Stories of Breece D'J Pancake, The - Breece D'J Pancake

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Collection of stories by the late Breece D'J Pancake.

Transcript of Stories of Breece D'J Pancake, The - Breece D'J Pancake

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    CRTCAL ACCLAM FOR

    HE SORIES OF BREECE D'J PCKE

    "It is impossible not to admire, ndeed to envy the writer atwork in these stories ...To have Breece Pancake's ctonalworld before us here can only be cause for gratitude

    -ROBET WILSON, Washington Post Book World

    "[Pancake's] is an exceptonal voice; gritty, mordant nvested

    wth the texture of stroked reality urgent and haunting-MAGAET TOOD th f Suing Bodily Ha

    "Short cton rarely possesses the consstent contro and hghquality dispay ed n this rst collection which oers a darkFaulkneran vew of contemporary West Vrgina .

    -PAUL E HUCISON Library joul

    "[T hese are grim stories about sad peope but wrtten n abeautifu though spare poetc prose and revealng a superbgift for descripton -MAIN KIBY Philadelphia Inquirer

    "Pancakes stye s terse, laconic tough movng and n its ownunique way ncandescent Pu blish ers Weekly

    "One can only wsh after reading these stores that Breece DJPancake could have leaed to live with whatever it was thathe could not get rid of

    -AON AE Chicago Su n-Times

    "Breece Pancake's stories comprise no ess than an AmercanDb jAYNE NN PILIS th f Blak Tickets

    "Drum-tght and stunning writing ...power and astonsh

    ng brlance s on these pages-KAEN HELLE USA Today

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    BC D' PC

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    The Stories of

    BRE D'J PANCAK

    Fwd by Ja l Mcn

    wd by Jn y

    HL REHR D WSW YRK

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    Copyrght 1977 1978, 1979 1981 1982 1983 by Helen PnckeFoewod copyigh 1983 by ames an McPheson

    feord copyrgh 1983 by ohn Csey ights reseed, ncuding the ight to epoduce his

    book o portons thereof n ny o.Pubshed by Hot, Rinehat and Wnson

    383 Mdison venue ew Yok ew Yok 10017Published simultneously n Canada by Ho, Rneht nd

    Winson o Cnd mied.

    brary of Congress Ctoging n Publcaton aaPncke Breece d. 1979

    The soes of Beece Pncake"n Ow book.

    Contens: robites-Hoow oom oever-[ec] West VigniFicton Tte

    PS3566559 1984b 81 35 4 83 225 30SB: 0030706 238

    Fst published in hdcove n 1983 Repned by ngemen wh e Bown nd Company

    in associon wth The tlntc Monhy Pess

    irs Owl Book dion198

    esigner Susn WndhemPrinted n he United Stes of meic

    1 3 5 7 9 10 8 6 4 2

    Some o these soes hve been pevously publshed nAn Th Attic and Nightwok

    "WH IM GOyrcs nd Msic by Phi Ochs

    1966 Brcde Music, nc (SCP) Rghts dminseed by m Msc Cop

    l Rghs Reseved ntean Copyigh Secured

    "H WR S OVRycs nd Msic by Phl Ochs

    1968 Bcde Msic nc SCP) Rights dmnseed by m Musc Cop

    Rights Reseved neiona Copyigh Secured

    IM O IIycs and Musc by Phl Ochs

    1971 Barcade Musc Inc SCP) Rghs dmnsteed by lm Musc Corp

    ll Righs Reseed neonl Copyrgh Secued

    SBN --76-8

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    CONENS

    Fewd by ]a A McP

    Triobites 21

    Hoo 9

    A Room Forever 53

    Fox Hunters 61

    Tme and Again 8

    Te Mar 89

    Te Scrappe 101Te Honored Dead 11

    Te Way It Has to Be 27

    Te Savaton o Me 13

    n the Dry 147

    Frst Day o Wnte 16

    Afwd by J Cey 7

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    BECE D'J PCE

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    W

    think you should come over (dve or n, 'll pay yourexpenses and "put you up) because if you do the peface

    eel you should moe famlar with ths valey and [my son]Beece's suoundngs as wel as what you knew of him

    Chalottesville.

    - Lette om M Helen Pancke

    Feba 10 1981

    He neve seemed to nd a pace

    With the alands and the fae he had to leave one dayHe said To an Acto.

    He played a boy wthout a home

    To wt no tomoow

    Reachng out to touch someone

    A stranger in the shadows

    Ten Marcus head on the ado

    Tat a move sta was dyng

    He ted the teble way do low

    Hoense could go on sleepng

    - "Jm Dean of ndana,Ph Ochs

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    SORS OF RC D'j PANCAKIn te Sepember o 1976 in te utumn o te Bicentenni

    yer I begn my creer s tecer t te University o VirginiI d been invited to join te riting progrm tere by Jon Csey

    o s ten on eve I d been ent te book-ined oce oDvid Levin istorin o Cooni Americn iterture o sso on eve tt yer I d been ssigned te sttus o ssociteproessor o ngis, untenured t my on request I d cometo Virgini om Negro coege in Btimore. I d cceptedVirginis oer or proession nd person resons: I nted

    to tec bettermotivted students nd on spiritu eve nted to go ome

    I I rec correcty, 1976 s yer o extrordin opein Americn poitics Jmes r Crter souteer s nning or te presidency nd peope in ps o te country

    bck nd ite ere ooking to tt region it certin optimism Crter d inspired in gret mny peope te bie tt Ne Sout s te ong-promised one And tere ere mny ous o d ooed te ncestr impertive seeking better iein te Nort nd in te West o sienty oped tt te promisesmde during te Reconstruction ere ny going to be kept.

