding-top: 1px; vertical-align: bottom; white-space: nowrap;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">West Pawlet</span></td><td class="xl67" style="border: none; color: #333333; font-size: 13pt; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; padding-top: 1px; vertical-align: bottom; white-space: nowrap;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Mettawee Mountain Mover</span></td></tr><tr height="23" style="height: 17pt;"><td class="xl67" height="23" style="border: none; color: #333333; font-size: 13pt; height: 17pt; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; padding-top: 1px; vertical-align: bottom; white-space: nowrap;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Mid Vermont Christian School</span></td><td class="xl67" style="border: none; color: #333333; font-size: 13pt; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; padding-top: 1px; vertical-align: bottom; white-space: nowrap;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Hartford</span></td><td class="xl67" style="border: none; color: #333333; font-size: 13pt; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; padding-top: 1px; vertical-align: bottom; white-space: nowrap;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Darth Blader</span></td></tr><tr height="23" style="height: 17pt;"><td class="xl67" height="23" style="border: none; color: #333333; font-size: 13pt; height: 17pt; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; padding-top: 1px; vertical-align: bottom; white-space: nowrap;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Middletown Springs Elementary School</span></td><td class="xl67" style="border: none; color: #333333; font-size: 13pt; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; padding-top: 1px; vertical-align: bottom; white-space: nowrap;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Middletown Springs</span></td><td class="xl67" style="border: none; color: #333333; font-size: 13pt; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; padding-top: 1px; vertical-align: bottom; white-space: nowrap;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Tiny Tim</span></td></tr><tr height="23" style="height: 17pt;"><td class="xl67" height="23" style="border: none; color: #333333; font-size: 13pt; height: 17pt; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; padding-top: 1px; vertical-align: bottom; white-space: nowrap;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Miller's Run School </span></td><td class="xl67" style="border: none; color: #333333; font-size: 13pt; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; padding-top: 1px; vertical-align: bottom; white-space: nowrap;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Sheffield</span></td><td class="xl67" style="border: none; color: #333333; font-size: 13pt; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; padding-top: 1px; vertical-align: bottom; white-space: nowrap;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Snowy Joey</span></td></tr><tr height="23" style="height: 17pt;"><td class="xl67" height="23" style="border: none; color: #333333; font-size: 13pt; height: 17pt; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; padding-top: 1px; vertical-align: bottom; white-space: nowrap;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Milton Elementary School</span></td><td class="xl67" style="border: none; color: #333333; font-size: 13pt; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; padding-top: 1px; vertical-align: bottom; white-space: nowrap;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Milton</span></td><td class="xl67" style="border: none; color: #333333; font-size: 13pt; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; padding-top: 1px; vertical-align: bottom; white-space: nowrap;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Milton Mike</span></td></tr><tr height="23" style="height: 17pt;"><td class="xl67" height="23" style="border: none; color: #333333; font-size: 13pt; height: 17pt; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; padding-top: 1px; vertical-align: bottom; white-space: nowrap;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Molly Stark Elementary School </span></td><td class="xl67" style="border: none; color: #333333; font-size: 13pt; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; padding-top: 1px; vertical-align: bottom; white-space: nowrap;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Bennington </span></td><td class="xl67" style="border: none; color: #333333; font-size: 13pt; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; padding-top: 1px; vertical-align: bottom; white-space: nowrap;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Molly's Snowdragon </span></td></tr><tr height="23" style="height: 17pt;"><td class="xl67" height="23" style="border: none; color: #333333; font-size: 13pt; height: 17pt; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; padding-top: 1px; vertical-align: bottom; white-space: nowrap;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Monument Elemetary School</span></td><td class="xl67" style="border: none; color: #333333; font-size: 13pt; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; padding-top: 1px; vertical-align: bottom; white-space: nowrap;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Bennington</span></td><td class="xl67" style="border: none; color: #333333; font-size: 13pt; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; padding-top: 1px; vertical-align: bottom; white-space: nowrap;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Hot Cocoa</span></td></tr><tr height="23" style="height: 17pt;"><td class="xl67" height="23" style="border: none; color: #333333; font-size: 13pt; height: 17pt; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; padding-top: 1px; vertical-align: bottom; white-space: nowrap;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Moretown Elementary School</span></td><td class="xl67" style="border: none; color: #333333; font-size: 13pt; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; padding-top: 1px; vertical-align: bottom; white-space: nowrap;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Moretown</span></td><td class="xl67" style="border: none; color: #333333; font-size: 13pt; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; padding-top: 1px; vertical-align: bottom; white-space: nowrap;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Snowbuster</span></td></tr><tr height="23" style="height: 17pt;"><td class="xl67" height="23" style="border: none; color: #333333; font-size: 13pt; height: 17pt; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; padding-top: 1px; vertical-align: bottom; white-space: nowrap;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Morristown Elementary School</span></td><td class="xl67" style="border: none; color: #333333; font-size: 13pt; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; padding-top: 1px; vertical-align: bottom; white-space: nowrap;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Morrisville</span></td><td class="xl67" style="border: none; color: #333333; font-size: 13pt; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; padding-top: 1px; vertical-align: bottom; white-space: nowrap;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Snowy Wolf Pup</span></td></tr><tr height="23" style="height: 17pt;"><td class="xl67" height="23" style="border: none; color: #333333; font-size: 13pt; height: 17pt; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; padding-top: 1px; vertical-align: bottom; white-space: nowrap;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Mountain River School</span></td><td class="xl67" style="border: none; color: #333333; font-size: 13pt; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; padding-top: 1px; vertical-align: bottom; white-space: nowrap;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Morristown</span></td><td class="xl67" style="border: none; color: #333333; font-size: 13pt; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; padding-top: 1px; vertical-align: bottom; white-space: nowrap;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Snow Runner</span></td></tr><tr height="23" style="height: 17pt;"><td class="xl67" height="23" style="border: none; color: #333333; font-size: 13pt; height: 17pt; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; padding-top: 1px; vertical-align: bottom; white-space: nowrap;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Neshobe Elementary School</span></td><td class="xl67" style="border: none; color: #333333; font-size: 13pt; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; padding-top: 1px; vertical-align: bottom; white-space: nowrap;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Brandon </span></td><td class="xl67" style="border: none; color: #333333; font-size: 13pt; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; padding-top: 1px; vertical-align: bottom; white-space: nowrap;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Ice Ice Baby</span></td></tr><tr height="23" style="height: 17pt;"><td class="xl67" height="23" style="border: none; color: #333333; font-size: 13pt; height: 17pt; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; padding-top: 1px; vertical-align: bottom; white-space: nowrap;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Newark Street School</span></td><td class="xl67" style="border: none; color: #333333; font-size: 13pt; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; padding-top: 1px; vertical-align: bottom; white-space: nowrap;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Newark</span></td><td class="xl67" style="border: none; color: #333333; font-size: 13pt; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; padding-top: 1px; vertical-align: bottom; white-space: nowrap;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Fearless Frosty</span></td></tr><tr height="23" style="height: 17pt;"><td class="xl67" height="23" style="border: none; color: #333333; font-size: 13pt; height: 17pt; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; padding-top: 1px; vertical-align: bottom; white-space: nowrap;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">NewBrook Elementary School </span></td><td class="xl67" style="border: none; color: #333333; font-size: 13pt; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; padding-top: 1px; vertical-align: bottom; white-space: nowrap;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Newfane</span></td><td class="xl67" style="border: none; color: #333333; font-size: 13pt; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; padding-top: 1px; vertical-align: bottom; white-space: nowrap;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Mr. Plower</span></td></tr><tr height="23" style="height: 17pt;"><td class="xl67" height="23" style="border: none; color: #333333; font-size: 13pt; height: 17pt; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; padding-top: 1px; vertical-align: bottom; white-space: nowrap;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Newbury Elementary School </span></td><td class="xl67" style="border: none; color: #333333; font-size: 13pt; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; padding-top: 1px; vertical-align: bottom; white-space: nowrap;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Newbury</span></td><td class="xl67" style="border: none; color: #333333; font-size: 13pt; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; padding-top: 1px; vertical-align: bottom; white-space: nowrap;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Snowflake: The Knight Plow</span></td></tr><tr height="23" style="height: 17pt;"><td class="xl67" height="23" style="border: none; color: #333333; font-size: 13pt; height: 17pt; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; padding-top: 1px; vertical-align: bottom; white-space: nowrap;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Newton School </span></td><td class="xl67" style="border: none; color: #333333; font-size: 13pt; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; padding-top: 1px; vertical-align: bottom; white-space: nowrap;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">South Strafford</span></td><td class="xl67" style="border: none; color: #333333; font-size: 13pt; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; padding-top: 1px; vertical-align: bottom; white-space: nowrap;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Rumble</span></td></tr><tr height="23" style="height: 17pt;"><td class="xl67" height="23" style="border: none; color: #333333; font-size: 13pt; height: 17pt; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; padding-top: 1px; vertical-align: bottom; white-space: nowrap;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">North Hero School </span></td><td class="xl67" style="border: none; color: #333333; font-size: 13pt; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; padding-top: 1px; vertical-align: bottom; white-space: nowrap;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">North Hero</span></td><td class="xl67" style="border: none; color: #333333; font-size: 13pt; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; padding-top: 1px; vertical-align: bottom; white-space: nowrap;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Steve </span></td></tr><tr height="23" style="height: 17pt;"><td class="xl67" height="23" style="border: none; color: #333333; font-size: 13pt; height: 17pt; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; padding-top: 1px; vertical-align: bottom; white-space: nowrap;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Northeast Primary School </span></td><td class="xl67" style="border: none; color: #333333; font-size: 13pt; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; padding-top: 1px; vertical-align: bottom; white-space: nowrap;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Rutland</span></td><td class="xl67" style="border: none; color: #333333; font-size: 13pt; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; padding-top: 1px; vertical-align: bottom; white-space: nowrap;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">PAWS</span></td></tr><tr height="23" style="height: 17pt;"><td class="xl67" height="23" style="border: none; color: #333333; font-size: 13pt; height: 17pt; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; padding-top: 1px; vertical-align: bottom; white-space: nowrap;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Oak Grove School </span></td><td class="xl67" style="border: none; color: #333333; font-size: 13pt; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; padding-top: 1px; vertical-align: bottom; white-space: nowrap;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Brattleboro</span></td><td class="xl67" style="border: none; color: #333333; font-size: 13pt; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; padding-top: 1px; vertical-align: bottom; white-space: nowrap;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Mr. Frost</span></td></tr><tr height="23" style="height: 17pt;"><td class="xl67" height="23" style="border: none; color: #333333; font-size: 13pt; height: 17pt; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; padding-top: 1px; vertical-align: bottom; white-space: nowrap;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Okemo Mountain School</span></td><td class="xl67" style="border: none; color: #333333; font-size: 13pt; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; padding-top: 1px; vertical-align: bottom; white-space: nowrap;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Ludlow</span></td><td class="xl67" style="border: none; color: #333333; font-size: 13pt; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; padding-top: 1px; vertical-align: bottom; white-space: nowrap;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Snow Big Deal</span></td></tr><tr height="23" style="height: 17pt;"><td class="xl67" height="23" style="border: none; color: #333333; font-size: 13pt; height: 17pt; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; padding-top: 1px; vertical-align: bottom; white-space: nowrap;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Open Fields School</span></td><td class="xl67" style="border: none; color: #333333; font-size: 13pt; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; padding-top: 1px; vertical-align: bottom; white-space: nowrap;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Thetford</span></td><td class="xl67" style="border: none; color: #333333; font-size: 13pt; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; padding-top: 1px; vertical-align: bottom; white-space: nowrap;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Plowdypus</span></td></tr><tr height="23" style="height: 17pt;"><td class="xl67" height="23" style="border: none; color: #333333; font-size: 13pt; height: 17pt; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; padding-top: 1px; vertical-align: bottom; white-space: nowrap;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Orchard School</span></td><td class="xl67" style="border: none; color: #333333; font-size: 13pt; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; padding-top: 1px; vertical-align: bottom; white-space: nowrap;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">South Burlington</span></td><td class="xl67" style="border: none; color: #333333; font-size: 13pt; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; padding-top: 1px; vertical-align: bottom; white-space: nowrap;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Obi-Wan KenSNOWbi</span></td></tr><tr height="23" style="height: 17pt;"><td class="xl67" height="23" style="border: none; color: #333333; font-size: 13pt; height: 17pt; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; padding-top: 1px; vertical-align: bottom; white-space: nowrap;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Orleans Elementary School </span></td><td class="xl67" style="border: none; color: #333333; font-size: 13pt; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; padding-top: 1px; vertical-align: bottom; white-space: nowrap;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Orleans</span></td><td class="xl67" style="border: none; color: #333333; font-size: 13pt; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; padding-top: 1px; vertical-align: bottom; white-space: nowrap;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">The Night Owl</span></td></tr><tr height="23" style="height: 17pt;"><td class="xl67" height="23" style="border: none; color: #333333; font-size: 13pt; height: 17pt; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; padding-top: 1px; vertical-align: bottom; white-space: nowrap;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Pacem School</span></td><td class="xl67" style="border: none; color: #333333; font-size: 13pt; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; padding-top: 1px; vertical-align: bottom; white-space: nowrap;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Montpelier</span></td><td class="xl67" style="border: none; color: #333333; font-size: 13pt; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; padding-top: 1px; vertical-align: bottom; white-space: nowrap;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Edgar Allen Snow</span></td></tr><tr height="23" style="height: 17pt;"><td class="xl67" height="23" style="border: none; color: #333333; font-size: 13pt; height: 17pt; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; padding-top: 1px; vertical-align: bottom; white-space: nowrap;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Porters Point School</span></td><td class="xl67" style="border: none; color: #333333; font-size: 13pt; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; padding-top: 1px; vertical-align: bottom; white-space: nowrap;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Colchester</span></td><td class="xl67" style="border: none; color: #333333; font-size: 13pt; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; padding-top: 1px; vertical-align: bottom; white-space: nowrap;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Arctic Blaze</span></td></tr><tr height="23" style="height: 17pt;"><td class="xl67" height="23" style="border: none; color: #333333; font-size: 13pt; height: 17pt; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; padding-top: 1px; vertical-align: bottom; white-space: nowrap;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Pownal Elementary School</span></td><td class="xl67" style="border: none; color: #333333; font-size: 13pt; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; padding-top: 1px; vertical-align: bottom; white-space: nowrap;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Pownal</span></td><td class="xl67" style="border: none; color: #333333; font-size: 13pt; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; padding-top: 1px; vertical-align: bottom; white-space: nowrap;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Mr. Pushy</span></td></tr><tr height="23" style="height: 17pt;"><td class="xl67" height="23" style="border: none; color: #333333; font-size: 13pt; height: 17pt; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; padding-top: 1px; vertical-align: bottom; white-space: nowrap;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Randolph Elementary School</span></td><td class="xl67" style="border: none; color: #333333; font-size: 13pt; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; padding-top: 1px; vertical-align: bottom; white-space: nowrap;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Randolph</span></td><td class="xl67" style="border: none; color: #333333; font-size: 13pt; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; padding-top: 1px; vertical-align: bottom; white-space: nowrap;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Bob the Plower</span></td></tr><tr height="23" style="height: 17pt;"><td class="xl67" height="23" style="border: none; color: #333333; font-size: 13pt; height: 17pt; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; padding-top: 1px; vertical-align: bottom; white-space: nowrap;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Readsboro Central School</span></td><td class="xl67" style="border: none; color: #333333; font-size: 13pt; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; padding-top: 1px; vertical-align: bottom; white-space: nowrap;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Readsboro</span></td><td class="xl67" style="border: none; color: #333333; font-size: 13pt; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; padding-top: 1px; vertical-align: bottom; white-space: nowrap;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">The 'Boro Beast</span></td></tr><tr height="23" style="height: 17pt;"><td class="xl67" height="23" style="border: none; color: #333333; font-size: 13pt; height: 17pt; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; padding-top: 1px; vertical-align: bottom; white-space: nowrap;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Red Cedar School</span></td><td class="xl67" style="border: none; color: #333333; font-size: 13pt; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; padding-top: 1px; vertical-align: bottom; white-space: nowrap;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Bristol</span></td><td class="xl67" style="border: none; color: #333333; font-size: 13pt; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; padding-top: 1px; vertical-align: bottom; white-space: nowrap;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Snow Blade</span></td></tr><tr height="23" style="height: 17pt;"><td class="xl67" height="23" style="border: none; color: #333333; font-size: 13pt; height: 17pt; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; padding-top: 1px; vertical-align: bottom; white-space: nowrap;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Richford Elementary School</span></td><td class="xl67" style="border: none; color: #333333; font-size: 13pt; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; padding-top: 1px; vertical-align: bottom; white-space: nowrap;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Richford</span></td><td class="xl67" style="border: none; color: #333333; font-size: 13pt; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; padding-top: 1px; vertical-align: bottom; white-space: nowrap;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Flurry</span></td></tr><tr height="23" style="height: 17pt;"><td class="xl67" height="23" style="border: none; color: #333333; font-size: 13pt; height: 17pt; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; padding-top: 1px; vertical-align: bottom; white-space: nowrap;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Rick Marcotte Central School</span></td><td class="xl67" style="border: none; color: #333333; font-size: 13pt; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; padding-top: 1px; vertical-align: bottom; white-space: nowrap;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">South