    Wie in te ite Americn community Jimmy Crters cndidcy provoked n interest in te nunces o soute speecnd in te ingredients o soute cooking in te bck" Americn community te visibiity o Crter is speking in bckBptist curc, is king te streets o Hrem nd Detroit seemed to symboize te emergence o soute tre o ictey d ong been prt into te broder Americn imgintion.Te emergence o Crter suggested kind o reconciition beeeno peopes sped by tis common cuture His ppernce s sign to regees om te Sout setted somet comoby in oter regions tt e ere no being encourged to

    reoccupy ntive ground Tere ere mny o us o tuedour imgintions tord te ncestr ome

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    FOREWORD

    ad et te Sout at tentone a product o its segregatedscoos and uman degading insttutions and ad managed tomake a career or mse in te Nort. Groing up in te Sout

    during tose tentone ears ad never ad a ite iendAnd aoug in ater ears ad knon man ite souteers in te Nort and in te West tese reationsips ad beecompromised b te subte act tat a souteer outside teSout is oten vieed as outside s proper context and s sometimes as muc o an outsider as a back American

    Friendsips grounded in mutua aienation and seconious geared to te ceptions o ote are sedom testedTe ack an organic reationsip to a common andscape a commonor noma basis or te evoution o tst and utua interestMutua seinterest te need o te ite souteer to appearrigt in te ees o sometimes condescendng nortee (teSout being te traditiona scapegoat on a mtters racia) and teneed o te bac souteer or access to someat commoned memories o te Sout and o soute cuture s te basisor poitica aiances rater tan iendsips To acieve tis eiendsip it is necessa or te o souteers to meet o

    soute soi And i going up in te Sout never presentedtis opportuni and i one is sti interested in understanding"tat pa o onese tat te oter posseses it becomes necessa to retu to te Sout ronica ie te candidac oJimm Carter represented a poitica aiance beeen ite andbac soutees te rea meaning o te aiance in 1976 at

    east resided in te quai o te pesona reationsips beeentese to separate but same peopes on teir ome ground in teomepace Peraps tis is at as ooking or in te a o1976 at Tomas Jeersons Universit o Virginia

    remember o incidents om tose rst das at Viginia

    ie sat in David Levins bookined oce An oveenedand aected oung man om Texas came in to inquire about m

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    THE STOIES OF BEECE DJ PANCAK

    courses and as I rose rom m chair to geet him he aised hshand in a gesture that armed the Od South tradition o nobesseobige e said Oh no no no no! You dont have to get up"

    The second incident as the sound o a voice and came severadas ater. I as in the ha outside m oce door and it assaing I'm Jimm Carte and Im unning or President I'mJimm Carter and Im nning o President" The pitch andrhthms o the voice conveed he necessa messages the rhand intonation ere southe oermidde-cass or oer-cass

    southe the ind tha instant cas to mind the ord ckIts oudness in the gentee buzz and hum o Wison a suggested either extreme aogance or a certain insecurit Wh thevoice repeated Carters campaign sogan as obvious o anonehe expectations o the South especia o the oer-cass andmidde-cass South ere ith Carte e as one o hem iscampaign promised to redene the image o those peope homWiiam Fauner had ound distasteu those ho ere repacinga decadent and impotent aristocrac These ere the peope hosemora code beond a periodica expressed conemp or bacAmericans had remained arge undened in the ears since

    FauneThe bearer o this voice hen he appeared in m dooa conomed o he herad that had preceded him e as i and tajus a itte over six eet ith ve direct deep-seeing broees is stra-bond hair aced soness. In his ace as thatind o ha-smie/ha-grimace that sas Ive seen it a and I

    sti sa So hat?' " e ore a checered anne shir adedbue-jeans and a round brass US Armissue bet buce overa sight beer be I thin he aso ore boots e stood in hedooa ooing into he handsome appointed oce and saidBudd I ant to or ith ou "

    is name ate I had ased it again as sti Breece PancaeThere as something sti and miita in his bearing. I im-

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    FORWORDmediately steeotyped him as of Geman ancest (in the outh,duing is many peiods of inoleance, Gean names have beenkno o meamophose into metaphoical Ango-axon ones,

    Gaspennys and pehaps Pancakes included) e had ead some ofmy wok he said and wanted to show me some of his. is diecness made me wa of him While I sa at a desk (in academia,a symbol of powe) , he seemed deteined to know me, the peson,apa om he desk In an envionmen eeking with condescension he was inviting me to abandon my ve small aea of po

    ecione asked if I dank bee, if I played pinball if I owned a gun,

    if hunted o shed When hese impotant ca points hadbeen settled he asked almos as an aftethought, if he could signp o do independen study wih me When we had eached ageement he solled back ou into the hall and esumed shouting,m Jimmy Cate and Im unning fo Pesident! Im immyCate and Im nning fo Pesident! I ecall now that theewas also in his voice a cetain boastl tone t matched and complemented ha halfsmile of his tha said o what? Beece Pancake was a Wes iginian hat peculia kind of mountain-bed

    southee o pa-southee who was just as alienated as was in the hushed gentiliy of Wilson allThe Univesity of iginia duing hat ime at least, was as

    agmented as the naion Thee wee subtle cuents tha movedpeople in ceain diections owad ceain constituency goupsand I soon leaed ha it was pedictable that Beece Pancake

    should come o my oce seeking something moe than academicinsction he univesiy, always a statesuppoted school,had until vey ecenly ncioned as a kind of nishing schoolfo he sons of he southe uppe class About a geneationefoe i had opened its doos o the sons of the middle class Andduing he 1960s it had opened them fathe o admit women andlack students. In an attemp to make he insitution a ationally

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    OR OF RC D PANCAKecognzed univesty an eo was made to attact moe students om the afuent sububs of Washngton and om theotheast Moe than ths an extaodinaily ambtious eot

    was made to upgade al the depatments within the univesity.cholas had been ecuited fom avad and Pnceton andtanfod and Bekeley and Yale The institution caimed inteecuas om al pats of the wold The facuty was and emansamong the best n the naton

    But these apd changes fa om moding the basic identity

    of the nsttuton caused a kind of cutua dslocaton a peiodof stasis n the attempted edenton of the basc nsttutonadentty In many espects, it was ke a edecoation of the nteo of a goldsh owl Many of the sons of the southe gentyseekng the moe taditona identity began attendng andebilt,Tulane, Chape l, and Washngton and Lee And whle the basicdentty of the schoo emained southe ve few southeeswee vsibe One esut was the eoson of the values that hadonce gven the insttuton an dentity Anothe was staticatonby cass and coo consideatons Peppies banded togethe odd women o dd the few black students o did n the a

    tetes and cubs the emnants of the od gentIoncaly the peope who seemed most solated and nsecuewee the sons and daughtes of the southe owe and middecasses They had come to the pace thei ancestos must havedeamed aout Chaottesvle is to the outh what Cambidges to the est of the naton and fo vaious easons found them

    seves spitualy fa om home ome of them expessed theistatons by attackng the taditonal scapegoats black teaches and students Othes began to paody themselves accenuating and then assuming the steeotyped pesona of the hibilyn attempt to achieve a comfotable identity. til othes theconsttutona nonconfomists ke Beece Pancake became extemey soated and sought out the company of othe outsides

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    FOREWORD

    A wrter no matter what the contet is made an outside bythe demands of his vocation and there was never any doubt in mymind that Breece Pancake was a witer is stye derived in large

    part om emingway his themes om peope and paces he haknown in West irginia is craftsmanship was eact direct unsentimental s favorite comment was Bu e wasted nowords and rewrote ceaseessy for the precise eect he intendedto convey. But constitutionaly Breece Pancake was a oneyand melancholy man And hs positon at the universty as a

    Hos Fellow as a teaching assstant and as a man om a smallto n the hs of West rginia contributed some to the ccism and btteess that was already in him Whie his vocation asa writer made him part of a ve smal group his mdde-cassWest irgna orgins tended to soate him om the much more

    sophisticated and wordy middecass students om the suburbs of Washington and the Northeast as wel as om the upperclass sdents of southe background. From him I eaedsomething of the contempt that many upperclass southeershave for the ower and mddecass southeers and om him leaed something about the abiding need these peope have tobe held n the high esteem of their uppercass co-regonaistsWhile I was oered the opportunity to be invted nto certanhomes as an aation of a certain traditon of nobesse obigethis opton was rarey avaiabe to Breece (an upper-cass southeer once told me I lke the backs heyre a lot ike European

    peasants and they're car than the poor hites). Yet he wasalways ting to make iends on any eve avaiabe to him ewas in the habit of giving gifts and once he compained to me thathe had been reprimanded by a family for not bringing to them asmany sh as he had promised to catch o make up ths deciencyhe purchased with his own money additiona sh but not enoughto meet the quota he had promised When he was teased about

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    SORS OF RC D PANCAKhis, he commented to me ey acted a i they wanted me to tua my foreoc

    You may eep the boos or anything eece gae you he

    oed to ge bu nee eaed to ecee He nee felt wothy

    of a g beng tough on himsel Hs code o ng was taught

    o hm by his paents be t Gee oman o whateer its

    just pain old honesy God called hm home because he saw t

    much dishonesty and eil in hs wold and he couldn cope

    Lete om M Helen Pancae,

    Feba 5 191

    nd won be nnng om the an when 'm gone

    nd can' een suer om the pan when m gone

    eres nothng can lose or can gan, when m gone sll hae to do while m hee.

    nd I wont be laughng at the les when m gone

    nd can queston how or when o why when m gone

    Can' lie proud enough to de, when m gone

    sll hae o do it whle m hee

    hen m Gone

    Phl Ochs

    Breece Pancae seemed drven o mprove himsef is am

    on was not prmary tera he was sin to dene forhmsef an entre way of ife, an a-emracn code of vaues thawoud aow him to ive outsde hs home vaey n Miton Wesirna e nd of oos he ave me may sues he scope os search a ioraphy of Jac London Euene Oes paysaout he sea wors that conce the perceptons of men whoooed a nature n he raw n hs midwentes Breece oined

    0

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    FORWORDhe Catholic chuch and ecame active in chuch aais Bu did not undestand the focus of his ife unti I had diven thoughhis home state, aong those winding mountain oads whee a

    eve tu one ooks do at houses nested in hoows In hosehoows, nea those houses, hee ae aandoned cas and stovesand eigeatos othing is thown away y peope in that egion some use is found fo even the smaest evidence of auence. And eyes, in hat egion ae tained to look eithe up odown: om he hoows up owad the sky o fom the encicing

    hils down ino the holows oizonta vision, in that aea, isae he sky thee is cicumscied y insistent hisides thusg upwad It envionment caed y natue fo the deameand fo the esigned

    Beece once old me aout his elationship with adio when hewas gowing up aout the ange of stations avaiae o himDiving hough hose mountains I could imagine he many diections in which his imagination was puled Like many Wesiginians he had een lued o Detoi y the nighttime adiosations. Bu he was aso conscious of the many othe pats ofthe county, especialy hose states that touched the odes of

    his own egion Once, I asked him how many people thee weein the entie state of West iginia e estimated aou o othee miion, with aou a hunded thousand peope in unington, then the state's lagest city It was a casual questionone with no eal pupose ehind it But seveal days ate eceived in my mailox a note om him im, I was wong u

    popoionaly coect (untington W. R has 46000 peope)o the West Ohio has appoximate 9 mion o the East iginia has appox 4 miion o the outh Kentucky has appoximately 3 miion o the oth, Pa. has appox 11 miionWest iginia 1800000 a mion moe than Rhode IslandP ee you at lunch tomoow? I need not e emphasizedtha he was vey self-conscious aout the povety of his state