Burlington</span></td><td class="xl67" style="border: none; color: #333333; font-size: 13pt; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; padding-top: 1px; vertical-align: bottom; white-space: nowrap;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Mighty Moose</span></td></tr><tr height="23" style="height: 17pt;"><td class="xl67" height="23" style="border: none; color: #333333; font-size: 13pt; height: 17pt; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; padding-top: 1px; vertical-align: bottom; white-space: nowrap;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Robinson Elementary School</span></td><td class="xl67" style="border: none; color: #333333; font-size: 13pt; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; padding-top: 1px; vertical-align: bottom; white-space: nowrap;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Starksboro</span></td><td class="xl67" style="border: none; color: #333333; font-size: 13pt; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; padding-top: 1px; vertical-align: bottom; white-space: nowrap;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Snowy Chicken </span></td></tr><tr height="23" style="height: 17pt;"><td class="xl67" height="23" style="border: none; color: #333333; font-size: 13pt; height: 17pt; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; padding-top: 1px; vertical-align: bottom; white-space: nowrap;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Rumney Memorial School</span></td><td class="xl67" style="border: none; color: #333333; font-size: 13pt; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; padding-top: 1px; vertical-align: bottom; white-space: nowrap;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Middlesex</span></td><td class="xl67" style="border: none; color: #333333; font-size: 13pt; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; padding-top: 1px; vertical-align: bottom; white-space: nowrap;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Snowfight</span></td></tr><tr height="23" style="height: 17pt;"><td class="xl67" height="23" style="border: none; color: #333333; font-size: 13pt; height: 17pt; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; padding-top: 1px; vertical-align: bottom; white-space: nowrap;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Rutland Area Christian School</span></td><td class="xl67" style="border: none; color: #333333; font-size: 13pt; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; padding-top: 1px; vertical-align: bottom; white-space: nowrap;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Rutland</span></td><td class="xl67" style="border: none; color: #333333; font-size: 13pt; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; padding-top: 1px; vertical-align: bottom; white-space: nowrap;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">RACS Snow Destroyer</span></td></tr><tr height="23" style="height: 17pt;"><td class="xl67" height="23" style="border: none; color: #333333; font-size: 13pt; height: 17pt; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; padding-top: 1px; vertical-align: bottom; white-space: nowrap;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Rutland Intermediate School </span></td><td class="xl67" style="border: none; color: #333333; font-size: 13pt; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; padding-top: 1px; vertical-align: bottom; white-space: nowrap;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Rutland</span></td><td class="xl67" style="border: none; color: #333333; font-size: 13pt; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; padding-top: 1px; vertical-align: bottom; white-space: nowrap;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Luke Snow Walker</span></td></tr><tr height="23" style="height: 17pt;"><td class="xl67" height="23" style="border: none; color: #333333; font-size: 13pt; height: 17pt; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; padding-top: 1px; vertical-align: bottom; white-space: nowrap;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Saint Francis Xavier School </span></td><td class="xl67" style="border: none; color: #333333; font-size: 13pt; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; padding-top: 1px; vertical-align: bottom; white-space: nowrap;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Winooski</span></td><td class="xl67" style="border: none; color: #333333; font-size: 13pt; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; padding-top: 1px; vertical-align: bottom; white-space: nowrap;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Snowbusters</span></td></tr><tr height="23" style="height: 17pt;"><td class="xl67" height="23" style="border: none; color: #333333; font-size: 13pt; height: 17pt; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; padding-top: 1px; vertical-align: bottom; white-space: nowrap;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Saxtons River Elementary School </span></td><td class="xl67" style="border: none; color: #333333; font-size: 13pt; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; padding-top: 1px; vertical-align: bottom; white-space: nowrap;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Saxtons River</span></td><td class="xl67" style="border: none; color: #333333; font-size: 13pt; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; padding-top: 1px; vertical-align: bottom; white-space: nowrap;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Arctic Fox</span></td></tr><tr height="23" style="height: 17pt;"><td class="xl67" height="23" style="border: none; color: #333333; font-size: 13pt; height: 17pt; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; padding-top: 1px; vertical-align: bottom; white-space: nowrap;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Shaftsbury Elementary School</span></td><td class="xl67" style="border: none; color: #333333; font-size: 13pt; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; padding-top: 1px; vertical-align: bottom; white-space: nowrap;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Shaftsbury</span></td><td class="xl67" style="border: none; color: #333333; font-size: 13pt; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; padding-top: 1px; vertical-align: bottom; white-space: nowrap;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Salty Eagle</span></td></tr><tr height="23" style="height: 17pt;"><td class="xl67" height="23" style="border: none; color: #333333; font-size: 13pt; height: 17pt; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; padding-top: 1px; vertical-align: bottom; white-space: nowrap;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Shelburne Community School</span></td><td class="xl67" style="border: none; color: #333333; font-size: 13pt; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; padding-top: 1px; vertical-align: bottom; white-space: nowrap;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Shelburne</span></td><td class="xl67" style="border: none; color: #333333; font-size: 13pt; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; padding-top: 1px; vertical-align: bottom; white-space: nowrap;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Shelburne Blizzard</span></td></tr><tr height="23" style="height: 17pt;"><td class="xl67" height="23" style="border: none; color: #333333; font-size: 13pt; height: 17pt; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; padding-top: 1px; vertical-align: bottom; white-space: nowrap;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Shelburne Nursery School</span></td><td class="xl67" style="border: none; color: #333333; font-size: 13pt; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; padding-top: 1px; vertical-align: bottom; white-space: nowrap;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Shelburne </span></td><td class="xl67" style="border: none; color: #333333; font-size: 13pt; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; padding-top: 1px; vertical-align: bottom; white-space: nowrap;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Ice Breaker</span></td></tr><tr height="23" style="height: 17pt;"><td class="xl67" height="23" style="border: none; color: #333333; font-size: 13pt; height: 17pt; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; padding-top: 1px; vertical-align: bottom; white-space: nowrap;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Shrewsbury Mountain School</span></td><td class="xl67" style="border: none; color: #333333; font-size: 13pt; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; padding-top: 1px; vertical-align: bottom; white-space: nowrap;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Shrewsbury</span></td><td class="xl67" style="border: none; color: #333333; font-size: 13pt; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; padding-top: 1px; vertical-align: bottom; white-space: nowrap;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Sub Zero</span></td></tr><tr height="23" style="height: 17pt;"><td class="xl67" height="23" style="border: none; color: #333333; font-size: 13pt; height: 17pt; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; padding-top: 1px; vertical-align: bottom; white-space: nowrap;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">South Royalton Elementary School</span></td><td class="xl67" style="border: none; color: #333333; font-size: 13pt; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; padding-top: 1px; vertical-align: bottom; white-space: nowrap;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">South Royalton</span></td><td class="xl67" style="border: none; color: #333333; font-size: 13pt; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; padding-top: 1px; vertical-align: bottom; white-space: nowrap;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Wildcat Winter</span></td></tr><tr height="23" style="height: 17pt;"><td class="xl67" height="23" style="border: none; color: #333333; font-size: 13pt; height: 17pt; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; padding-top: 1px; vertical-align: bottom; white-space: nowrap;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">St. Johnsbury School </span></td><td class="xl67" style="border: none; color: #333333; font-size: 13pt; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; padding-top: 1px; vertical-align: bottom; white-space: nowrap;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">St. Johnsbury</span></td><td class="xl67" style="border: none; color: #333333; font-size: 13pt; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; padding-top: 1px; vertical-align: bottom; white-space: nowrap;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Snowflake Dently</span></td></tr><tr height="23" style="height: 17pt;"><td class="xl67" height="23" style="border: none; color: #333333; font-size: 13pt; height: 17pt; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; padding-top: 1px; vertical-align: bottom; white-space: nowrap;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">St. Monica-St. Michael School </span></td><td class="xl67" style="border: none; color: #333333; font-size: 13pt; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; padding-top: 1px; vertical-align: bottom; white-space: nowrap;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Barre</span></td><td class="xl67" style="border: none; color: #333333; font-size: 13pt; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; padding-top: 1px; vertical-align: bottom; white-space: nowrap;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Frosty the Snowplow</span></td></tr><tr height="23" style="height: 17pt;"><td class="xl67" height="23" style="border: none; color: #333333; font-size: 13pt; height: 17pt; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; padding-top: 1px; vertical-align: bottom; white-space: nowrap;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">St. Paul's Catholic School</span></td><td class="xl67" style="border: none; color: #333333; font-size: 13pt; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; padding-top: 1px; vertical-align: bottom; white-space: nowrap;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Barton</span></td><td class="xl67" style="border: none; color: #333333; font-size: 13pt; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; padding-top: 1px; vertical-align: bottom; white-space: nowrap;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Flurry the Snow Cow</span></td></tr><tr height="23" style="height: 17pt;"><td class="xl67" height="23" style="border: none; color: #333333; font-size: 13pt; height: 17pt; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; padding-top: 1px; vertical-align: bottom; white-space: nowrap;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Stowe Elementary School</span></td><td class="xl67" style="border: none; color: #333333; font-size: 13pt; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; padding-top: 1px; vertical-align: bottom; white-space: nowrap;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Stowe</span></td><td class="xl67" style="border: none; color: #333333; font-size: 13pt; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; padding-top: 1px; vertical-align: bottom; white-space: nowrap;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Polarplow</span></td></tr><tr height="23" style="height: 17pt;"><td class="xl67" height="23" style="border: none; color: #333333; font-size: 13pt; height: 17pt; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; padding-top: 1px; vertical-align: bottom; white-space: nowrap;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Summit Street School</span></td><td class="xl67" style="border: none; color: #333333; font-size: 13pt; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; padding-top: 1px; vertical-align: bottom; white-space: nowrap;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Essex Junction</span></td><td class="xl67" style="border: none; color: #333333; font-size: 13pt; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; padding-top: 1px; vertical-align: bottom; white-space: nowrap;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Crystal</span></td></tr><tr height="23" style="height: 17pt;"><td class="xl67" height="23" style="border: none; color: #333333; font-size: 13pt; height: 17pt; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; padding-top: 1px; vertical-align: bottom; white-space: nowrap;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Sustainability Academy</span></td><td class="xl67" style="border: none; color: #333333; font-size: 13pt; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; padding-top: 1px; vertical-align: bottom; white-space: nowrap;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Burlington</span></td><td class="xl67" style="border: none; color: #333333; font-size: 13pt; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; padding-top: 1px; vertical-align: bottom; white-space: nowrap;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Snowcrusher</span></td></tr><tr height="23" style="height: 17pt;"><td class="xl67" height="23" style="border: none; color: #333333; font-size: 13pt; height: 17pt; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; padding-top: 1px; vertical-align: bottom; white-space: nowrap;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Sutton School</span></td><td class="xl67" style="border: none; color: #333333; font-size: 13pt; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; padding-top: 1px; vertical-align: bottom; white-space: nowrap;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Sutton</span></td><td class="xl67" style="border: none; color: #333333; font-size: 13pt; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; padding-top: 1px; vertical-align: bottom; white-space: nowrap;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Sutton Cats Rule the Road</span></td></tr><tr height="23" style="height: 17pt;"><td class="xl67" height="23" style="border: none; color: #333333; font-size: 13pt; height: 17pt; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; padding-top: 1px; vertical-align: bottom; white-space: nowrap;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Swanton Elementary School</span></td><td class="xl67" style="border: none; color: #333333; font-size: 13pt; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; padding-top: 1px; vertical-align: bottom; white-space: nowrap;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Swanton</span></td><td class="xl67" style="border: none; color: #333333; font-size: 13pt; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; padding-top: 1px; vertical-align: bottom; white-space: nowrap;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Maple Creemee Cruiser</span></td></tr><tr height="23" style="height: 17pt;"><td class="xl67" height="23" style="border: none; color: #333333; font-size: 13pt; height: 17pt; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; padding-top: 1px; vertical-align: bottom; white-space: nowrap;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">The Barn School</span></td><td class="xl67" style="border: none; color: #333333; font-size: 13pt; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; padding-top: 1px; vertical-align: bottom; white-space: nowrap;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Westford</span></td><td class="xl67" style="border: none; color: #333333; font-size: 13pt; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; padding-top: 1px; vertical-align: bottom; white-space: nowrap;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Blizzard Lizzard</span></td></tr><tr height="23" style="height: 17pt;"><td class="xl67" height="23" style="border: none; color: #333333; font-size: 13pt; height: 17pt; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; padding-top: 1px; vertical-align: bottom; white-space: nowrap;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">The Dover School</span></td><td class="xl67" style="border: none; color: #333333; font-size: 13pt; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; padding-top: 1px; vertical-align: bottom; white-space: nowrap;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">East Dover</span></td><td class="xl67" style="border: none; color: #333333; font-size: 13pt; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; padding-top: 1px; vertical-align: bottom; white-space: nowrap;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">The Orange Snow Peeler</span></td></tr><tr height="23" style="height: 17pt;"><td class="xl67" height="23" style="border: none; color: #333333; font-size: 13pt; height: 17pt; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; padding-top: 1px; vertical-align: bottom; white-space: nowrap;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">The Elmore School</span></td><td class="xl67" style="border: none; color: #333333; font-size: 13pt; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; padding-top: 1px; vertical-align: bottom; white-space: nowrap;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Elmore</span></td><td class="xl67" style="border: none; color: #333333; font-size: 13pt; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; padding-top: 1px; vertical-align: bottom; white-space: nowrap;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Snowy Owl </span></td></tr><tr height="23" style="height: 17pt;"><td class="xl67" height="23" style="border: none; color: #333333; font-size: 13pt; height: 17pt; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; padding-top: 1px; vertical-align: bottom; white-space: nowrap;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">The Mountain School at Winhall </span></td><td class="xl67" style="border: none; color: #333333; font-size: 13pt; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; padding-top: 1px; vertical-align: bottom; white-space: nowrap;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Bondville</span></td><td class="xl67" style="border: none; color: #333333; font-size: 13pt; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; padding-top: 1px; vertical-align: bottom; white-space: nowrap;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Snow Place Like Home </span></td></tr><tr height="23" style="height: 17pt;"><td class="xl67" height="23" style="border: none; color: #333333; font-size: 13pt; height: 17pt; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; padding-top: 1px; vertical-align: bottom; white-space: nowrap;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">The Riverside School</span></td><td class="xl67" style="border: none; color: #333333; font-size: 13pt; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; padding-top: 1px; vertical-align: bottom; white-space: nowrap;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Lyndonville</span></td><td class="xl67" style="border: none; color: #333333; font-size: 13pt; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; padding-top: 1px; vertical-align: bottom; white-space: nowrap;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Plowser</span></td></tr><tr height="23" style="height: 17pt;"><td class="xl67" height="23" style="border: none; color: #333333; font-size: 13pt; height: 17pt; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; padding-top: 1px; vertical-align: bottom; white-space: nowrap;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">The School of Sacred Heart St. Francis de Sales </span></td><td class="xl67" style="border: none; color: #333333; font-size: 13pt; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; padding-top: 1px; vertical-align: bottom; white-space: nowrap;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Bennington</span></td><td class="xl67" style="border: none; color: #333333; font-size: 13pt; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; padding-top: 1px; vertical-align: bottom; white-space: nowrap;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Perry the Plowerpus</span></td></tr><tr height="23" style="height: 17pt;"><td class="xl67" height="23" style="border: none; color: #333333; font-size: 13pt; height: 17pt; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; padding-top: 1px; vertical-align: bottom; white-space: nowrap;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Thetford Elementary School </span></td><td class="xl67" style="border: none; color: #333333; font-size: 13pt; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; padding-top: 1px; vertical-align: bottom; white-space: nowrap;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Thetford</span></td><td class="xl67" style="border: none; color: #333333; font-size: 13pt; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; padding-top: 1px; vertical-align: bottom; white-space: nowrap;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Snowy</span></td></tr><tr height="23" style="height: 17pt;"><td class="xl67" height="23" style="border: none; color: #333333; font-size: 13pt; height: 17pt; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; padding-top: 1px; vertical-align: bottom; white-space: nowrap;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Thomas Fleming School</span></td><td class="xl67" style="border: none; color: #333333; font-size: 13pt; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; padding-top: 1px; vertical-align: bottom; white-space: nowrap;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Essex Junction</span></td><td class="xl67" style="border: none; color: #333333; font-size: 13pt; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; padding-top: 1px; vertical-align: bottom; white-space: nowrap;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Mr. Plowington</span></td></tr><tr height="23" style="height: 17pt;"><td class="xl67" height="23" style="border: none; color: #333333; font-size: 13pt; height: 17pt; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; padding-top: 1px; vertical-align: bottom; white-space: nowrap;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Tinmouth Mountain School</span></td><td class="xl67" style="border: none; color: #333333; font-size: 13pt; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; padding-top: 1px; vertical-align: bottom; white-space: nowrap;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Tinmouth</span></td><td class="xl67" style="border: none; color: #333333; font-size: 13pt; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; padding-top: 1px; vertical-align: bottom; white-space: nowrap;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Plow-Cow</span></td></tr><tr height="23" style="height: 17pt;"><td class="xl67" height="23" style="border: none; color: #333333; font-size: 13pt; height: 17pt; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; padding-top: 1px; vertical-align: bottom; white-space: nowrap;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Trinity Baptist School</span></td><td class="xl67" style="border: none; color: #333333; font-size: 13pt; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; padding-top: 1px; vertical-align: bottom; white-space: nowrap;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Williston</span></td><td