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    SORS OF RC DJ PCAKand abou s mag n cran books od m dd no nkmuc of a Caudls C C oug prsnd an naccura mag of s na ground, and s

    ambon, as a wrr was o mpro on s dnaon o mpro msf dcad a Brc soud wandrr and an adnurr ad andd sra smallcolgs n Ws Vrgna, ad rald around coun ad ld for a w on an Indan rsraon n Ws adaug mslf Grman aug for a w a a ma acadmy

    n Saunon Vrgna, sam on andd by s ro, POcs ad gra admraon for s songwrr and ncouragd m o lsn closy o lycs of wa consdrd Ocssbs song, Jm Dan of Indana." Brc ook s own wrngus as srously placng al s ops on s succss smdo b undr slf-mposd prssurs o mak " as a wrr old m onc All a o sl s my xprnc If ngs grally bad y'll pu you and m n sam dc Ty'll pay a l mor bu Ill sl b n dc lkd o mprsspop w all als ad mad up and lkd o mprss mn slfdsuc ways woud g no gs n owrclass

    bars on ouskrs of Caros n ru o cy osow o s scars Ts ar sors would say lkd popl wo xbd cass spok conmpuously

    of upprclass womn w wom ad slp on a rs da buwas l of pras for a woman wo ad alowd m o kss r on ck ony afr sral das. S's a ady, baggd o

    m nk a rdnng msf n s of s a of Carlos socy was mporan o Bc n f a daad no bass n ray of pac Y r was aso an anagonsc sran n m a conmp for conformy mposd onpopl r. W onc andd a mo ogr and durng nrmsson wn pop crowdd ogr n smal obby f cosd n and soud, Mo away Mak room pop

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    FORWORDroug Te crowd mosly sudens immediaey scaeredTen Beece ued o me and auged. Teyre clones esaid Teyre ces!"

    e loed e oudoors uning and sing and iking in eBue Ridge Mounains Seeral imes e ook me iking wi imDuring ese ouings e gae me good adice if eer I fe cosedin by e insuariy of Carloesie, I sould dri up o eBue Ridge and wak aound, and a woud cear my ead. eiewed is communion wi naure as an absoue necessiy and

    during ose rips ino e mounains e seemed o be a peace.e aso loed o pay pinbal and pool and o drink beer e was

    e compeiie in ese recreaions e amos aways oudrankme and wen e was dunk e woud be srangely silen. e sasi and erec during ese imes, is eyes focused on my faceis mind and imaginaion esewere Someimes e aked abouod gifriends in Mion wo ad ur im e relaed once issoow oer e obigaion imposed upon im by a ibrarian inMion o bu and bu undreds of old books e liked oldings e alked abou uning in a relaies aic for cerainiems a once belonged o is faer e recoleced leers is

    faer ad wrien, o is moer and o im, in e years beforeis deaBreece Pancake drank a grea deal, and wen e drank is imag

    naion always reued o is same pace. Wiin a priaeroom I ink now were sored a is od us and all is fanasies Wen is imaginaion eneed ere e became a melan

    coly man in gea need of conac wi oer peope Bu becausee was usualy sien duing ese periods is pesence endedofen o make oer peope neous Breece always angsaround, a muua iend once said o me. e almos neer askedfor anying and a e sliges sow of someone eses discomfo Breece woud excuse imsef and compensae wiin a fewours or e nex day wi a gif I don ink ere was

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    O O C D PCAnyone n hoesve es who knew jus wh f nyhngBeece expeced n e Ths had h eec of makng peoefee ndeque nd guy

    Jim "Busht was one of B's choice sayngs - in ct he usedo sa he wanted hs shot stories entted "Busht Ast.

    Lve his hea!

    Lette om M Heen Pancake

    Feba 5, 98

    Te mad director knows that eedom wi not make you ee

    And whats ths got to do with mel

    decae he war is over Its over Its over

    "Te War IsOverPhOchs

    n he wne of 1977 wen o Boson nd menoned hewok of seve of my sudens Beece ncuded o PhoebeLou

    Adams of Attc She sked o be sen some of hs soes encouged Beece o coespond wh he nd ve soon ewad sevea of hs soes wee uchsed y he mgane Thedy he ee of accepnce nd check aved Beece came o myoce nd nved me o dnne We wen o Tanys ou favoeefo esauan Fa om eng eased y hs success he

    eemed moose nd neous e sad he had wed owes o hsmohe h dy u had no ye head fom he e dnk geaea Ae dnne he sad ha he had a gf fo me nd ha woudve o go home wh hm n ode o cam

    He ved a sma oom on n esae us on he ousks ofhaoesve ws moe wokoom han a house and hswok pogess ws neay d ou ong squae of pywood

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    Dha sd as hs dsk H wn mmdaly o a clos and opnd nsd w guns s, soguns, handguns of possbl knd H slcd a w-gaug sogun om on of

    acks and ga o m H aso ga m bl of sa fo uchasd n Ws Vgna and o shlls H n nd mo go squl hunng w hm pomsd ha I would Busnc I had n ownd a gun o wand on I askd a ndwo ld on a fa o hod on o fo m

    Sal mons la found anoh g om Bc n my

    ampus mabox was a ob, a foss onc hgly audy h Indans of Bcs gon On of h sos h had sod tntic had Tlobs" as s

    T was a mysy abou Bc Pancak ha wl no clamo ha pnad Ts mys s no acal had o do whha smal oom no wc s magnaon ad om m om always hough ha h gfs h ga w a way of kpngopl away om hs psonal aa, of focusng h anon on h psona h ad cad ou of h aw maals of ss as ha ll dnc, byond on smal ncdno suppo hs concuson bu ha on ncdn as causd m

    o all moTh ncdn occud on ng dung h summ of 977

    W had bn sng h ms of Lna Wmu and ha nngSeen Beae was bng sown a a loca a I lphondBc o s f h wand o go. T was no answ n ad la I l pon ng a numb of ms Fnay a

    man answd and askd wa I wand I askd fo Bc Hsad ad wong numb a Bc dd no l h anymo T was n on of s oc h abup auhoy ofa pocman H hn hd ln fo a momn, and n backgound I coud a quck and mud consaon bwn