class="xl67" style="border: none; color: #333333; font-size: 13pt; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; padding-top: 1px; vertical-align: bottom; white-space: nowrap;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Snow Shadow</span></td></tr><tr height="23" style="height: 17pt;"><td class="xl67" height="23" style="border: none; color: #333333; font-size: 13pt; height: 17pt; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; padding-top: 1px; vertical-align: bottom; white-space: nowrap;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Troy School</span></td><td class="xl67" style="border: none; color: #333333; font-size: 13pt; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; padding-top: 1px; vertical-align: bottom; white-space: nowrap;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">North Troy</span></td><td class="xl67" style="border: none; color: #333333; font-size: 13pt; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; padding-top: 1px; vertical-align: bottom; white-space: nowrap;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">The Plowinator</span></td></tr><tr height="23" style="height: 17pt;"><td class="xl67" height="23" style="border: none; color: #333333; font-size: 13pt; height: 17pt; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; padding-top: 1px; vertical-align: bottom; white-space: nowrap;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Tunbridge Central School </span></td><td class="xl67" style="border: none; color: #333333; font-size: 13pt; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; padding-top: 1px; vertical-align: bottom; white-space: nowrap;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Tunbridge </span></td><td class="xl67" style="border: none; color: #333333; font-size: 13pt; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; padding-top: 1px; vertical-align: bottom; white-space: nowrap;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Snow on the Go</span></td></tr><tr height="23" style="height: 17pt;"><td class="xl67" height="23" style="border: none; color: #333333; font-size: 13pt; height: 17pt; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; padding-top: 1px; vertical-align: bottom; white-space: nowrap;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Underhill Central School</span></td><td class="xl67" style="border: none; color: #333333; font-size: 13pt; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; padding-top: 1px; vertical-align: bottom; white-space: nowrap;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Underhill Center</span></td><td class="xl67" style="border: none; color: #333333; font-size: 13pt; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; padding-top: 1px; vertical-align: bottom; white-space: nowrap;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">The White Fox</span></td></tr><tr height="23" style="height: 17pt;"><td class="xl67" height="23" style="border: none; color: #333333; font-size: 13pt; height: 17pt; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; padding-top: 1px; vertical-align: bottom; white-space: nowrap;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Union Elementary School</span></td><td class="xl67" style="border: none; color: #333333; font-size: 13pt; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; padding-top: 1px; vertical-align: bottom; white-space: nowrap;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Montpelier</span></td><td class="xl67" style="border: none; color: #333333; font-size: 13pt; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; padding-top: 1px; vertical-align: bottom; white-space: nowrap;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Storm</span></td></tr><tr height="23" style="height: 17pt;"><td class="xl67" height="23" style="border: none; color: #333333; font-size: 13pt; height: 17pt; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; padding-top: 1px; vertical-align: bottom; white-space: nowrap;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Union Memorial School </span></td><td class="xl67" style="border: none; color: #333333; font-size: 13pt; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; padding-top: 1px; vertical-align: bottom; white-space: nowrap;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Colchester</span></td><td class="xl67" style="border: none; color: #333333; font-size: 13pt; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; padding-top: 1px; vertical-align: bottom; white-space: nowrap;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Everest</span></td></tr><tr height="23" style="height: 17pt;"><td class="xl67" height="23" style="border: none; color: #333333; font-size: 13pt; height: 17pt; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; padding-top: 1px; vertical-align: bottom; white-space: nowrap;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">United Christian Academy</span></td><td class="xl67" style="border: none; color: #333333; font-size: 13pt; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; padding-top: 1px; vertical-align: bottom; white-space: nowrap;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Newport</span></td><td class="xl67" style="border: none; color: #333333; font-size: 13pt; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; padding-top: 1px; vertical-align: bottom; white-space: nowrap;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Snow Plowie</span></td></tr><tr height="23" style="height: 17pt;"><td class="xl67" height="23" style="border: none; color: #333333; font-size: 13pt; height: 17pt; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; padding-top: 1px; vertical-align: bottom; white-space: nowrap;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Vergennes Union Elementary School</span></td><td class="xl67" style="border: none; color: #333333; font-size: 13pt; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; padding-top: 1px; vertical-align: bottom; white-space: nowrap;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Vergennes</span></td><td class="xl67" style="border: none; color: #333333; font-size: 13pt; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; padding-top: 1px; vertical-align: bottom; white-space: nowrap;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Glacier</span></td></tr><tr height="23" style="height: 17pt;"><td class="xl67" height="23" style="border: none; color: #333333; font-size: 13pt; height: 17pt; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; padding-top: 1px; vertical-align: bottom; white-space: nowrap;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Vermont Commons School</span></td><td class="xl67" style="border: none; color: #333333; font-size: 13pt; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; padding-top: 1px; vertical-align: bottom; white-space: nowrap;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">South Burlington</span></td><td class="xl67" style="border: none; color: #333333; font-size: 13pt; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; padding-top: 1px; vertical-align: bottom; white-space: nowrap;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Shellington</span></td></tr><tr height="23" style="height: 17pt;"><td class="xl67" height="23" style="border: none; color: #333333; font-size: 13pt; height: 17pt; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; padding-top: 1px; vertical-align: bottom; white-space: nowrap;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Vermont Day School </span></td><td class="xl67" style="border: none; color: #333333; font-size: 13pt; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; padding-top: 1px; vertical-align: bottom; white-space: nowrap;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Shelburne</span></td><td class="xl67" style="border: none; color: #333333; font-size: 13pt; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; padding-top: 1px; vertical-align: bottom; white-space: nowrap;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Snow Magic</span></td></tr><tr height="23" style="height: 17pt;"><td class="xl67" height="23" style="border: none; color: #333333; font-size: 13pt; height: 17pt; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; padding-top: 1px; vertical-align: bottom; white-space: nowrap;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Vermont Virtual Learning Cooperative</span></td><td class="xl67" style="border: none; color: #333333; font-size: 13pt; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; padding-top: 1px; vertical-align: bottom; white-space: nowrap;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Morrisville</span></td><td class="xl67" style="border: none; color: #333333; font-size: 13pt; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; padding-top: 1px; vertical-align: bottom; white-space: nowrap;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Vinnie's VTVLC Pack</span></td></tr><tr height="23" style="height: 17pt;"><td class="xl67" height="23" style="border: none; color: #333333; font-size: 13pt; height: 17pt; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; padding-top: 1px; vertical-align: bottom; white-space: nowrap;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Waits River Valley School</span></td><td class="xl67" style="border: none; color: #333333; font-size: 13pt; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; padding-top: 1px; vertical-align: bottom; white-space: nowrap;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">East Corinth</span></td><td class="xl67" style="border: none; color: #333333; font-size: 13pt; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; padding-top: 1px; vertical-align: bottom; white-space: nowrap;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Snow Chomper</span></td></tr><tr height="23" style="height: 17pt;"><td class="xl67" height="23" style="border: none; color: #333333; font-size: 13pt; height: 17pt; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; padding-top: 1px; vertical-align: bottom; white-space: nowrap;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Waitsfield Elementary School</span></td><td class="xl67" style="border: none; color: #333333; font-size: 13pt; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; padding-top: 1px; vertical-align: bottom; white-space: nowrap;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Waitsfield</span></td><td class="xl67" style="border: none; color: #333333; font-size: 13pt; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; padding-top: 1px; vertical-align: bottom; white-space: nowrap;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">The Frost Walker</span></td></tr><tr height="23" style="height: 17pt;"><td class="xl67" height="23" style="border: none; color: #333333; font-size: 13pt; height: 17pt; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; padding-top: 1px; vertical-align: bottom; white-space: nowrap;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Walden School</span></td><td class="xl67" style="border: none; color: #333333; font-size: 13pt; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; padding-top: 1px; vertical-align: bottom; white-space: nowrap;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Walden</span></td><td class="xl67" style="border: none; color: #333333; font-size: 13pt; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; padding-top: 1px; vertical-align: bottom; white-space: nowrap;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Snow McQueen </span></td></tr><tr height="23" style="height: 17pt;"><td class="xl67" height="23" style="border: none; color: #333333; font-size: 13pt; height: 17pt; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; padding-top: 1px; vertical-align: bottom; white-space: nowrap;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Wardsboro Elementary School </span></td><td class="xl67" style="border: none; color: #333333; font-size: 13pt; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; padding-top: 1px; vertical-align: bottom; white-space: nowrap;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Wardsboro</span></td><td class="xl67" style="border: none; color: #333333; font-size: 13pt; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; padding-top: 1px; vertical-align: bottom; white-space: nowrap;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Storm Trooper</span></td></tr><tr height="23" style="height: 17pt;"><td class="xl67" height="23" style="border: none; color: #333333; font-size: 13pt; height: 17pt; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; padding-top: 1px; vertical-align: bottom; white-space: nowrap;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Warren Elementary School </span></td><td class="xl67" style="border: none; color: #333333; font-size: 13pt; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; padding-top: 1px; vertical-align: bottom; white-space: nowrap;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Warren </span></td><td class="xl67" style="border: none; color: #333333; font-size: 13pt; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; padding-top: 1px; vertical-align: bottom; white-space: nowrap;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Sweeping Beauty</span></td></tr><tr height="23" style="height: 17pt;"><td class="xl67" height="23" style="border: none; color: #333333; font-size: 13pt; height: 17pt; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; padding-top: 1px; vertical-align: bottom; white-space: nowrap;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Waterville Elementary School</span></td><td class="xl67" style="border: none; color: #333333; font-size: 13pt; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; padding-top: 1px; vertical-align: bottom; white-space: nowrap;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Waterville</span></td><td class="xl67" style="border: none; color: #333333; font-size: 13pt; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; padding-top: 1px; vertical-align: bottom; white-space: nowrap;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Blizzard Bessy</span></td></tr><tr height="23" style="height: 17pt;"><td class="xl67" height="23" style="border: none; color: #333333; font-size: 13pt; height: 17pt; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; padding-top: 1px; vertical-align: bottom; white-space: nowrap;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Weathersfield Elementary School</span></td><td class="xl67" style="border: none; color: #333333; font-size: 13pt; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; padding-top: 1px; vertical-align: bottom; white-space: nowrap;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Ascutney</span></td><td class="xl67" style="border: none; color: #333333; font-size: 13pt; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; padding-top: 1px; vertical-align: bottom; white-space: nowrap;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Big Bessie</span></td></tr><tr height="23" style="height: 17pt;"><td class="xl67" height="23" style="border: none; color: #333333; font-size: 13pt; height: 17pt; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; padding-top: 1px; vertical-align: bottom; white-space: nowrap;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">West Rutland School</span></td><td class="xl67" style="border: none; color: #333333; font-size: 13pt; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; padding-top: 1px; vertical-align: bottom; white-space: nowrap;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">West Rutland</span></td><td class="xl67" style="border: none; color: #333333; font-size: 13pt; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; padding-top: 1px; vertical-align: bottom; white-space: nowrap;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Orange Bolt</span></td></tr><tr height="23" style="height: 17pt;"><td class="xl67" height="23" style="border: none; color: #333333; font-size: 13pt; height: 17pt; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; padding-top: 1px; vertical-align: bottom; white-space: nowrap;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Westford Elementary School</span></td><td class="xl67" style="border: none; color: #333333; font-size: 13pt; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; padding-top: 1px; vertical-align: bottom; white-space: nowrap;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Westford</span></td><td class="xl67" style="border: none; color: #333333; font-size: 13pt; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; padding-top: 1px; vertical-align: bottom; white-space: nowrap;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">McNugget</span></td></tr><tr height="23" style="height: 17pt;"><td class="xl67" height="23" style="border: none; color: #333333; font-size: 13pt; height: 17pt; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; padding-top: 1px; vertical-align: bottom; white-space: nowrap;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Westminster Center School</span></td><td class="xl67" style="border: none; color: #333333; font-size: 13pt; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; padding-top: 1px; vertical-align: bottom; white-space: nowrap;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Westminster </span></td><td class="xl67" style="border: none; color: #333333; font-size: 13pt; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; padding-top: 1px; vertical-align: bottom; white-space: nowrap;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Green Mountain Plower</span></td></tr><tr height="23" style="height: 17pt;"><td class="xl67" height="23" style="border: none; color: #333333; font-size: 13pt; height: 17pt; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; padding-top: 1px; vertical-align: bottom; white-space: nowrap;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Williston Central School</span></td><td class="xl67" style="border: none; color: #333333; font-size: 13pt; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; padding-top: 1px; vertical-align: bottom; white-space: nowrap;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Williston</span></td><td class="xl67" style="border: none; color: #333333; font-size: 13pt; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; padding-top: 1px; vertical-align: bottom; white-space: nowrap;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Powder Pusher </span></td></tr><tr height="23" style="height: 17pt;"><td class="xl67" height="23" style="border: none; color: #333333; font-size: 13pt; height: 17pt; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; padding-top: 1px; vertical-align: bottom; white-space: nowrap;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Windham Elementary School</span></td><td class="xl67" style="border: none; color: #333333; font-size: 13pt; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; padding-top: 1px; vertical-align: bottom; white-space: nowrap;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Windham</span></td><td class="xl67" style="border: none; color: #333333; font-size: 13pt; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; padding-top: 1px; vertical-align: bottom; white-space: nowrap;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Slip Sliding Safety Service</span></td></tr><tr height="23" style="height: 17pt;"><td class="xl67" height="23" style="border: none; color: #333333; font-size: 13pt; height: 17pt; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; padding-top: 1px; vertical-align: bottom; white-space: nowrap;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Wolcott Elementary School</span></td><td class="xl67" style="border: none; color: #333333; font-size: 13pt; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; padding-top: 1px; vertical-align: bottom; white-space: nowrap;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Wolcott</span></td><td class="xl67" style="border: none; color: #333333; font-size: 13pt; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; padding-top: 1px; vertical-align: bottom; white-space: nowrap;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Super Snow Storm</span></td></tr><tr height="23" style="height: 17pt;"><td class="xl67" height="23" style="border: none; color: #333333; font-size: 13pt; height: 17pt; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; padding-top: 1px; vertical-align: bottom; white-space: nowrap;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Woodford Hollow Elementary School</span></td><td class="xl67" style="border: none; color: #333333; font-size: 13pt; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; padding-top: 1px; vertical-align: bottom; white-space: nowrap;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Woodford</span></td><td class="xl67" style="border: none; color: #333333; font-size: 13pt; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; padding-top: 1px; vertical-align: bottom; white-space: nowrap;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Woodford Sands</span></td></tr><tr height="23" style="height: 17pt;"><td class="xl66" height="23" style="border: none; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 13pt; height: 17pt; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; padding-top: 1px; vertical-align: bottom; white-space: nowrap;"></td><td class="xl66" style="border: none; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 13pt; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; padding-top: 1px; vertical-align: bottom; white-space: nowrap;"></td><td class="xl66" style="border: none; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 13pt; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; padding-top: 1px; vertical-align: bottom; white-space: nowrap;"></td></tr><tr height="23" style="height: 17pt;"><td class="xl66" height="23" style="border: none; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 13pt; height: 17pt; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; padding-top: 1px; vertical-align: bottom; white-space: nowrap;"></td><td class="xl66" style="border: none; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 13pt; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; padding-top: 1px; vertical-align: bottom; white-space: nowrap;"></td><td class="xl66" style="border: none; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 13pt; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; padding-top: 1px; vertical-align: bottom; white-space: nowrap;"></td></tr></tbody></table><span style="font-size: x-small; font-weight: normal;"><br /><br /></span></td></tr><tr height="24" style="height: 18pt;"><td class="xl64" height="24" style="border: none; color: #333333; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt; font-weight: 700; height: 18pt; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; padding-top: 1px; vertical-align: bottom; white-space: nowrap;"></td><td style="border: none; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; padding-top: 1px; vertical-align: bottom; white-space: nowrap;"></td><td style="border: none; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; padding-top: 1px; vertical-align: bottom; white-space: nowrap;"></td></tr><tr height="24" style="height: 18pt;"><td class="xl63" height="24" style="border: none; color: #333333; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt; height: 18pt; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; padding-top: 1px; vertical-align: bottom; white-space: nowrap;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><br /></span></td><td class="xl63" style="border: none; color: #333333; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; padding-top: 1px; vertical-align: bottom; white-space: nowrap;"></td><td class="xl63" style="border: none; color: #333333; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; padding-top: 1px; vertical-align: bottom; white-space: nowrap;"></td></tr></tbody></table></h4><p></p>Sarah Saraihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12121360766766316902noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-396907022029426196.post-59738227981521547432022-01-10T12:28:00.004-05:002022-01-10T13:11:55.537-05:00A Friend of Mine Has Disappeared #poem (she was at a #retreat / I nailed it)<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEj-M89kiowocM6u7Ee6LHgaNxGsGSTbXD-K2pgE9InmZ56JbD1hJOJNCTcYTvHQ1JlOjcsfTSlTJfIl0Kf00PdCuf-DYLgIHiVoktzxZI6scrpsmsZK8BVxdHLHGP4SbGBXtVoi3V4gw3fp5GU0s-OawhMnwlDxC0XKYFL-bdOqdQR2rPr_47PxHhm8=s759" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="491" data-original-width="759" height="207" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEj-M89kiowocM6u7Ee6LHgaNxGsGSTbXD-K2pgE9InmZ56JbD1hJOJNCTcYTvHQ1JlOjcsfTSlTJfIl0Kf00PdCuf-DYLgIHiVoktzxZI6scrpsmsZK8BVxdHLHGP4SbGBXtVoi3V4gw3fp5GU0s-OawhMnwlDxC0XKYFL-bdOqdQR2rPr_47PxHhm8=s320" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">spiral or tendril?</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><p><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;">A Friend of Mine Has Disappeared</span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;">To a spiritual retreat,</span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;">I am thinking,</span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;">the sort wherein</span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;">orchestral rustling</span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;">of leaves accompany</span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;">spiritual exercise.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;">Wherein spirals and tendrils,</span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;">the inner ear's carpet,</span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;">unfurl as royal messengers</span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;">bear baskets overflowing</span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;">sweetmeats and jewels</span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;">and, remember, I know </span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;">her, mystique.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;">A truck's bullhorn blast</span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;">on Third Avenue, 2 a.m.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;">That's mystique, too.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;">I suspect she is at a writers'</span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;">retreat and didn't say.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;">She knew I'd be jealous.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;">Oh, Universe, embrace me</span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;">as I weep my petty tears.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;">Wherever she is, allow</span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;">my friend settle into </span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;">knowing as You allow</span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;">my wretched unknowing.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;">Thanks to <i>Pure Slush</i> for including this poem in their anthology on friendship. </span><span style="font-family: georgia;">There's a story here, much of which is set in my imagination. I hadn't heard anything from my friend A., who lived nearby. She wasn't at a spiritual retreat, it turns out, but she was at an artist colony and also in the midst of 'issues'. So, this and that, a call-for-work from the Australian press Pure Slush . . .</span></p>Sarah Saraihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12121360766766316902noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-396907022029426196.post-72360158324523548242022-01-09T20:53:00.002-05:002022-01-09T20:53:43.726-05:00FAIRNESS, a story. "You love who you are?" #adultery #Dan Savage #dykes #ethical considerations #fiction!<h1 style="text-align: center;"><span><span style="font-size: x-large;">FAIRNESS</span></span></h1><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEitMV12pvAC7JqeRy5hpExbGTa2j1NPtZ2RI7xCAHmXni0wo3nPHuvUEErFY1W-EVAqH04A2_0JzEj0O_AAiUxMcZOioaSNPMfZpgYWA7Npsg85I5xbG2dRl2vGC3GCjwyelu6Iku6JHr1QnFEevjLPeSey80P6jGjZ_DmmkJGiPL6MA5nbp63486bi=s317" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><img border="0" data-original-height="317" data-original-width="317" height="317" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEitMV12pvAC7JqeRy5hpExbGTa2j1NPtZ2RI7xCAHmXni0wo3nPHuvUEErFY1W-EVAqH04A2_0JzEj0O_AAiUxMcZOioaSNPMfZpgYWA7Npsg85I5xbG2dRl2vGC3GCjwyelu6Iku6JHr1QnFEevjLPeSey80P6jGjZ_DmmkJGiPL6MA5nbp63486bi" width="317" /></span></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium;"> </span></span></div><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; line-height: 24px; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Lorelei was raised to believe in rigid ethical systems and the finality of death. What’s right’s right, was her mother’s battle cry, keeping further guidelines minimal. Lorelei found this challenging. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; line-height: 24px; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; line-height: 24px; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Twenty-nine and still drifty, she was working the front desk of a Belltown gallery. The Sunday shift was chump-change, but everything helped. Seattle Center was jammed and since Dan Savage praised them in The Stranger, the gallery was squirming with lesbians indifferent, snotty, or generous. Lorelei made bets with herself about the nature of each of her sisters, their finances and sex lives. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; line-height: 24px; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; line-height: 24px; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Then Hallie Warne strolled in. She was first-glance impressive—Armani tailored to fit her one-size-larger-than-all body, boots of gleaming Spanish leather, and her bright, black eyes radiating all kinds of energy. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; line-height: 24px; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; line-height: 24px; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: medium;"> “Stamp your parking slip?” <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; line-height: 24px; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; line-height: 24px; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Hallie waved the offer aside. “I’m on the street.”<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; line-height: 24px; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; line-height: 24px; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Lorelei wanted to swat that hand but warned the woman in the accommodating Armani the City was towing today. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; line-height: 24px; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; line-height: 24px; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: medium;">“I could use the excitement.” A pretty redhead stood suspiciously close to her. “She’s got an answer for everything.” <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; line-height: 24px; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; line-height: 24px; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Hallie shrugged her off, and studied Lorelei for a moment Lorelei found too long. “What do you do?” She had an easy presence. A slyness that educed camaraderie.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; line-height: 24px; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; line-height: 24px; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Lorelei ran her thumb on the ink pad and of course regretted it. “I’m a seamstress for theaters.” <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; line-height: 24px; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: medium;">A seamstress? Hallie’s eyes pulsated with the new. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; line-height: 24px; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; line-height: 24px; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: medium;">“Honey,” the redhead whined. Hallie said something Lorelei couldn’t hear, then thrust her card into Lorelei’s hand, and walked off with her friend.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; line-height: 24px; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; line-height: 24px; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: medium;">The subterfuge startled Lorelei who looked around for someone to share her insight that it took all kinds, and was relieved when her friend Fanny materialized, looking like a drill sergeant for the Israeli army. Fanny’s fiancé Sam was by her side, looking ready to do battle against the Amorites of Canaan, who like many in the Bible, disappointed the Almighty, much to their regret.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; line-height: 24px; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; line-height: 24px; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: medium;">“Who was that?” Fanny leaned in for a peek at the card which Lorelei swiftly pocketed. She asked if Fanny and Sam wanted to grab a meal.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; line-height: 24px; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; line-height: 24px; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: medium;">“We have plans.” Sam's chest expanded with the rightness of life.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; line-height: 24px; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; line-height: 24px; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: medium;">“Later in the week I meant.” Shooing her friends into the crowd, Lorelei made a go at being the bustling, beaming type who wishes couples all the joy she herself knows, or would if she knew such joy. Fanny shot her a warm look. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; line-height: 24px; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; line-height: 24px; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: medium;">A while later, Hallie Warne, Attorney-at-Law as her card proclaimed, returned. Her shirt was working its way out of her pants. She was the sort of big that reassured Lorelei, a big to sink into. “You were right—they towed the car. And it’s not mine. I borrowed it from a friend.” Hallie maintained eye contact. “You didn’t tell me your name.” <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; line-height: 24px; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; line-height: 24px; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Lorelei’s cheeks may have flushed when Hallie asked for her number, but just like that she jotted it on the back of a receipt for cream rinse, super glue, and chamomile tea. The redhead returned, asking for directions to the ladies’ room. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; line-height: 24px; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; line-height: 24px; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Hallie shrugged the shrug of a thousand meanings.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; line-height: 24px; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; line-height: 24px; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: medium;">When Lorelei’s shift was over, she beat it, busing to the U District, to polished, wood floors and carefully placed artisan rugs typical to the Northwest. In addition to being a seamstress she was a house sitter. She raced upstairs, flopped back on the house owner’s bed, and pulled Hallie’s card out of her pocket. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; line-height: 24px; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; line-height: 24px; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: medium;">“Get a grip.” She grumbled to no one. “Get a full-time job and an apartment, join the dyke-knitting group.” She fumbled a skirt from a chair and expertly wielding a seam ripper, plucked out stitching on the hem. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; line-height: 24px; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; line-height: 24px; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: medium;">~~~<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; line-height: 24px; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: medium;">That Monday there was a message on the antiquated machine. “Lorelei? Hallie. Give me a call.” She hadn’t given Hallie her cell.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; line-height: 24px; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; line-height: 24px; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Lorelei erased messages. Thursday evening she picked up as she was easing linguine into boiling water.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; line-height: 24px; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; line-height: 24px; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: medium;">“Lorelei! How are you?”<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; line-height: 24px; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; line-height: 24px; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Lorelei couldn’t decide.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; line-height: 24px; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; line-height: 24px; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: medium;">“Well, tell me a little about yourself.” Hallie asked Lorelei her age. Twenty-nine.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; line-height: 24px; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; line-height: 24px; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: medium;">“What about you?”<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; line-height: 24px; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; line-height: 24px; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: medium;">“I’m fifty. That’s not bad.”<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; line-height: 24px; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; line-height: 24px; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: medium;">“You’re a century half-full.”<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; line-height: 24px; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; line-height: 24px; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Hallie snorted. “Age is all in the mind. Are you in a committed?”<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; line-height: 24px; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; line-height: 24px; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: medium;">“Nope.” She’d lived with a woman a few years, but didn’t want to go into it, knowing all unhappy relationships were too revealing. “And you? The redhead?”<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; line-height: 24px; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; line-height: 24px; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: medium;">“We play house.” <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; line-height: 24px; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; line-height: 24px; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Lorelei asked how long and Hallie coughed, “Five years.”<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; line-height: 24px; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; line-height: 24px; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: medium;">“Are you kidding? Or lying? That’s a long time.” As such things go.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; line-height: 24px; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; line-height: 24px; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: medium;">“Listen, I lie to Stella.” The redhead had a name. “I won’t lie to you.”<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; line-height: 24px; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; line-height: 24px; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: medium;">No grater. Lorelei sliced the Parmesan.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; line-height: 24px; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; line-height: 24px; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: medium;">“There’s someone in my office. Call me tomorrow,” Hallie barked, and hung up. She had a lawyer’s voice, directive, if not commanding, offering a clear and simple exposition of the logical and right. Assuming responsibility for all directives, the voice enveloped Lorelei. But she didn’t call—the weekend went by and she forgot. The following Tuesday, Hallie phoned, again demanding to know how Lorelei’s day had gone, as if Lorelei were a key witness to her own life.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; line-height: 24px; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; line-height: 24px; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: medium;">“It’s off-season at the Rep.” The theater. “When that’s the case, I file bench warrants.” At the Muni Building, a faded, blue, air filter with elevators.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; line-height: 24px; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; line-height: 24px; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: medium;">“So you’re around warrant officers.”<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; line-height: 24px; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; line-height: 24px; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: medium;">“They wear handcuffs on their belts. I can’t get a conversation going about dressing period plays.”<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; line-height: 24px; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Hallie said she wasn’t up for that, either. “But drive with me to Enumclaw on Sunday. We can talk about velvet capes.” To the question, “Why Enumclaw?” Hallie explained, “The jail. One of my clients is in for drugs.”<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; line-height: 24px; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; line-height: 24px; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: medium;">“Drugs?”<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; line-height: 24px; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; line-height: 24px; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: medium;">“He’s my client. I’m supposed to defend him.”<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; line-height: 24px; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: medium;">~~~<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; line-height: 24px; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: medium;">The next day, Lorelei watched a woman who’d been filing warrants for seventeen years sneak a Kit Kat from a desk drawer. She phoned. “You know, there are people who are open with their partners.”<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; line-height: 24px; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: medium;">“I’ll pick you up at noon.”<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; line-height: 24px; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; line-height: 24px; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Secrets were like buried treasure in a movie, aching to be exposed. But a lawyer had to know that. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; line-height: 24px; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: medium;">On Sunday Lorelei woke at seven. She was moving to a new housesitting job the next day. As she scrubbed the bathtub she decided she was being a fool and when her suitor or whatever Hallie was called, she announced, “I’m not driving to Enumclaw with you.”<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; line-height: 24px; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; line-height: 24px; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Hallie’s voice fell into a shallow hole out of which it dug itself with dispatch. “So let’s chat.” <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; line-height: 24px; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; line-height: 24px; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: medium;">“Have you seen much of Harold Pinter?”<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; line-height: 24px; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; line-height: 24px; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: medium;">“He’s a client.”<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; line-height: 24px; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; line-height: 24px; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: medium;">“Ha ha.” <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; line-height: 24px; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; line-height: 24px; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Hallie picked up Lorelei in her old Impala and drove to the Deluxe for hamburgers. Hallie was no organic Seattle lesbian. The age difference, Lorelei decided. While they waited for their burgers—Hallie’s rare, Lorelei’s garden—she slid an envelope across the table. “It’s an article I wrote. A rival lawyer, Dan Mills, gets published all over the place. He’s a man. Well, you figured that. I wrote this so I’d have something to show clients.”<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; line-height: 24px; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; line-height: 24px; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: medium;">“Am I supposed to read it?”<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; line-height: 24px; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; line-height: 24px; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: medium;">“It’s not court-mandated.” Her eyes darted to a booth filled with children who squirmed and parents who ignored them.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; line-height: 24px; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; line-height: 24px; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Lorelei studied the reprint. “Hey, here’s your picture.” She pointed to the small photo.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; line-height: 24px; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; line-height: 24px; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: medium;">“Go on, cut it out. It’ll fit in your wallet.” Hallie tried to pat down her hair. “I received a degree in math,” she volunteered, sharing an oral version of her resume like this was a job application, or an application for attention. Or affection. “Then I got a law degree and next an advanced degree in law.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; line-height: 24px; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: medium;">She snuck a look that wasn’t part of the conversational exchange. Lorelei’s face was expressive, but not a dead giveaway to the particular emotion at hand, more camouflage for emotion’s generic existence and her vulnerabilities―she was generically emotional and specifically vulnerable. Her auburn hair curled into ringlets in omni-damp Seattle. According to her mother, her eyes were elf-green. “Which could get you in trouble, kid.” Lorelei wasn’t sure if Hallie saw trouble, but there was something when the older woman looked at her, a small softening, a sense of delight.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; line-height: 24px; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; line-height: 24px; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: medium;">“Do you have siblings?” Lorelei squirmed away delight, or tried to, or tried to try. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; line-height: 24px; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; line-height: 24px; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: medium;">“Two older brothers, believe it or not. One died three months ago.”<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; line-height: 24px; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; line-height: 24px; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: medium;"> “Oh, I’m so sorry!” <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; line-height: 24px; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; line-height: 24px; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Hallie folded her hands across her belly. “My other brother died a year ago.” She drummed her fingers. “I’m out of brothers.”<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; line-height: 24px; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; line-height: 24px; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Lorelei pleated the reprint into a fan and used it to cool herself. She reckoned Hallie needed to fill a void. She said she was an only child, her father had passed, and her mom was in L.A. “Mom’s a little crazy.”<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; line-height: 24px; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; line-height: 24px; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: medium;">“It’s the husbands.”<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; line-height: 24px; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; line-height: 24px; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: medium;"> Lorelei shrugged. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; line-height: 24px; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; line-height: 24px; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: medium;">“Or Monsanto. These days, who knows. Would you like to go somewhere?” Hallie reached across the table. “I have the key to a friend’s apartment.” She squeezed Lorelei’s hand with evident glee, brothers forgotten. “It’s a nice hand.”