    Bc and sa o pop Tn h man cam on h lnagan and askd my nam and numb H sad a Bc would

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    SOIS O C D CAKca m back Bu hn Brc hmsf ook h phon and askdwha was I wand I mnond h mo. sad h coudno s bcaus h was gong o Ws Vrgna ha sam nng

    bu ha h woud g n ouch wh m whn h ud I own mysf soon afr ha and dd no s Brc agan unary Spmbr Tha was whn h ga m h rob andshory aard h mad m proms ha I woud n anyon abou h ngh I cad hm h summr bfor

    In h ary summr of 978 I f haros fo Nw

    an, onnccu ar was s Prsdn bu my das auh Souh had changd dramacay I hopd ha, wh uck, Iwoud nr ha o u o haros I bgan makngpans o rsum my od f-sy as a g om h SouhBu f f has any dnon a a s h hngs ha happn ous wh w ar makng pans In h ay fa of ha ya Ifound ou ha I woud b a fah bfo sprng ad Aroundha sam m a packag om Brc mad om harosad a my aparmn n Nw an I dd no opn I knwhr woud b a gf nsd, bu I aso knw ha nwng myconncon wh Brc woud ak my mmors back o ha

    os and I wand o b compy of h pac Thpackag om Brc mand unopnd un h a nng ofApr 9 979

    h nng of Apr 8 I had a dram ha ncudd BcI was rappd n a oom by som mnacng and sns pop andhy wr forcng m o a hngs I dd no wan o a Bc

    was hr bu I canno rmmbr h par h payd n dramaI wok up bfor dawn o nd ha my wf's conracons hadbgun. Th rs of h day was spn n h d oom of hYaNw an ospa In h a afn I wn o hYa campus and augh a cass whch ad m on hundrd

    doars Thn I wakd hom happy wh h nw drcon myf had akn as h hardworkng fahr of Rach Ac Mc

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    FOREWORDPson A my apamn ow, was a lgam omJon Casy sn fom Caosi. I infomd m a on pous nig Bc Pancak ad kid imsf

    I cad Caosi immdiay and was old cain facsby Jan Casy, Jon's wif Bc ad bn dinkng ad fosom ason, gon ino om of a family na is lil ousand ad sa , in dak, unil y ud. n mada nois, by ging up o by sayng soming, y bcamignd and oug was a buga Bc an om

    ous o is o plac fo som ason ook on ofs soguns, pu ba in s mou, and bw is ad o

    I a n bld is soI spcua a Bc ad is own asons fo ding n a

    ngbo's ous y may a ad o do wi ponal pobms, o y may a ad o do wi moonal nds ai souc I am su is asons w xaodina ons a wi if I am o bli anyng abou Bc's sucd"xac any lsson om a lsson as o do w knd oflf ld I bi a Bc ad ad a fw dinks and foundmsf ockd nsid a sc oom cad aound w m

    I bli a ad scad so many gfs aound Calosl ad gn sgnals o so many popl a fl woud al ig o ask somon o p m duing wa mus a bna ad nig I bi a was so naicua abou sown fngs, so fignd a woud b cd, a panickd wn coupl cam om. Wa caus of is ds

    paion, coud no xpss i om wiin psona adcad. ow dos on say xpcs ings om pop aaing cuiad psona of Pod? ow dos on xpain conns of a sc oom o pop wo oug pyscaly cos s main sangs? ow dos on conc a fim

    of indscmna ging wi nd fo a gsu as simp as aknd wod, an insan of basic uman undsanding? And wa f

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    T STORS OF RC D PANCAKhs nd s so bahd n bss and dsapponn ha hamp sf a a crca m sms hopss xcp hroughh rn ord? In such a suaon a man mgh ook a hs

    yprr and hn a h rs of h ord and jus g up hsgg Ph Ochs hangd hmsf Brc Pancak sho hmsf Th rs of us f ar ucky nough o b ncapab ofmagnng such xrm acs of danc manag o ndur

    V a n h nng of h day I go h ns I opndh packag ha Brc had sn m h prous fa I conand

    som od phoogaphs of raroad orkrs som po and ar Th rs n of h r od h nr sory You arundr no obgaon o ansr hs 11 Bu h had hopd anyayha I oud Th pcurs r om hs famy cocon gno hm n rus by hs Aun Jua ho as soon o d H and

    o g hm aay rahr han s hm Th po rprsndan xnson of hs sam mpus Aso ncosd ar som pomsyou mgh nd nrsng agan I'm no askng for rsponsus sharng ns I n o Saunon Corcona Insuon(h pn} and sumbd ono hs guy [an nma] No knonganyhng abou pory I ga hs poms] o [h po Grg

    O H kd hm and s dong ha h can o hp ndh propr mark h COA Anay ha as ha n phrasabou h Obgaon of Noby? If 's ha I hnk mans hpng foks sn' bad as a duy or a cang Wd boh brg back o ork

    ookd a n pury socoogca rms Brc Pancaks ork

    as hpng pop gng o pop I hnk ha par of hm hpa of Ws Vgna ha bordrs on Vgna and o afrmhos od arsocrac gnh-cnuy aus ha no ongrhad a conx spcay n Charos as orkng oard bcomng an arsoca n bu jans. Bu h as from h

    souh ormdd cass hs accn had cran assocaonsh coud nd no connona ay o xprss hs on nds and

    8

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    ORWORDwl was a tr wr many of us wo coud not undrstand wo o wat was

    Sra wks latr I snt t foss ad gn m, t tr

    lobt, to t grl wo ad aowd m to kss ck aftr sa dats S ad ft Carlotts and was tn workn nNw York