<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; line-height: 24px; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; line-height: 24px; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: medium;">“What about Enumclaw?” Lorelie wondered if someone had mistaken her brain for a fern and misted it. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; line-height: 24px; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Hallie said her client would wait. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; line-height: 24px; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: medium;">~~~<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; line-height: 24px; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Lake Washington sparkled like many eyes boldly winking. “What do you think?” Hallie asked when they arrived at a bland, Bellevue edifice. She stuck a yellow Post-it on the door: Yefim, come back in 2 hours, Hallie. “Yefim’s a client.” Whose carpeting was sour orange. “He owes me.”<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; line-height: 24px; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; line-height: 24px; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: medium;">“Is he east Indian?” Lorelei pointed to a newspaper with lavish lettering.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; line-height: 24px; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; line-height: 24px; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: medium;">“Iranian.” Hallie’s belly pushed against her. “Kiss me, Lorelei.” She stroked her neck. “Do you want to see the bedroom?” <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; line-height: 24px; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; line-height: 24px; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Lorelei looked toward the front door. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; line-height: 24px; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; line-height: 24px; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: medium;">“It’ll be good for you. It’s natural.” Hallie grimaced at her own argument. “Try this, it’s a natural law, an urge, it’s legal.” She shrugged. “We could watch TV. Have you dated since you split up with your ex? I understand if this is your first time out in a while.” <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; line-height: 24px; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; line-height: 24px; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: medium;">They undressed each other, slowly at first, with care, then quickly, with passion, kissing and touching, stroking. It wasn’t the best sex Lorelei ever had, but Hallie was eager and almost dear. When her breathing was easy, Lorelei set another pillow under her head. Hallie kissed the crook of her elbow. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; line-height: 24px; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; line-height: 24px; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: medium;">“That feels good.”<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; line-height: 24px; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; line-height: 24px; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: medium;">“What? Where? Tell me.” <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; line-height: 24px; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; line-height: 24px; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: medium;">“Yeah, like that.” It was as if they were both fifteen. “Why do you cheat?”<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; line-height: 24px; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; line-height: 24px; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Hallie’s fingers dug into her arm. “She expects a real marriage-type deal, but hey, I'm already divorced. I came out late. I have two grown girls.” <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; line-height: 24px; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; line-height: 24px; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Lorelei reflected that Hallie was an onion inside an onion inside an onion. “So it’s an open relationship?” <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; line-height: 24px; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; line-height: 24px; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Hallie stood, hiding herself with her wrinkled shirt. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; line-height: 24px; margin: 0in;"><o:p><span style="font-size: medium;"> </span></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; line-height: 24px; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Lorelei tried to put Hallie in a compartment in her brain and affix the compartment’s latch, but Wednesday night, having dined with Fanny and Sam, she found herself alone in a house she didn’t belong to. Hallie was working late. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; line-height: 24px; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; line-height: 24px; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: medium;">“Lorelei, my Lorelei! I tried to get hold of you! Some man said you were at a Helen Mertry’s. Did you move? Does everyone know your schedule?”<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; line-height: 24px; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; line-height: 24px; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: medium;">“That was Mark at my last gig, where you picked me up. Helen’s spending a week on Whidbey.” <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; line-height: 24px; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; line-height: 24px; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: medium;">“You know a lot of people.” Hallie lowered her voice. “I’ve been thinking about you.” Raised her voice. “If I didn’t live in Bellevue, we’d have people in common.”<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; line-height: 24px; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; line-height: 24px; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Lorelei wasn’t so sure. The age difference, money, level of commitment to a vegetable-enriched life. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; line-height: 24px; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; line-height: 24px; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Hallie visited on Saturday. At first Lorelei felt stiff, like she’d been in a box for a week. But soon enough she felt human. Flesh is a good thing, she remembered. At the door they fell into each other’s arms. Hallie promised, “I’ll keep you on forever.”<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; line-height: 24px; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; line-height: 24px; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: medium;">“What?”<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; line-height: 24px; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; line-height: 24px; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: medium;">“I’m making a commitment to you.”<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; line-height: 24px; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; line-height: 24px; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: medium;">“To keep me as your lover?” <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; line-height: 24px; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; line-height: 24px; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: medium;">“As my friend, my special friend.” She squeaked on special.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; line-height: 24px; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; line-height: 24px; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Lorelei grabbed her from a hook. “I have places to go. Drop me off.” They climbed into the car, both flustered.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; line-height: 24px; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; line-height: 24px; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: medium;">“You’re angry and you’re flattered.” Hallie shifted. “Montlake okay?” She sped onto the freeway, stopping at the bus stop beneath the overpass.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; line-height: 24px; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; line-height: 24px; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Lorelei looked around, panicked. “You can’t drop me off here. This is the freeway.” Gray and concrete. “Shit. This isn’t working. Just drive me to Bellevue and I’ll catch a bus back.”<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; line-height: 24px; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; line-height: 24px; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: medium;">“This. Is Montlake,” Hallie reasoned. Her stomach pressed on the steering wheel.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; line-height: 24px; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; line-height: 24px; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: medium;">“No! This is the freeway!”<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; line-height: 24px; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; line-height: 24px; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: medium;">When a municipal bus pulled up, Hallie hit the gas. Of course there were no off-ramps on the 520 until the other side of the lake. Raindrops began to spray the windshield as they crossed the bridge.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; line-height: 24px; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; line-height: 24px; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: medium;">“You don’t understand.” Lorelei felt raw. “This is where the panic sets in, being left.” Her cheeks were damp as she spiraled into the old emotional hole, the pit of abandonment left of the Void and right of the Abyss.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; line-height: 24px; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; line-height: 24px; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Hallie’s voice was even like a puddle. “I’ll drive you back, no problem, we miscommunicated, that’s all. Listen.” She flicked on the wipers. “You’ll find this interesting. After my brother’s funeral in Bellevue, I drove back to Seattle. That’s where we were raised. I live in Bellevue, but I drove to Seattle as if it were thirty years ago.” <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; line-height: 24px; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: medium;">~~~<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; line-height: 24px; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: medium;">The next time they met up Hallie asked, “Can you handle this?” <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; line-height: 24px; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; line-height: 24px; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: medium;">“No, but I like you. I wish I didn’t.”<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; line-height: 24px; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; line-height: 24px; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Hallie looked sad. “These things aren’t assignable.”<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; line-height: 24px; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; line-height: 24px; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: medium;">They moved to the bed. “This is God’s gift.” Lorelei surprised herself. “This is something we can do for each other.”<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; line-height: 24px; margin: 0in;"><o:p><span style="font-size: medium;"> </span></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; line-height: 24px; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Good friend Fanny was even-handed. “The heart is a muscle. It needs to be exercised.” She poured a second cup of tea. “Maybe Hallie’s where you’re at.”<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; line-height: 24px; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; line-height: 24px; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: medium;">“You love who you are?”<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; line-height: 24px; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: medium;">~~~<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; line-height: 24px; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Then her mother ran interference with a letter: “Daughter: Don’t panic, but I’m having an operation. It’s a one-day procedure, nothing to worry about. I’ll be at Our Lady of Angels. You have a job? Your mother, Gladys.” <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; line-height: 24px; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; line-height: 24px; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Lorelei told Hallie, “I’m leaving for L.A,” and specified the date. “That’s the cut-off point for us. This thing is wrong, immoral, hard on me, rotten for Stella, and not so good for you.”<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; line-height: 24px; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; line-height: 24px; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: medium;">“Nothing is perfect, Lorelei. Trust me, I’ve been with Stella ten years.”<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; line-height: 24px; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; line-height: 24px; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: medium;">“What?” She slapped her arm. “You said five years. You said you didn’t lie to me. You said you only lied to her.”<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; line-height: 24px; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; line-height: 24px; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: medium;">“I was afraid you wouldn’t go out with me. You’re an air fern.” <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; line-height: 24px; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; line-height: 24px; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Lorelei pronounced Hallie a coward.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; line-height: 24px; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; line-height: 24px; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: medium;">“You’re not the only one who has feelings. Just because I’m a lawyer and have a relationship, not a good one I grant but whatever, doesn’t mean I don’t wish my life hadn’t worked out differently. Why are you so hung up about this?” She emphasized this. “I lost two siblings in one year. Life’s too short to feel guilty. I just don’t feel guilt.”<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; line-height: 24px; margin: 0in;"><o:p><span style="font-size: medium;"> </span></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; line-height: 24px; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: medium;">L.A. had been swept clean by the Santa Anas. Gladys was tired but on the mend. She wasn’t going to die, not then, but eventually. Lorelei got wind of that one. “Mom,” she held Gladys’ hand. “When you go, I’ll be out of parents.” <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; line-height: 24px; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; line-height: 24px; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: medium;">“I’m touched.”<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; line-height: 24px; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: medium;">~~~<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; line-height: 24px; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Her boss back at the warrant office snarled she’d be happier working with artists. “Cash in on your skills or craft or whatever the hell it is, why don’t you?” Lorelei felt compelled to do something and picked up the phone. “Stella?” She hung up on Hallie’s partner. Punched redial. “Sorry about that. I’m nervous.” She offered her name and asked if Hallie had mentioned her.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; line-height: 24px; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; line-height: 24px; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: medium;">“I don’t think so.” Stella’s voice was singsong.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; line-height: 24px; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; line-height: 24px; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Lorelei spilled the beans. The affair. There was a sharp intake of air, as if Stella’d been playing a childhood game where you hold your breath to no purpose.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; line-height: 24px; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; line-height: 24px; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: medium;">“I’m sorry. I don’t know that I’m doing the right thing, but secrets aren’t good. Maybe I want revenge.”<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; line-height: 24px; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: medium;">“Revenge is good.” Kenny Rogers sang in the background, but not his big one about gambling. “Is there anything else you want to tell me?” <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; line-height: 24px; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; line-height: 24px; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Lorelei hung up.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; line-height: 24px; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: medium;">~~~<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; line-height: 24px; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Hallie was brief. “How could you hurt her, damn it? You’re a home breaker! She’s a nice lady. We don’t hurt people, Lorelei.”<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; line-height: 24px; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; line-height: 24px; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: medium;">“I was living under a cloud. Home breaker? The aluminum pot is calling the pot aluminum. I don’t expect you to agree.”<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; line-height: 24px; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; line-height: 24px; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: medium;">“It’s not like you’re stating the exact time the sun rises. I don’t have to agree.”<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; line-height: 24px; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; line-height: 24px; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: medium;">“I don’t expect you to understand.”<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; line-height: 24px; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; line-height: 24px; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: medium;">“Good, because I don’t. Stella is shrieking and moping—she’s impossible. I’m angry with you.”<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; line-height: 24px; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; line-height: 24px; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Lorelei suggested Hallie was also sad, although saying that made her feel naive.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; line-height: 24px; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: medium;">~~~<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; line-height: 24px; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: medium;">After a period of sleeplessness, depression, and guilt, followed by insomnia, depression, and guilt, Lorelei met someone—Alana, a programmer, in a book club Fanny pushed her to join. Alana looked shiny, and reminded her of something Fanny said at her wedding, when Lorelei’d moaned it would never happen to her. “No honest woman would ever want me.”'<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; line-height: 24px; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; line-height: 24px; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: medium;">“Lorelei.” Fanny’d taken Lorelei’s face in her hands. “You shine. Who you are shines through.” Lorelei had felt a chill.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; line-height: 24px; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; line-height: 24px; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: medium;">“What’s wrong with this Alana?” Gladys laughed when Lorelei phoned.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; line-height: 24px; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; line-height: 24px; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Alana was only six years older, kind, and given to long explanations of confounding computer languages. The day after she proposed, Lorelei phoned Hallie. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; line-height: 24px; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; line-height: 24px; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: medium;">“Great! I’m happy for you.” <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; line-height: 24px; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; line-height: 24px; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: medium;">She asked how things were going.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; line-height: 24px; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; line-height: 24px; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: medium;">“Status quo. I’m still with Stella.” <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; line-height: 24px; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; line-height: 24px; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: medium;">“What did you tell her, your brothers had died?” It sounded like she was shuffling papers.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; line-height: 24px; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: medium;">“How about lunch?” The lawyer coughed. “We’ll celebrate.” <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; line-height: 24px; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: medium;">~~~<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; line-height: 24px; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Seattle was enjoying one of its two-hour blue airmail envelopes of sunshine. Hallie looked older—it had been over a year—and somewhere in their bumbling and hazardous conversation she mentioned turning sixty. She’d lied about her age. “Sleep with me. One last time? Neither of us is married,” she explained, as if the law were all letter and no spirit. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; line-height: 24px; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; line-height: 24px; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Lorelei felt like Jell-O in a bowl, shaky and vulnerable to the whims of appetite.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; line-height: 24px; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; line-height: 24px; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: medium;">When they checked into a motel, the sky had darkened. The mattress was hard and unyielding. Hallie held Lorelei’s arms down and grabbed at her underwear. Her eyes were small, with pinpoints of something shining, a tiny flashlight unable to illuminate a dark cave. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; line-height: 24px; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; line-height: 24px; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: medium;">“Shit, Hallie, what are you doing?”<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; line-height: 24px; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; line-height: 24px; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: medium;">“Making love.” She grunted. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; line-height: 24px; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; line-height: 24px; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: medium;">“This is love?” <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; line-height: 24px; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; line-height: 24px; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: medium;">“Do you like your girl?” <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; line-height: 24px; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; line-height: 24px; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: medium;">“Uh, yeah I like her.”<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; line-height: 24px; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; line-height: 24px; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: medium;">“What about me?”<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; line-height: 24px; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; line-height: 24px; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: medium;">“What about you?” <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; line-height: 24px; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; line-height: 24px; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: medium;">“We’re in bed, together, Lorelei. That should tell you something.”<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; line-height: 24px; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; line-height: 24px; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: medium;">“It tells me I can’t ever see you again.” <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; line-height: 24px; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; line-height: 24px; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: medium;">“It was just a thought. I don’t think Stella likes me. I think she just likes having someone around.” <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; line-height: 24px; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; line-height: 24px; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Lorelei pushed Hallie away and leaned over for her blouse. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; line-height: 24px; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; line-height: 24px; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Hallie slapped her butt. “You’re looking better.”<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; line-height: 24px; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; line-height: 24px; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: medium;">“Jesus.” Lorelei slipped into the bathroom, rubbed a thin terry washcloth on her skin, peeked out and saw Hallie by the phone. “What’s happening?” she called out.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; line-height: 24px; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; line-height: 24px; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: medium;"> “Nothing, business, I’ll drop you off.” <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; line-height: 24px; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; line-height: 24px; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: medium;">They didn’t speak until they reached the bus stop. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; line-height: 24px; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; line-height: 24px; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: medium;">“I like it when lesbians find love.” As Lorelei climbed out, Hallie kept her hands on the steering wheel. Saying no more she maneuvered left and onto the freeway.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; line-height: 24px; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; line-height: 24px; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><a name="__DdeLink__2798_254608874">Lorelei</a> phoned Alana. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; line-height: 24px; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; line-height: 24px; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: medium;">“Hi. Hang on a sec, a door flew open, jeeze.” She heard a slam. “I’m back.”<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; line-height: 24px; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; line-height: 24px; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: medium;">“Al, you don’t know everything about me.”<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; line-height: 24px; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; line-height: 24px; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: medium;">“No problem.”<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; line-height: 24px; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; line-height: 24px; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: medium;">She asked if her soon-to-be-wife wanted her to be honest.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; line-height: 24px; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; line-height: 24px; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: medium;">“About the present, sure. The past, we can’t recoup it all. We’re going to be happy, I promise. I want you. I love you. I trust you. What else do we need? We have a perfect relationship.”<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; line-height: 24px; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; line-height: 24px; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: medium;">“Nothing is perfect,” Lorelei cautioned. “It can’t be done.” <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; line-height: 24px; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; line-height: 24px; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: medium;">“So don’t come home. By the way, you got a message, some Hallie person. I didn’t pick up. She wants to know why she hasn’t been invited over.” Lorelei froze. Clever Hallie. She prayed Alana wasn’t having second thoughts. “I mean it, come home.”<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; line-height: 24px; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; line-height: 24px; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: medium;">So Lorelei caught the #43 and was there in twenty minutes. Before she’d shut the door, Alana was taking her coat and advising her to sit and relax while she sautéed garlic and leeks. Lorelei plopped onto the couch, but felt left out, and joined in the slicing of peppers and tearing of romaine. She knew many of her actions were inconsistent with her early training, but what could she do? These things weren’t assignable. The past was over her shoulder. She looked back to verify that was the case.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; line-height: 24px; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; line-height: 24px; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: medium;">####</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; line-height: 24px; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: medium;">reprinted from <i>New Madrid</i>. copyright, Sarah Sarai.</span></p>Sarah Saraihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12121360766766316902noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-396907022029426196.post-63297726674299664892022-01-06T14:31:00.008-05:002022-01-08T19:49:40.234-05:00Keeping Me Warm: short story; fat; serial killer, jail, parents, reservation, western Washington<p><br /></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEg4KSukPsJj-eNsBD_-hjKSIGbYRNVsbydlZn0DtlSzMulJXnXxGZRzfjNY8pmwOzOzDoGsvp4vrm1mJs2F7-7SwF5eWoYQRvRkRtJMMpjMMdeh9cC2i0IvXq2gLoR0m6GRYinrUsRx-B1sAkRuQ8dl25WX9HyLxyFDdZS7ez8ReNVmKl7ItPbPiSdG=s697" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="475" data-original-width="697" height="243" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEg4KSukPsJj-eNsBD_-hjKSIGbYRNVsbydlZn0DtlSzMulJXnXxGZRzfjNY8pmwOzOzDoGsvp4vrm1mJs2F7-7SwF5eWoYQRvRkRtJMMpjMMdeh9cC2i0IvXq2gLoR0m6GRYinrUsRx-B1sAkRuQ8dl25WX9HyLxyFDdZS7ez8ReNVmKl7ItPbPiSdG=w552-h243" title="Washington State forest" width="552" /></a></div><p></p><h2 style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif;">Keeping Me Warm</span></span></h2><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; line-height: 24px; margin: 0in;"><o:p><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; line-height: 24px; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: 16pt; line-height: 32px;">At first I thought he was a serial killer, but reversed my decision and settled on registered sex offender. In the dark of the movie theater I also concluded the man to my left was born old. Old is among the more subjective of terms, but you know what I mean and, besides. I teach English and literature, and am fat and a dyke. I know about subjective. Or something.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; line-height: 24px; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: 16pt; line-height: 32px;"> Drifting above grease slicks of chemical popcorn his sweat smelled like it had been frozen and was thawing. He wore an oily windbreaker reeking of unrepentance and sorrow, and spent long minutes peeling layers of Saran Wrap from snacks he’d smuggled in, peeling it off, biting slices of something I hoped was cheese. He kept knocking his right elbow into the human tissue-stuffed cloud of my midriff, into flannel shirt, sweatshirt and the loft of my parka. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; line-height: 24px; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: 16pt; line-height: 32px;"> I might have told you this before, but I have a history. My parents were drug dealers in the Bay Area. They were caught, imprisoned and through a contrivance of fate and a variable deity’s unending knack for amusement, died two years in, my mother in a fire in the kitchen of the Northern California Women’s Facility; my father in a classic shanking by a jailed member of Nuestra Familia. The murderer needed recognition although how much he received for fatally slicing my conniving though generally dazed and kind father, well, I have to wonder.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; line-height: 24px; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: 16pt; line-height: 32px;"> Now I live in the great Pacific Northwest, in the city of Seattle where I teach in a private high school. For the record, I didn’t leave California because of my parents. I left because of a woman, a fat woman, like me. I am a fat woman who loves fat women.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; line-height: 24px; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: 16pt; line-height: 32px;"> Merlye was not a fat woman but it was she who was seated on my non-serial killer side in the theater. I exuded hostility when the serial killer, registered sex offender or whatever he was kept intruding on my space. Fortunately, Merlye was alert as he positioned his elbow for another gratuitous jab. Around the time the movie star in the Utah desert was deliriously hosting an imaginary morning talk show, she whispered we should switch seats. Mr. Grandma Smell proved disinterested in Merlye, who is thin and not vulnerable, at least not openly like I am. The movie ended without incident, unless you want to count the character played by the movie star sawing off his arm.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; line-height: 24px; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: 16pt; line-height: 32px;"> It was kind of unusual that Merlye and I were at the theater or even doing something together at all, but there we were. On Thursday after school, she had asked if I wanted to drive her to the reservation the next day. We’d been getting to know each other. I’d asked for Native American fiction suggestions for my class. Two afternoons a week she taught history of Native art to a select crew of our students. She’d appreciated my interest and, I suspect, understood, just looking at my very large, pale and serious face, I was, as they say, a breed apart, certainly apart from our principal and board. Of course everyone wants to be a breed apart,, wants their breakdancing inner-city child to manifest so the world knows how cool they really are. Lots of people just might be cool. You don’t know.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; line-height: 24px; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: 16pt; line-height: 32px;"> Merlye’s car was in the shop, and the loaner wasn’t reliable enough for a round-trip into the countryside. She is a little skittish, but not skinny-woman skittish which is like kitten-on-crack skittish. More like smoker-skittish. She is in her early forties, with a son out of rehab, living at his girlfriend’s apartment and selling his canvases to galleries. Her husband is living or dead, I have yet to figure that one out, though they weren’t talking, which would be more relevant if he were alive. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; line-height: 24px; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: 16pt; line-height: 32px;"> So when she asked if I wanted to see to the reservation—she said, “If my car is still busted.”—I responded, “Yeah, sure.” I am a sucker for being included in pretty much anything and as a northern Californian, adore field trips. My parents thrilled to high deserts such as the area around Mount Shasta, and one time we drove the Oregon Coast highway, curvy, dramatic, moody. I would be happy if I were asked to be driver for a bank robbery, something my father suggested but my mother talked him out of. I think he was kidding.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; line-height: 24px; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: 16pt; line-height: 32px;"> “See the reservation? Yeah, I’d like that.” <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; line-height: 24px; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: 16pt; line-height: 32px;"> Her job was a curator at United Indians of All Tribes Daybreak Star Cultural Center’s art gallery in Seattle’s Discovery Park, in the Magnolia neighborhood, where I picked her up Friday afternoon, a little later than we’d agreed, but then she hadn’t finished whatever she was working on. We had to stop by her apartment for bags of groceries and whatever else. About the time we packed the car a storm broke, half a day before Channel 5 predicted it would.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; line-height: 24px; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: 16pt; line-height: 32px;"> The ground was getting muddy and muddier, the downpour was violent compared to the generally misty sort of rain we know here. Backpacks and bags were safe in the back seat, but our outer gear, a term I’d learned since leaving the Bay Area, was challenged to withstand the wet. Even before I shifted into first it was clear the windshield wipers were organizing a protest against water and gravity. They screeched like rubber banshees. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; line-height: 24px; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: 16pt; line-height: 32px;"> “Hey,” Merlye said. “Wanna see a movie?” She suggested things might clear up in spite of weather forecasts. Caesar’s death may have been accurately predicted (or not—maybe there were monthly warnings, Beware the Ides of April, Beware the Ides of May, Beware the Ides of December, oh, and March, too) but overall, auguries even of a scientific nature are a guess. If we could see into the future we would be able to see into the future. Right?<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; line-height: 24px; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: 16pt; line-height: 32px;"> So there we were, next to a child molester-type and wondering what it would feel like to saw off your own arm. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; line-height: 24px; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: 16pt; line-height: 32px;"> It was after nine when we left the cineplex. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; line-height: 24px; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: 16pt; line-height: 32px;"> She climbed into the passenger seat, and soon as I put my key in, messed with the radio which, like the Bible, can be used to tell you whatever you want to believe. We were told the worst of the storm had moved east and she asked if I wouldn’t want to head for the reservation now. “Sounds like the roads are safe.”<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; line-height: 24px; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: 16pt; line-height: 32px;"> “You sure?” I was having trouble seeing her expression. Her hood had a drawstring. It was pulled tight. She reminded me she had been making the drive forever and offered to take the wheel. She could navigate, I told her.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; line-height: 24px; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: 16pt; line-height: 32px;"> Before getting on the highway we stopped for cigarettes but once inside the convenience store decided not to buy any and left carrying hot coffees and Twizzlers. However, sort of like the Bible or a radio station, you can find what you want in a many a purse. Merlye found half a pack of generic cigarettes in hers. As she lit up, she said, “They’re cheaper home,” and handed over a lit smoke. She snarled that Big Tobacco was attempting to do what the treaty breakers of the U.S. government failed at—”Killing us off.”<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; line-height: 24px; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: 16pt; line-height: 32px;"> Some events, car trips among them, call for tobacco—in other words, some events demand a sacrifice. Life isn’t a Shirley Jackson story, as I tell my students, but there’s a reason everyone reads “The Lottery” and it isn’t just that educators who write curriculum are lazy (they might be but that’s another story). It’s because the village wants its scapegoat. Gotta train the young ones.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; line-height: 24px; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: 16pt; line-height: 32px;"> It was a dark drive under the black wool night of the great Pacific Northwest, brooding, a change from San Francisco’s dark and smoky civilized terror. Civilization is a scary sucker trying to run interference on the existence of evil.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; line-height: 24px; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: 16pt; line-height: 32px;"> We arrived well after midnight. Her sister Gail was up watching a talk show and doing some kind of needlework. She was kind to me, rubbing my shoulder, maybe because we shared something. Like me, she was big. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; line-height: 24px; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: 16pt; line-height: 32px;"> They laid out some quilts and settled me on the couch. The next morning I woke up when a four-year old ran a red metal car on my legs. Hot wheels. He had big black eyes in a big round face and unleashed, big joy. Gail called out from the kitchen there was coffee; Merlye told me to hang out because they were going to get the place ready. I didn’t know what they meant, but they took Harold with them, leaving me with eggs and a loaf of bread, margarine, a toaster, one side of which worked. I pulled on my sneakers to walk outside with my buttered toast. I chewed and studied small houses and some trailers set up on wheels. The trees, oh the tress, were tall and so present, thriving among people’s lives, their needles making patterns on the ground like a child’s craft or a landed kaleidoscope. A crow in Goth black flew here and there, narrating events with authoritative caws. I had been thinking of sitting outside but everything was wet from the storm, of course, so I wandered back, buttered another slice of toast, and felt the quiet.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; line-height: 24px; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: 16pt; line-height: 32px;"> Then Gail and Merlye returned, and Harold, who was crying because his hot wheels were missing one wheel. I found another car under a cushion on the couch. He imbued me with magic powers until I winced because he’d run a car over a bandaid on my ankle. My yelp made him sad so we spent some time with reparations, another car on my other leg, the couch’s armrest, the rug. Gail made lunch. Around three, Merlye asked if I was ready. I was thinking maybe she meant for a ceremony or sweat lodge, but she meant to drive back to Seattle, directly from the event, whatever it was. We’d never established an itinerary and after the movie and wet drive, a night on the couch, I was satisfied with stopping off at the playground where Harold ran ahead of Gail. Things had dried up enough he had fun on the slide. Gail asked if I wanted to stay another night. Merlye gave no clue as to whether or not she did. I said we should go to the event they’d chattered about, and leave from there.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; line-height: 24px; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: 16pt; line-height: 32px;"> It was a birthday party for her cousin Mack who was turning nine. He got T-shirts with logos of a local team and the Seahawks, plus those electronic things kids get now, Gameboys or similar. Her uncle Phil asked me what I thought about Columbus Day, though I could tell he anticipated my response of rage and irony. He complimented me by saying I thought like an Indian. I don’t know that I do, what that means or that Phil really believed his compliment but we got along. He said all the religions worth a damn were pro-kindness and that you never knew who you might need if you fell into a crevice in the Utah desert. He knew which movie Merlye and I’d seen, and asked what I thought of it, but before I could answer, observed anyone could get into trouble in the wilderness, even a native.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; line-height: 24px; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: 16pt; line-height: 32px;"> “But one of our team, we would’ve changed shape and flied out of that canyon.”<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; line-height: 24px; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: 16pt; line-height: 32px;"> Was I included in his team? I was pretty sure he was gay so I might have been. Following up on the movie he commented on the things people have to do under duress. “When I was a young man in love, I was out of control when my person said no. I don’t even want to tell you things I did.” I’m used to hearing confessions from people, and was grateful this one wasn’t specific, though it brought to mind last night’s serial killer/child molester. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; line-height: 24px; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: 16pt; line-height: 32px;"> Gail and some others started putting away paper plates and gathering soda cans. I loaded a few big plastic bags into the trunk, which Merlye unloaded back at her apartment. Blankets for the gift shop at Daybreak Star. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; line-height: 24px; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: 16pt; line-height: 32px;"> “Thanks,” I said, and she said the same. It was a comfortable exchange, a comfortable night and day, and I counted myself lucky as I have known field trips to turn sour. When I got home I returned a phone call from my friend Eudie, short for Eudora, though I always teased her it was a Swedish way of saying Judy. We filled each other in on recent events; she thought Merlye had used me, but I didn’t agree. I got out of town, which is always good, and was served lunch and breakfast—and cake, plus saw beautiful trees, which alone compensate for many of life’s trials. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; line-height: 24px; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: 16pt; line-height: 32px;"> I upended my backpack, threw some stuff into the hamper and some other stuff I neatly folded and returned to the dresser. I can be pretty organized at times, which is the way to be if you are a high school teacher with papers to grade. But I wasn’t ready to do any work, yet. Eudie had invited me over. We left it open. In the meantime I figured I’d walk to the market a block away, on 45<sup>th</sup>, for a few staples.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; line-height: 24px; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: 16pt; line-height: 32px;"> There is a sturdy tree, a willow, whose leafy branches tremble at my living room window. My apartment is the second floor of a house. I have a private entrance, up a wooden stairway in back. The stairs were once painted green, though it was hard to tell anymore. They blended in. Anyway, I walked down the back stairway, my stairs, and over to my willow, to ground me. It’s a touchstone. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; line-height: 24px; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: 16pt; line-height: 32px;"> And there was the serial killer or registered sex offender, standing under my willow’s weeping foliage. I saw a neighbor across the street picking up stray branches from his yard, probably from the storm, and waved, although I had never talked to him. It was a way of indicating, Hey, Registered Sex Offender, I see you and so does my entire neighborhood. The neighbor fastened a lid on one of his plastic receptacles and went inside his house. I started to walk away because ignoring something or someone is a decent enough way of handling a scary situation, but the wrinkled man—I could see his face was a map of something like grief—called out to me.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; line-height: 24px; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: 16pt; line-height: 32px;"> “How are you?” he asked.