    AcRSON

    9

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    OBIS

    OP he uck's doo step onto the bick side steet Ilook at Company ill again all sot of o don and ound

    A long time ago t as eal caggy and stood like an island in theTeays Rie It took oe a million yeas to make that smoothlttle hil and I'e ooked all oe it fo tilobites. I think ho has alays been thee and alays il be at least fo as long ast mattes The ai is smoky ih summetime A bunch of staings sim oe me I as bo in this count and I hae nee

    e much anted to eae I emembe Pop's dead eys lookingat me hey ee eal d and that took something out of me Ishut the doo head fo the caf

    I see a concete patch in the steet ts shaped like loidaand I ecolect hat I ote n nnys yeabook We ill lieon manges and oe And she up and left thout me to

    yeas shes been do thee ithout me She sends me postcadsith alligato estles and amingos on the font She nee asksme any questions I feel ike a eal foo fo hat I ote and gointo the caf

    he place is empty and I est in he cooled ai inke Reillyslittle siste pous my coee She has good hips hey ae kind oflike inny's and they slope in nice cues to he legs ips and

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    1 OR OF RC D PACAKlgs lk ha lm sps no aplans Sh gos o h ounnd and sos down h s of h sunda I sml a h, ushs jala Jala and lak snaks a o hngs I won

    ouh wh a wndow pol On m usd an old lak snako a ullwhp snappd h suk's had o, and Pop a hllou of m wh I hnk how Pop ould mak m py madsomms I gn

    hnk aou las ngh whn Gnny alld H old man dovh do om h ao n Chalson Sh was alady od

    Can w g ogh Su May do som w Su Sam oldColly Sam old Gnny Sh alkd hough h ak wando ll h Pop had dd and Mom was on h wapah o sll h u Gnn was alkng hough h ak gav m hps

    Jus lk h ups gv m h ps I look a h ups hangngon pgs y h soon Thy dalnamd and ovd whgas and dus Ths fou of hm and on s Pops u hasn wha gvs m h ps Th lans on s Jms Islan aus h sll uss u hangs h wh h sThough h wndow an s m ossng h s Hs ons

    a mnd wh ahs hnk of how long 'll fo Ioak u Jm s old and gvs m h ps o s hs uphangng up h go o h doo o hlp hm n

    H says Tll h h now" and hs old paw pnhs mya

    I say Can do h" hlp hm o hs sool

    pull hs gloy ok om my pok and slap on h ounn on of Jm H s wh hs dawn hand xamns Gastopod," h says Poaly Pan You uy agan" an wn wh hm H knows hm all

    I sll an nd a lo" I say

    Th a a fw" h says No many Mos of h ouopsaound h a oo la fo hm"

    22

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    OTh gi bings im's co n his cup and w wach h pump

    back o h kchn Good hipsYou s ha? jks his had owad h.

    say, Moundsvil Moasss " I can spo jabai by a mi.l gi's ag nv soppd you dad and m in Michigan."Tl h uh."Su. You go o m so you nai h s igh ou whn

    you pans a up." look a h wndowsil. I s spckd wih h cisp sklons

    of is. Whyd you and Pop av Michigan?Th cinkls aound im's ys go sack. says, Th wa"

    and sips hs co say, nv mad back h. "M ih aways wand o h o Gany jus

    o look aound"Yah h omisd o show m wh you a buid ha

    silva and su duing h wa." says h Eb Pobaby powd up by now."My y sock cs n my co, sam culs aound my fac

    and I fl a hadach coming on. I look up o ask Tinks sis

    fo an aspin, bu sh s gigging in h kchnTha's wh h go ha wound, " im says Go on h Eb was ou a long m Cold, sus, i was cod. I had m fodad bu h cam o. Says, bn al ov h wod' saysChna's so py m "

    Daming?"

    don' know I qui woing abou ha su yas ago "Tink's ss coms up wih h copo o mak us fo a

    ip I ask h fo an aspin and s sh's go a pimp on hcollabon. don mmb sng pcus of China wachlil sis's hips

    Tn sill waning you plac fo ha housing pojc?"Su" I say. Mom'l pobaby sll oo can un h

    2

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    E TORE OF REECE D' ANAKpac lk Pop d. Can ooks bad as l. I dran o my cup.Im rd of akng abou farm Gong ou w Gnnyong I say

    G r a for m says aks a pok a my wangI don k wn aks abou r k a ss I donlk and s grn sps oud a o of gas for r od man Onl of a guy bfor s wf pud ou

    I wl on my soo cap s wak od souldr I nk ofPop and o ok. You snk so bad undrakr's folowng

    you augs. You wr ugs baby r bo you know

    a? grn, and sar ou door I can ar m sou o l

    ssr Com on or r ony go a jok for you

    T sky as a lm Is a bus roug sal on my skndraws g I sa ruck dr ws aong gwaybul on dry bd of Tays Trs wd booms and lls on r sd a ylowy blows sun can' bu o pass an ron sgn pu up by WPA: Suryd by Gorg

    Wasngon, Tays Rr Pk. I s ds and cal wrbuldngs sand pcur m om som long-o m

    u o man road o our ous Clouds mak sunsn blnk g and dark n yard I look agan a spo ofground wr Pop fl ad an sprad-agld n ck grassar a slr of mal om s old wound passd o s bran Irmmbr nkng ow ban s fac ookd w prns n om grass

    rac g ba and sar my racor, n dr o knob a nd of our land and sop I s r smok ook agana can T rows cur g bu around m s a sor of

    scar of ca and las a a purps blg I don wondr

    2

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    TRLOBTS

    about te bit. I know te cane is too far gone to wor aoutte bigt ar o somebody cos wood and te axbtes ecoback to me. e isides are baked ee and ae eat gosts

    Our cate moe to te wind ga and bids ide in caps of treeswere we neer cut te timber for pasture. ook at te wrinkyold boundary post Po set it wen te obo and soldier days wereoer. It s a locust-tree post and wi be tere a on time A fewdead moing gories cing to it.