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; line-height: 24px; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: 16pt; line-height: 32px;"> I can’t even begin to tell you how eerie that felt, to be asked by the old man in an oily windbreaker how I was doing. It was zone-of-twilight-like that he’d somehow tracked me down, maybe followed Merlye and me to my car on Friday night, copied my plates and traced them, or saw my parking sticker from school and conducted a little online research. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; line-height: 24px; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: 16pt; line-height: 32px;"> My next thought was to be direct with him, to say, “Not interested” or “I’m a dyke” but I couldn’t make myself engage in any way. He spoke again.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; line-height: 24px; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: 16pt; line-height: 32px;"> “Don’t be scared,” he said. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; line-height: 24px; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: 16pt; line-height: 32px;"> I flashed on his Saran Wrapped-snacks, unfolding. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; line-height: 24px; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: 16pt; line-height: 32px;"> “Or worried.” He took a step toward me. A squirrel raced up the willow to the branches behind him—and another scampered in pursuit. Their tails quivered fur and whim. “I followed you to the theater.” That was an explanation?<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; line-height: 24px; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: 16pt; line-height: 32px;"> “How long have you—”<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; line-height: 24px; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: 16pt; line-height: 32px;"> He held out his arm for me to stop talking.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; line-height: 24px; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: 16pt; line-height: 32px;"> “Your father,” he said. And, “I just got out last month.”<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; line-height: 24px; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: 16pt; line-height: 32px;"> From the penitentiary. If no one was monitoring him, if he was free to travel to Seattle from the Bay Area, he wasn’t a registered sex offender. I tried to feel good about that though I worried a serial killer could be released on a legal technicality. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; line-height: 24px; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: 16pt; line-height: 32px;"> “I meant, retired.” He expression was crushed by yet another mistake. “I didn’t get out like a prisoner does. I was a correctional officer. I tried to save your father, but there was so much blood, I mean a lot of blood, whew, and I’ve seen my share of blood. I got it all over my arms and the front of my uniform, my union saw to it I didn’t have to pay for a new uniform. Well, I didn't have to pay full price.” <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; line-height: 24px; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: 16pt; line-height: 32px;"> I didn’t flinch but if I had, it wouldn’t have mattered. He was not sensitive to my kind of body language, the movements of a large, mistrustful, soft woman. He was sensitive, if you even want to call it that, to quick moves and rage, to revenge and agony in their various manifestations, clearly stated and acted out.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; line-height: 24px; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: 16pt; line-height: 32px;"> “Working there was like being in lock up, except I left every night, but I brought it home with me. I bring it everywhere. I brought it to Seattle. Hello, Seattle.” His arms hung limply. His windbreaker was the kind with a flannel lining so old it was turning to dust. “The ugliness of the human race greets you.”<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; line-height: 24px; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: 16pt; line-height: 32px;"> I asked if he had something to tell me about my father, but all he could say was my father wasn’t a bad man. “He was one of the better ones. I think he might of felt bad about your mom.”<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; line-height: 24px; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: 16pt; line-height: 32px;"> My father might have felt bad about my mother’s death in California’s most dire women’s penitentiary? I should hope so and about the daughter they left behind. I would hope my father felt bad about a lot of things. He just might have.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; line-height: 24px; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: 16pt; line-height: 32px;"> “Is that all,” I asked. I’d forgotten to grab my woolen cap, and sensed an evacuation of my body’s heat. It was ascending. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; line-height: 24px; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: 16pt; line-height: 32px;"> Apparently, that was all. He dragged himself over to his Honda, which was new and really dirty. It might have been me romanticizing, the literary me, trained by Dickens and Victor Hugo to see past the circumstantial evidence, and me molded by the largeness of my soul to see beyond life’s ephemera, but I felt comfortable he didn’t want to hang around and wasn’t going to be a bother. He said he liked sunshine and had settled in Shasta of all locales, a chaparral of shrubs and trees and fragrant earth, not the stark monastic Utah backdrop for a sawed-off arm. His wasn’t a pilgrimage of many stops. My father was the only man who had died bloody in his arms, and now he’d fulfilled some mission.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; line-height: 24px; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: 16pt; line-height: 32px;"> I went inside and called Eudie, but she was out, so I dialed Merlye. “Man, did something weird just happen here.” <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; line-height: 24px; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: 16pt; line-height: 32px;"> And I told her. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; line-height: 24px; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: 16pt; line-height: 32px;"> “I didn’t feel anything when I sat next to him,” she said. “I thought he was just another creep who likes a certain kind of women. Some weirdos like natives and some like black women and fat women and, you know.”<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; line-height: 24px; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: 16pt; line-height: 32px;"> “Well I hope he meets up with a nice half-Black, half-native fat woman.” We didn’t laugh and I didn’t see him again. When I told Eudie, I said he was like a ghost in uniform, and later, when I phoned my ex in San Francisco, I embellished and said he had the feel of being a prophet looking for a few decent people so God didn’t blow the whole thing up. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; line-height: 24px; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: 16pt; line-height: 32px;"> My ex decided this was a good thing. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; line-height: 24px; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: 16pt; line-height: 32px;"> “The whole thing <i>isn’t</i> blown up, we’re all here. Maybe he bargained God down to finding one person—one decent person—so God would spare the planet.” <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; line-height: 24px; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: 16pt; line-height: 32px;"> My conclusion wasn’t that I was the one decent person around but that I was, in fact, a decent person. That understanding made me glow, as if a shaft of light was shining on me through branches or a window, keeping me warm. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; line-height: 24px; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: 16pt; line-height: 32px;"> <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; line-height: 24px; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: 16pt; line-height: 32px;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; line-height: 24px; margin: 0in;"><o:p><span style="font-size: large;">published in <i>Connotation Press</i>, Fall, 2013</span></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; line-height: 24px; margin: 0in;"><o:p><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></o:p></p>Sarah Saraihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12121360766766316902noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-396907022029426196.post-15385207273478584442022-01-02T15:44:00.018-05:002022-01-06T13:20:45.284-05:00A Dog Barks ... (fiction) (family) (Crenshaw District) (seventies)<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjLjmFJaI1ywnnIjBSiauWzL2RhJKY5m6qbU6CKBmZffXwujWXbX_iW7xs0SPtiOcfnI8q2hK9kFjfIOCfedS2eiykOer-s0zxsO_4aJb1MHhIwkH_MDYQLNFq-LoKyq7em_H7NlZWwsyd5VAG933zmD0I9VOpvB2SQ4AxQMLTGNmJ7DCdUE6qdc9HM=s1440" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="900" data-original-width="1440" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjLjmFJaI1ywnnIjBSiauWzL2RhJKY5m6qbU6CKBmZffXwujWXbX_iW7xs0SPtiOcfnI8q2hK9kFjfIOCfedS2eiykOer-s0zxsO_4aJb1MHhIwkH_MDYQLNFq-LoKyq7em_H7NlZWwsyd5VAG933zmD0I9VOpvB2SQ4AxQMLTGNmJ7DCdUE6qdc9HM=w306-h320" width="306" /></a></div><p></p><p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in; text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: large;">A Dog Barks<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: large;"> So, “hi.” I am watching some game with my brother-in-law and my sister has got off the phone.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: large;"> So my sister says, “hi.” She doesn’t sit down. Here’s the scene: me, Lisa, Teddy and the TV. Lisa and Teddy have some furniture, a new couch, old chairs.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: large;"> I know Lisa won’t sit down to watch TV because I’ve known her all my life and I never see her except that she’s doing something at a table. She gives crystal parties where you buy punch sets and goblets. She does paper work all the time.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: large;"> So we’re in the dining room next to the living room where Teddy is and his brother Keebro pushes the screen door and comes in, says hi to everyone and sits down. The colors: brothers-black; sisters-white. Keebro checks the score.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: large;"> Teddy pulls out the cigar box from under his big chair. He rolls one. To be sociable I walk in the living room and take a hit or two.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: large;"> “You think you can handle it?” Keebro asks me.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: large;"> “I’d rather handle it than you,” I say to say something. They laugh.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: large;"> I stroll back to Lisa who is adding things up on her machine, a portable with a miniature, maybe half-inch tape. She brings it to parties.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: large;"> “How’s business?”<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: large;"> Her fingers are moving. To talk she stops. She never smokes.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: large;"> “I’m busy. Margie had a party last night and Ellen is giving one Sunday afternoon. It’s building. Look.” She points to the evidence: orders, receipts, invoice slips, piled high. “But we almost didn’t make the house payment.”<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: large;"> Living room and dining room are divided by molding, up, over and down. We figured there used to be sliding wooden doors. Who needs another wall? I look through the space at Teddy and Keebro, talking about their jobs, the game, news, dope; talking crazy.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: large;"> “Why not?” Because I’m not married I expect people with more things – there’s a lot of them – to get it in on time. And Teddy’s a welder. They have some bucks.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: large;"> “I don’t know.”<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: large;"> Our parents would be mad.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: large;"> “My landlord’s dog is driving me crazy,” I state loudly enough for both rooms to hear. “He barks. And he’s small and ugly. Black.”<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: large;"> “Who’s black and ugly,” Teddy shouts from the next room.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: large;"> My sister tells him.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: large;"> Keebro laughs. “Well, I guess she should know.”<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: large;"> “No, but listen.” I’ve got this nice persistent buzz and it makes me want to make myself clear. “He barks all the time. I have earplugs but why should I have to bother? And when I walk up the driveway to my car he runs around me in circles, barking.”<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: large;"> “Kick him,” Teddy and Keebro say.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: large;"> “I do.” I want to, anyway.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: large;"> The phone rings. It’s Margie for my sister. They are talking and it will be a while. They talk crystal and then I can tell they are on to Margie’s husband Sam. I hang out at the table. I pick up the catalog and read it with the same interest I approach food labels, which I love to read. They use my mind but don’t push me.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: large;"> My sister is pouring soda in the kitchen while she talks. The phone will follow her anywhere.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: large;"> “Don’t you think I have a right to quiet?” I look at Teddy and Keebro. They are fixed on the set; their bodies make loose curves in their chairs. My brother-in-law has to break concentration to talk to me.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: large;"> “Hey, it’s his property. That’s kind of it.”<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: large;"> “Why don’t you move here?” Keebro asks, not moving his eyes from the tube.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: large;"> “She’s afraid of me.” Teddy reaches for his beer.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: large;"> I stand, lean on the molding. No one speaks. Now Keebro is rolling. They’re advertising beer, and he asks, “What kind of dog?”<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: large;"> “Just small. Skinny.”<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: large;"> “I thought you said black.”<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: large;"> “If he’s black he ain’t small,” Teddy says.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: large;"> “You wish.” My sister is back.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: large;"> The game is on again and I sit down. “How’s Margie?”<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: large;"> “I don’t know how she does it.” My sister is talking real low. I lean in her direction. “She’s seeing someone.”<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: large;"> “Does Sam know?”<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: large;"> “She doesn’t really care. He’s seeing someone. They’re always running out on each other. I wish I could.”<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: large;"> She runs the machine. I stand by the table. She has these pictures of English landscapes on the walls at which I stare hard.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: large;"> “It’s pretty green there, isn’t it,” I comment.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: large;"> Teddy walks by. “Tell this dreamer she can move in with us. We got the room.” He puts his hand on the adding machine so it’s hidden.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: large;"> “You’re crazy,” I say to Teddy.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: large;"> The phone rings again and my sister is gone. Teddy’s not real tall and our eyes have no place to look but at each other. Probably we’re both red-eyed. “Why do you have to live alone? Families should be families.”<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: large;"> I sit. He heads into the kitchen. Returns with another beer.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: large;"> “The dog sure ain’t moving.”<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: large;"> I sigh.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: large;"> “Move in with someone. One of your girlfriends.”<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: large;"> “I like living alone.”<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: large;"> “You sure are here a lot.”<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: large;"> “I thought you were my family.”<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: large;"> He looks at me like I’m sitting in one of those English gardens and joins Keebro.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: large;"> “That girl knows everything.”<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: large;"> “You know everything?” Keebro shouts. “I got a couple of questions I need to ask you. What should I ask her?”<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: large;"> “Ask her who’s going to win this game.”<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: large;"> “Who’s going to win this game?”<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: large;"> “The Dodgers,” I say.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: large;"> Teddy and Keebro laugh. “They’re ahead,” Keebro says. “I’m taking you to Vegas next time.”<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: large;"> “Better be careful. She’s getting scared.”<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: large;"> My sister is still talking. I go in the kitchen. Wave. She looks at me. Squints. Nods.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: large;"> As I’m walking towards the door, Teddy says, “Don’t forget what I said.” He jumps up and hands me a joint. Tightly rolled.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: large;"> “How can I forget anything if I know everything?” I say and leave.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in;"><o:p><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: large;"> The moon is full or could be and I can see my way down my driveway without effort. It’s a warm night, still, and quiet. A miracle. My tiny apartment is hidden behind a garage so old and peeling it’s not worth noticing. I am on a hill and can leave my bedroom window open. This is Silverlake. The curtains are pulled back. I see night shades of a desert scene, a desert that has little houses and palm trees like flagpoles in front. There are no colors in my landscape. I light up, take a few drags and put it out. I am looking at everything and I don’t miss myself in this scene. I hold my still life in my vision. There is nothing wrong with this scene.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: large;"> And then he barks. It is a constant yelping and serves no purpose. No one is coming. I think of my earplugs and instead choose a pillow in which I try to bury myself. It doesn’t work, so I return to the window, and look out for the people who are awake. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in;"><br /></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in;">By Sarah Sarai. Thanks to Cassandra Oxley, editor of <i>stet, </i>for allowing me to reprint.</p>Sarah Saraihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12121360766766316902noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-396907022029426196.post-53168227488021263922022-01-01T16:43:00.006-05:002022-01-01T16:57:13.260-05:00Belonger’s Tale: It wasn't easy to be a lesbian in the seventies<p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgOUb33X1D2LgxZjQxrfS17wWAXHAUgQfrJaN4B34vKODKXKNuDvh1K6al9bSRsD8w3JMyPZ0lDyOf_YCZ0K31HZKJBR-PwquwG70botefsnxD2GRlOGV6ah88DbepUfAaCuSCvwXCJZiTJrE5jKurOFuDCTRj6dUt0wbC_6Kfhx8PpYO0vZihGdhpJ=s1200" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="674" data-original-width="1200" height="317" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgOUb33X1D2LgxZjQxrfS17wWAXHAUgQfrJaN4B34vKODKXKNuDvh1K6al9bSRsD8w3JMyPZ0lDyOf_YCZ0K31HZKJBR-PwquwG70botefsnxD2GRlOGV6ah88DbepUfAaCuSCvwXCJZiTJrE5jKurOFuDCTRj6dUt0wbC_6Kfhx8PpYO0vZihGdhpJ=w446-h317" width="446" /></a></div><br /><p></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif;">Belonger</span><o:p style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif;"></o:p><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; text-indent: 48px;">’s Tale</span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: large;">It was the seventies. My girlfriend had left me for some spiritual community a million miles away – in Canada and I thought I would try to win her back. I threw together my nickels and dimes to travel by bus from L.A. to a Christian-y commune north of Toronto, only to verify what I already knew, that Ginny didn’t want to be won back. </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-size: large;">“You understand I’m happy here, right?” We were in windowed porch attached to a kitchen, an old, quiet room saturated with morning sun. She was scrubbing enough potatoes to feed twenty people which didn’t seem like a reason to stay, but I was more of a seeker and definitely more corrupt than she was. “What about you?” Her blonde hair was wound around her head as if she was living in another century. “You okay?” </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-size: large;">No, I wasn’t okay. It wasn’t the easiest – to be a lesbian in the seventies and then have your girlfriend leave you for a community that churned butter and prayed. I caught a ride to Toronto where I boarded a bus to Buffalo in the mighty nation of New York. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-size: large;">As I walked into the Buffalo depot, a crazy rumpled man blocked my path for a sec, then with the curlicue gesture of an eighteenth-century footman bid me continue and receded as if he were a special effect in a movie, as if I’d smoked a little, which I couldn’t because I didn’t have any. I caught a glimpse of my reflection in a window, of my short, carroty hair which framed my face like a one-size-has-got-to-fit-a-whole-lot frame from a five-and-dime, and accepted myself with my many limitations. I believed – and still do – that being a dyke gets me a pass on matters of fashion. I got a Snickers from a vending machine and settled into a scratched-up plastic chair to think. And watch some old ladies fussing with purchases they were ushering back to Canada. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-size: large;">“Can you tell?” Lady Number One had a tiny head with frizzy hair. She wore two dresses. I knew because the hem of the first showed two inches below the second. “Maybe you want to switch the dresses?” Lady Number Two’s eyes narrowed, like she was the dealer in a tight game of Texas hold’em. She’d chanced on a sale on Contac paper and importantly arranged the flowered tubes in her giant paper bag. Her sculpted hair, veiled in a black chiffon scarf, looked secret. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-size: large;">I tossed the Snickers wrapper in a sand ashtray, consulted a phone book, and dialed the “Y” for walking directions. When I arrived, I stumped the clerk because all I had was six dollar bills and a cashiers’ check for $200. The clerk, who was skinny, pockmarked, and tired phoned a superior, put him on hold, asked if I had anything I could put up as collateral. I showed him my graduation present, a Bulova watch. He handed over a room key. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-size: large;">Women in curlers watched bowling on T.V. Hearing I was from L.A. one asked about, “Dat dere beauty contest, you know, the Academy Awards.” The elevator door had iron webbing. My room had a slanted ceiling, the bed a scooped-out cradle in the mattress. Sleep overtook me, which helped with a rational approach to business the next day. I cashed the check at a nearby bank. My watch was returned to my wrist. I wasn’t sure what was next, stopped for coffee, and struck up a conversation with a woman my age. She was like me, lesbian. I don’t know how you know these things, even now I don’t know but the knowledge is delivered by something old and sure in the body. You just know.<b> </b>Myra invited me to her place which I hoped smelled like she did, of essential oils, lavender and geranium. Like Ginny she was a blonde but her long hair was loose, and maybe a bit dirty.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-size: large;">The day was beautiful, bright, and crisp. I liked Buffalo’s warm brick buildings as backdrop. I lugged duffel bag and followed her. Maybe this was the greater rationale for my having traveled so far from home just a few months after graduating college, to meet my truly great love. We transferred from one local bus to another, facades changed to shabby, stuck-together houses, like in a photograph of America back then. The bus bumped over railroad tracks beneath many wires. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-size: large;">“I have a roommate.” Her eyes were small and black, shaded by dark brows. She wore a long dress that looked like an Indian bedspread stitched-up. “Don’t let the landlord see you.” <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-size: large;">I hesitated but she smiled, and man oh man, I wanted more of that smile.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-size: large;">“Don’t worry.” <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-size: large;">We arrived. “Mr. Ami lives there. She pointed to a doorway by the stairs we ascended. “He doesn’t like our having guests.” The other “us” was Ren, who was tall and lumber-y-of-motion. She made us tuna sandwiches. I wolfed mine. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-size: large;">“So. California?” I found Ren’s voice to be coarse. “I hear San Francisco is over, that free love is no more.”<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-size: large;">Her words were a rebuke of my home state. Suddenly I was fighting back tears. She wasn’t the sort to notice, and when Myra told her I was from L.A., not San Francisco, her face, its small features bunched together, lit up. “We want you to stay here.” She was fake magisterial, like Laurel or Hardy could be, without the lovability. The kitchen was crummy looking, with paint peeling from the cupboards and an ancient stove you had to use matches with to make work. The living room, which we’d settled in, made me sad, not because of old furniture but because. Fragrant Myra sat next to me on the couch. Something was going on. I couldn’t put my finger on it.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-size: large;">Myra put a finger to her lip, the international distress signal for quiet, and asked if I needed anything. She popped up, slinging her woolen purse from Mexico over her shoulder. “The store’s just a few blocks in that direction.” I didn’t want to stay there with Ren, but Myra was out the door so quickly. And Ren had settled in the bathroom. “On the toilet!” she shouted. I wandered. The few bookshelves were filled with self-improvement authors. Dale Carnegie, Napoleon Hill, Florence Scovell-Shinn, Ayn Rand, a Cliff’s Notes for Thoreau. Someone was a student of the Akashic record, something I gleaned from tomes on spirit guides, alchemy, Edgar Cayce, and Atlantis.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-size: large;">I heard a key in the door, and wondered if Myra had forgotten something. It wasn’t she. “I’m Mr. Ami,” announced a tall, skinny man in workers’ overalls. I shared my name, feeling like a run-away teenager in need of outreach. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: large;">“I want my money.” He was direct.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-size: large;">“Ren?” I shouted. I told her she had a visitor. “I’ve been here half an hour,” I whispered to Mr. Ami. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-size: large;">He didn’t block me as my duffel bag and I raced past him. I worried I’d run into Myra, but a bus pulled up and I boarded, making my way to the bus depot where I bought a ticket to Albuquerque, where my cousin Joshua lived. A Greyhound attendant tagged and stored my luggage even though I was hours too early. “You have some time on your hands,” he said. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-size: large;">“I do indeed,” I replied and headed outside, reflecting that the attendant was nice and that nice people are everywhere. I breathed, in and out, in and out. I had dodged a bullet, although I didn’t know how, why, or the caliber. A small adventure over. Maybe that was what this trip was about – learning to live with uncertainty. Learning to be light on my feet. I watched a few women herd children and random people looking anxiously down the street, presumably for a relative to retrieve them. A van pulled up. Folk of the tribe of the tie-dyed were dropping off a friend. They felt more like my people than anyone since I left L.A. I wasn’t a hippie, but they felt like home.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-size: large;">“Hey, guys.” I waved. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-size: large;">Whoever was at the wheel backed up. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-size: large;">“Hey, traveler,” a girl my age responded. She was wearing enough black eyeliner to be a forerunner of Goth.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-size: large;">I asked where I could hear some music. “Maybe some women’s music?” <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-size: large;">“Hey, man, that’s cool.” She was okay with me being a dyke, something I hated. Don’t approve of me, sister, I thought. But I figured, things were going to keep being strange so why not, and climbed into the van. The passenger seat next to the driver was gutted. A slight guy named Ralph was in the back with Dee Dee, the eyeliner queen, both wearing T-shirts of the gods – Morrison and Hendrix. I eased down, took the joint passed to me, toked, passed it on. God that felt good. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-size: large;">Jack, the driver, asked where I was from and everyone suddenly wanted to know if I could surf.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-size: large;">“Man, I could use a quick vacation.” Jack turned around and made eye contact with Dee Dee who reached into a battered ice chest, popped the cap on a beer, and handed it over or tried to, but the van ran a curb and hit a car parked in a driveway. We were baptized in cheap booze. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-size: large;">“Ah shit!” Jack slapped the steering wheel. “I already got my license suspended.” <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-size: large;">“Bummer. You okay?” Dee Dee asked. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-size: large;">“Move the van, man, move it,” Ralph yelled.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-size: large;">Jack backed off the curb and hit the gas. “We didn’t hurt that car, not really.”<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-size: large;">“It had fenders, I saw them.” Dee Dee crawled as far front as possible and rubbed his arm. “Where’s the joint?”<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-size: large;">I was holding it. “Uh.” <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-size: large;">I must have looked pretty out of it because they broke into laughter. I can be funny, generally when I’m not trying to be. I said, “I’m hungry. Would you mind bringing me back to the bus station?” <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-size: large;">They laughed again because of course I was hungry. I was smoking weed. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-size: large;">“That’s crappy food,” Dee Dee sneered. “Bus station food.” <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-size: large;">“It’s crap!” Jack yelled. He looked back at us and I held my breath. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-size: large;">Ralph’s lips pulled down as if a cartoonist were drawing an unhappy face, but then he lightened. “Wings. You’re in Buffalo, let’s get you some wings.” By the appreciative murmurs all around, I figured he was onto something. Jack made a quick U. A beer can rolled. The van lurched. I held out the joint. Ralph lit another match. I inhaled.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-size: large;">We pulled into a parking lot for a sallowly lit building with a neon sign: Wings Over Buffalo. Ralph and Dee Dee told me to wait. I thought about fried chicken backs – something my mom would make for us the day before payday. Looking out I noticed a red glow. Jack swore and ran into the chicken wing stand for Ralph and Dee Dee. I peeked out to see two policemen nearing the Wings’ entrance, stubbed out the roach, and gingerly climbed out. There stood a cop, who looked me up and down. “This your van?”<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-size: large;">“I met these guys at the bus station, and I gotta get back.” I showed him my ticket. He looked me up and down again. I swear he knew I was a lesbian and judged me meanly for that, but he told me to get moving. Which I did.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-size: large;">These days, every other bar and coffee shop sells chicken wings, but not back then. I slumped in the scooped-out plastic of a row-chair, wiping bus station hot dog mustard from my Pendleton, and feeling I’d missed out on something special. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-size: large;">“Cheap thrills.” The disheveled man from the day before stood in front of me, pointing to a t-shirt barely visible beneath his ratty sweater. He was pointing to Janis Joplin, to a t-shirt of a goddess. He drifted like smoke into the end chair of my plastic row, and unlike smoke started pushing back and forth with enough force it seemed plausible he would yank out the bolts and send me toppling.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-size: large;">“I see you.” His eyes were looking straight ahead but he had me in his peripheral vision. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-size: large;">I was relieved to hear that. It is good to be seen. Definitely for one’s sexual preference. Maybe for one’s tarnished soul. When my bus was called, he’d fallen asleep. I sneaked a dollar bill into one of his pockets. The attendant who’d stored my luggage walked over as I was boarding. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-size: large;">“Saw what you did for Lawrence.”<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-size: large;">I shrugged.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-size: large;">“We take care of him.” He tapped my shoulder. “You’re one of us.” </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-size: large;">My little chest heaved with pride. Then I boarded my bus.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-size: large;"><i>...first published in </i>Callisto (Sibling Rivalry Press), <i>Raymond Luczak, editor</i></span></p>Sarah Saraihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12121360766766316902noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-396907022029426196.post-57068040985019798842021-11-29T20:41:00.012-05:002022-01-06T13:34:44.774-05:00Take His Wife<p></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZuRI7vvZlVUR-BekbifaQmA9HnRDzATahZMjZ9vT_V1xsY_bJgseBpvfcg9x_x6Snnkaif3txFEeyKbsuOP5iFejcaOHPoHXqH-5sJe78KC3OdIezBW1l5KD7IySoWdVtHxk6H9s5KPk/s596/Screen+Shot+2021-11-29+at+8.25.30+PM.png" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="383" data-original-width="596" height="206" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZuRI7vvZlVUR-BekbifaQmA9HnRDzATahZMjZ9vT_V1xsY_bJgseBpvfcg9x_x6Snnkaif3txFEeyKbsuOP5iFejcaOHPoHXqH-5sJe78KC3OdIezBW1l5KD7IySoWdVtHxk6H9s5KPk/w320-h206/Screen+Shot+2021-11-29+at+8.25.30+PM.png" title="Henny Youngman by the East River" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Henny Youngman </td></tr></tbody></table><span><br /><span style="font-size: x-large;">We're In Trouble Yesterday</span></span><p></p><p> </p><p><span style="font-size: large;"> By yesterday I mean today.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">By today I mean pick a day.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">By Henny Youngman I mean yes.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">“My country is so big, when it sits</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">around the country, it sits around</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">the world.”</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">“Take my country [heh heh],</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">Putin.”</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">“I booked passage on a one-liner.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">Take my wife. Please?”</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">By my wife I mean my wife.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"><i>Sarah Sarai, 2021</i></span></p><p>First published in<i> Mollyhouse</i>: Issue Two. Apple Books. Raymond Luczak, editor. Poem rights: Sarah Sarai. Feb. 2021. Purchase on <a href="https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/mollyhouse-raymond-luczak/1138889726">Barnes and Noble</a>.</p>Sarah Saraihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12121360766766316902noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-396907022029426196.post-58349217452679094922021-11-29T20:13:00.005-05:002021-11-29T20:19:16.818-05:00Still life of duck at an open mic<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgoaby-C7QN2FntkcXsj4KXdlKYhs3xjzfD1xOfEWsyl2LHsOntGEPh2DnUB1p8mAXKAiK9piz1neXvyh_r9oLEY7I_j0VLlCTEgeB6D-3n6NViW61PFBFMeNod6yh-daDy5q8Mm_Pn5fM/s203/duck+at+the+mic.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="152" data-original-width="203" height="152" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgoaby-C7QN2FntkcXsj4KXdlKYhs3xjzfD1xOfEWsyl2LHsOntGEPh2DnUB1p8mAXKAiK9piz1neXvyh_r9oLEY7I_j0VLlCTEgeB6D-3n6NViW61PFBFMeNod6yh-daDy5q8Mm_Pn5fM/s0/duck+at+the+mic.jpg" width="203" /></a></div><p></p><p>I agree with you. It is silly to create a blog, post only sporadically and soon enough, not at all. I have very little belief in myself. I have no belief that anyone's interest in my writing. If my mother were alive and functional, something that hasn't been a tandem happening for over twenty-five years, she would read my blog. She might even post a reply, but that is unlikely, for reasons I will Rest In Peace. This speculation is of little use but to underline my understanding that only Mother is a fan. </p><p>So what's the use of jumping back in? (To the blog.)</p><p>It feels good. Writing these few words feels good and by good I mean restorative. Turns out I do have an audience and she is me. If you (the nonexistent reader of My 3,000 Loving Arms) have seen <i>King Richard</i>, the film about Venus and Serena, their queenmaker father (and mother, really, as well as the sisters), you may recall he told them to write their plans for the morrow in their journals every night. In addition to being an athlete, canny teacher, one of the most hardworking working Joe's ever, Richard Williams had the gift of planning. </p><p>Hence, project your goals nightly. Complete them daily. </p><p>I was going to do that last night by I couldn't find a pen. Really. I have pens but they keep rolling out of sight. Maybe they are smoking dope under the refrigerator or napping beneath one of my stuffed vintage chairs. I will buy new pens, many, with my $25 gift card from CVS. For which I answered questionnaires for nearly six months. I consider that $25 passive income. It's not, but, heck, an online questionnaire every few weeks about my duties as an American consumer of goods and media? Not too much of a chore. Even without the gift card I have money enough to buy pens but it provides that special push. Get something 'free' to assist with wish fulfillment.</p><p>This is enough, right?</p><p>Poodles.</p><p><br /></p>Sarah Saraihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12121360766766316902noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-396907022029426196.post-90496084793999922292020-07-23T22:31:00.000-04:002020-07-23T22:31:02.965-04:00New poem: IT IS DIFFERENT IT IS NOT DIFFERENT - #JohnLewis #BrionnaTaylor #blacklivesmatter<br /><h4 style="text-align: left;"></h4><h4 style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">Click on the title - "<a href="https://newversenews.blogspot.com/2020/07/it-is-different-it-is-not-different.html">IT IS DIFFERENT IT IS NOT DIFFERENT</a>" or click on</span></h4><h4 style="text-align: left;"><a href="https://newversenews.blogspot.com/2020/07/it-is-different-it-is-not-different.html" style="font-weight: normal;">https://newversenews.blogspot.com/2020/07/it-is-different-it-is-not-different.html</a></h4><h4 style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">for my poem about:</span></h4><h4 style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-weight: normal;"> . John Lewis (rest in peace) </span></h4><h4 style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">. Breonna Taylor (rest in peace) </span></h4><h4 style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">. The Freedom Riders</span></h4><h4 style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-weight: normal;"> . Black Lives Matter </span></h4><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUW12LVbCJwhOfceX78uKRUJ-Xn3hrdPuGtQ82RT_95y971X9JjTRk2bN-FIBXg0W0_n0vozcpPDTgsiDQcRaWL5IpWDJjE_QfceMR6zHt58gJQEUCM19vJG3NKksisAA3BkVZaGwkmJY/s487/Screen+Shot+2020-07-23+at+10.17.37+PM.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="487" data-original-width="390" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUW12LVbCJwhOfceX78uKRUJ-Xn3hrdPuGtQ82RT_95y971X9JjTRk2bN-FIBXg0W0_n0vozcpPDTgsiDQcRaWL5IpWDJjE_QfceMR6zHt58gJQEUCM19vJG3NKksisAA3BkVZaGwkmJY/w256-h320/Screen+Shot+2020-07-23+at+10.17.37+PM.png" title="Breonna Taylor" width="256" /></a></div><h4 style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: "Miller Text", Georgia, serif; font-size: 18px;">EMT and aspiring nurse <a href="https://www.thecut.com/2020/07/breonna-taylor-louisville-shooting-police-what-we-know.html">Breonna Taylor</a>, 26, was shot to death by police in her own home on March 13. In what’s been described as a “botched raid,” officers barged into Taylor’s apartment in Louisville, Kentucky, as she lay sleeping, and fired multiple rounds. </span></h4><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div>Sarah Saraihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12121360766766316902noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-396907022029426196.post-13813777135217171422020-07-10T13:45:00.000-04:002020-07-10T13:45:10.659-04:00Repost: Poem: Hockney at Bellevue . . . "the promise of love's eternal blank comfort"<a data-original-attrs="{"data-original-href":"https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyWu_wey-3bV77buiUQqlWVW3sLb0cZfmV7V_cWEjNNMXjeAwZl8_4z1wIi9D5WBqBo_gRRG9yJnBvu9Cs_axWZZxRvHRXT2YttvHaZQ-wXZaRBRLVUNxcJDRDDrW0F4GNTr5dPI4DzZs/s1600/David-Hockney.jpg"}" href="https://www.blogger.com/blog/post/edit/396907022029426196/4103588238641247766#"><img alt="" border="0" data-original-attrs="{"style":""}" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5504184067958819986" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyWu_wey-3bV77buiUQqlWVW3sLb0cZfmV7V_cWEjNNMXjeAwZl8_4z1wIi9D5WBqBo_gRRG9yJnBvu9Cs_axWZZxRvHRXT2YttvHaZQ-wXZaRBRLVUNxcJDRDDrW0F4GNTr5dPI4DzZs/s400/David-Hockney.jpg" style="cursor: pointer; display: block; height: 400px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 385px;" /></a><strong>Hockney at Bellevue </strong><br />
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There’s all kinds of ways to </div>
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enter one of </div>
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Hockney’s pools, </div>
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to part the cerulean acrylic, </div>
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become California, </div>
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no longer dream young men </div>
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in radiant absence but </div>
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engage perfections of skin </div>
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and promise of</div>
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love eternal’s blank comfort, </div>
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including this way, in winter </div>
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3,000 miles away and </div>
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over a sludge of feta and </div>
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fries, </div>
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indistinct life's landscape </div>
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not thrilled with </div>
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its inability to be simply </div>
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necessary (without </div>
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a pallid cuisine of industrial </div>
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vistas, no inside, no </div>
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hospital, no chance to see </div>
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humanity restored by </div>
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experts reconstructing </div>
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pools of human flesh). </div>
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__________ </div>
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Sarah Sarai, pub. in <em>Parthenon West Review</em>, 2010.<div>
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Collected in <i><a data-original-attrs="{"data-original-href":"https://kelsaybooks.com/products/that-strapless-bra-in-heaven-1"}" href="https://www.blogger.com/blog/post/edit/396907022029426196/4103588238641247766#">That Strapless Bra in Heaven</a></i> (Kelsay Books), 2020.</div>
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Sarah Saraihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12121360766766316902noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-396907022029426196.post-22842374377461729492020-05-09T12:41:00.001-04:002022-01-06T13:24:56.896-05:00After and Sometimes . a poem from Stonewalls' Legacy Anthology<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: xx-small; text-align: start;">art: Ashley deLeon Nicole*</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "garamond" , serif; font-size: large;"><b>After and Sometimes</b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "garamond" , serif; font-size: large; line-height: 37.33333206176758px;">Relive those parties where every bottle was uncorked and<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "garamond" , serif; font-size: large; line-height: 37.33333206176758px;">passed around and everyone smoked everything, double-<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "garamond" , serif; font-size: large; line-height: 37.33333206176758px;">checked each auto’s glove box for at least a Sherman or <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "garamond" , serif; font-size: large; line-height: 37.33333206176758px;">a roach. And you left with exactly the wrong woman who <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "garamond" , serif; font-size: large; line-height: 37.33333206176758px;">was exactly the right one, if only for less than twelve hours. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "garamond" , serif; font-size: large; line-height: 37.33333206176758px;">And not everyone was anything, not white, employed,<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "garamond" , serif; font-size: large; line-height: 37.33333206176758px;">focused. And all had self-righteous halos of wild hair <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "garamond" , serif; font-size: large; line-height: 37.33333206176758px;">imperfect as a precisely imprecise stitch in a Persian rug.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "garamond" , serif; font-size: large; line-height: 37.33333206176758px;">You had fun. We all did. It had become more possible.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "garamond" , serif; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 37.33333206176758px;"><span face="-webkit-standard" style="font-size: small;">Sarah Sarai. </span><i>Stonewalls Legacy: A Poetry Anthology</i><span face="-webkit-standard" style="font-size: small;">. Hidden Gems Press., Ed. Rusty Rose & Marc Rosen. 2019.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: garamond, serif;">*Ashley DeLeon Nicole </span><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">https://www.thespruce.com/free-birthday-party-games-1356524</span></div>
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Sarah Saraihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12121360766766316902noreply@blogger.com0