    Im just not no good at t I say It just dont do to work

    your ass o a someng youre not no good at e coping stops I isen o te bea of gassoer wings

    and strain to spot bgt on te far side of e bottomsI say Yessir Coy you coudnt grow oe beans in a pie of

    orsesit

    I squas my cgarete against te oor ate. I dont want are. I ress te starte and bum around te eds ten downto te ford of te ding creek and up te oter sde urkes faom ogs ino stagnan poos stop my macine e cane eres just as bad. I rub a sunbu nto te back of my neck

    I say Sot to e Gin. Cant do notng rigt

    I ean back t to forget tese eds and ankng ills A ongtime before me or tese toos te eays owed ere I can almostfeel te cod waters and te ticking te triobies make wen teycraw Al te water om te od mountains owed west Butte land fted I ae ony te botoms and stone animas colect I bnk and beate My faer is a kaki coud n te cane

    bakes and Ginny is no more to me tan te bitte smel in tebackbe biers u on e idge

    I take up my sack and ga fo a turke Some quick cubsas under te bank In te mossdaes I see ings sreadwere a turke ducked under is sucker is mine e poo

    smes ike rot and te sun is a adis bown

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    OR O RC D PC wade He goes fo he oos of a og sove aod ad

    fee y ga ch This s a sa ke si a scke e he cod p ve o a hook fo he es of his days he

    s a scke fo he oos ha hold him whe wok y ga pl him p ad see he s a snappe He's go s sy eckced aond iig a he ga ay hi o he sand and akeo Pop's kife sep o he she and pess had Tha fa eckges sky qick ad sicks way o A ie ood oozes omhe ga wod io he gi whe slice a pddle fos

    A voice says Ge a dagon Colly shive a ile and ook p 's oy he oansa sadig

    o he ceekak i his an si His face s spoched pnk adhe s s g hs gasses ack

    cave hem now and agai say go o sig sle

    skinnig ack he sheAw yo daddy oved le mea he guy says se o scachg cae eaves n he ae sn dmp he

    pes ino he poo ag he es ad had p he fod sayWha ca do fo yo

    This gy sas p: saw yo o he oad s came dow

    o see ao y oe od yo yeseday M Te ai' ie o se

    oe dow do' wa had feelings Yo go o alk o MomBlood dips om he poke o he ds makes dak pase

    Ten pockes his hands ooks ove he cae A cod ocks hes ad my cop gows geeish he shade

    This s ao he as ea fa lef aod hee Ten saysBlgh'l ge wha he d lef say shi he sack o y

    ee had see ' givg n ' eig his gy go ad pshe aod

    How's yo mohe geing aong he says see o eyes

    ehind hs smoky glasses

    2

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    P good" I say Ss wanng o mo o Akon"

    ng sack a ll owad Oo d spy m bl on Tnspans So" I say

    I'll com ou" says, bu I op no gn and wac ukls mou gap on sand Wll wy Akon" saysFamly "

    nod " say Sll ak you up on o" Tso sadow saps m and my oc s a wsp I ow sacko oo pla, clmb up o gnd sa fl b n

    way n o T o mal sa bu oug myans

    Saw Gnny a pos oc" s guy sous S su s py "

    wa almos sml as ga o lumb up d oad pass Tns dusy Lncoln mo away om my bn can Ican go now sal sd doug, blg can go wns sgns pap know wll always b o blam bu can us b my faul Wa abou you" say You sdu all a mong bu you wouldn s no doco Nsyou ad o s a you dumb boy go cop pu pop n

    gound" su my ap o kp om alkng lk a fool

    sop my aco on acd oad o ba and look backacoss can o cbd Ysday Tn sad boomswould b lld w d Ta wll pu ouss abo oodbu ll as ood ln nd all os ouss my ukls

    wll u o son Ou fods mak sy pacs on ll I s Pops ga and wond f nw g was wllg o

    wac cal play A a mus b comng A an s alwaysomg wn al play Somms y play fo snow bu mly a f Pop wppd daylgs ou of m w a

    2

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    OR OF R D AAKblack snak, h hung on a fnc Bu ddn an Th cawn' playng and ddn' an bu I kp my mouh shuTh snak was bad nough I ddn wan h b oo

    I look a ong m a ha hl. My s m wh Gnny was nh cap of ha hl I hnk of how clos w could b hnand mayb n now I don know Id k o go wh Gnnyu h ha n any oh d Bu I can s h n h posoc I b sh was sndng poscads o som guy n Foda

    I d on o h ba sop und h shd I wp swa om

    my fac wh my sl and s how h sams ha sppd ommy shouds If I s gd I can ll hm agan Th uks mong n h sack, and gs m h cps o ha hs shcnkng agans h ga I ak h pok o h spgo o can hgam Pop always lkd uk n a mulgan H akd a lo abou

    mulgan and h jungls jus an hou bfo I found hmI wond wha wl b k whn Gnny coms by hop shsno alkng hough h bak Mayb sh'll ak m o h houshs m If h momma had bn anybody bu Pops cousnh old man would l m go o h hous. Scw hm Bu Ican ak o Gnny wond f sh mmb h plans w mad

    fo h fa And w wand kds Sh always naggd abou apacock wll g h on.

    sml as I dump h sack no h sy snk bu h basml h hay, h cal h gasoln mnds m M andPop bu hs ba I ook a nal wh h sam dul pan

    I clan h ma and lay ou on a pc of cloh o om an

    od bd sh I fod h cos wak o h housTh a s ho bu so of chus and h s scns n h

    kchn wndow al Fom nsd, I can ha Mom and Tnalkng on h on poch and I a h wndow up I s hsam comon h ga m ysday and I b Mom s ang

    up Sh pobaby hnks abou a pas wh h cousns n

    8

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    OAkron S nr lsns o wa anybody says S jus saysall rg o anyng anybody bu m or Pop r sa. S nod for oor bfor y go marrd I row urkl

    ma no a skll g a br Trn sons r up w m prck my arsl would wagr on Collys agmn says can sll ar

    a ll wang n s ocI old m Samd pu m on a Goodrc s says Ty

    ac m a rad.

    An r ar a goo many young popl n Akron You kowd b appr I nk ow s oc sounds lk a damn

    Wll 's awl good o kp company Don' go ou nonsnc Gnny ook o o a collg

    Trs a collg n Akron, says bu su wndowI lan agans snk, rub my ands across my fac T smll

    of urkl as soakd bwn my ngrs 's sam smll as pools.

    Troug oor o lng room I s rock cas Popbul for m T w labls sow up bn ark gloss ofglass Gnny lpd m nd or alf of os If I dd sudy n

    a collg I coul com back and ak m's plac a gas wllsI lk o old ll sons a l so long ago Bu gologydosn man lck o m I can n nd a rlob.

    s ma lsn for nos or alk on porc bu rs non I look ou A lgnng las pls sadows om yaran las a dak srp undr ca of ba I fl a scum

    on my skn n sll ar. I ak my suppr o porcI look own ally o wr bson usd o graz bfor

    rs rals wr pu down Now os rals ar cord w agway ad s back d fo wnd wac Trnscar back ou adng as no o I'm afra o ask rg o

    f go wa wan

    9

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    OR O RC D PANCA ic y pae de Mo oe e wave i o i

    op od e wac e o coe D devi p aodo e e ad ape pig ad i e yad wi ei wie

    eie p Aco e oad o widea ed ow of cedaig eve wic way a oceCoig a ig oe? I ayMo ay oig ad fa eef wi e ea-oe fa

    e wid aye e ai, e eep a cadboad piceof Je obig ie cazy He face cage I ow wa e

    ik. e i ow e i e gi i e picte o eae e i adig wi op gaio cap coced eead

    wi yod of coe o wie e ee e ay eae aco e oad o e widea

    I ead i yeeday I ay.I ai a a a e ay, ad wac e ow coe do

    a ie I ie we J i caed ai if we waed oeea a ad o e i o eave e i e c a cc wa ow fo a we e coe od a widow

    I ow Ji ak ike a dm od fa i i ie ed ape

    e o ayig I do wa o age wi e We aywo ow i pace?We i do Do ave o ig oi i ooowe qit oig Je o ook a e e a p Yo

    ie Ao Law e Macy yoge gid ove o ee yoe a ega oc od oo ide, yo fae away aid

    we'd ove ee we yo go big eog o e faI ow e a o ay i I eep y o e

    i comes igig e f i wac e ig wid ap ceo e ee. ae pie of ig oo dow eid e fai We ae bed by i o

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    IIGnny's spors car hsss as on h road honkng as passs,

    u I know sh wll b backJus lk h momma Mom says racn' h d for h r

    ons"Sh nr knw hr momma," I say I s my pa on hoo I'm glad Gnny hough o honk

    Wha f 's o run o wh som forman om h ws?"You wouldn' do ha, Mom"Tha's gh" sh says, and wachs h cars ro by Sho

    h n Chcago Sho hsslf oo"I ook yon h hls and m Thr s rd har coudng h

    pllow, lood-spard by h slug Anohr body s mpdand wa a h bd foo

    Folks sad h don caus sh woudn' may hm Founwo wddn' ands n hs pock Fsy ll Ialun"

    s polc and rporrs n h ny oom Mumbs spl noh halway u noody raly ooks a h dad womans fac.

    Wl, " Mom says, a as hy was sl warn' hr cohs"Th ran slows, and for a ong m I s wachng h bu chc

    o swayng bsd h road I hnk of a h pop I know who

    lf hs hls Ony Jm and Pop cam ack o h and workd

    Look a h wlowwsps." Mom pons o h hlsTh ran rcks, and as sps n o coo h ground, a fo

    rss. Th fog curs l goss no h ranchs and gusTh sun s o s hrough hs ms u s ony a ashd

    ro sploch n h pnksh sky Whrr h fog s, h gh sa bushd orang

    Can ca h nam Pop ga " I sayTh coors sh, rad ons had som nny nams a rgh Cad a omca a pussy

    sca "

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    SORS OF R ANAKI nk bc Cokes were ponerkes,' nd cicken ws

    sckun We lug

    Well se sys ell lwys be pr of us Te glommy pn on e c rm pcks der my ngeilsI ink ow se could foul up fee lunc.

    Gnny onks gn om e min rod. I snd up o go in buI old e screen look fo someng o sy

    I n' gong o le n Akron, I sy.

    An jus were you gonn le, MiseI don' know.Se srs up wi er fn gin.Me nd Gnnys gong lowrdng, I sySe won lk me Ge n erly. Mr. Ten don keep no

    le ours for no beer drnkersTe ouse s quie nd I cn e er ou ere sning Buw o ell cn I do bou I ur o ws e smell of urkleom my nds. ske ll oe wle e wer ows down lked bck Ie neer lked bck I'm sced, bu I sop skng. Gnny cn see me skng us wlk ou o e od w

    o eer lookng bck o e porcI climb n e cr, le Gnny kiss my ceek Se looks deren

    Ie nee seen ese cloes nd se wers oo muc jewelryYou look gre se sys. en cnged bi We dre wes long e PkeWee we gong

    Se sys es prk for old mes' ske ow's e depoI sy Sue. I rec bck for cn of Flls Cy You le

    you ir growYou lkeU ye

    We re I look e nged fog, e colors cngng ue

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    TROTS says So of an r ning u? I al coms om

    r bakPop alays cald i a fools r o soming

    W pul n bsd old dpo I's mosy boardd up Wdrnk ac colors sip o gray dusk in skyYou r ook n your yarbook? I gulp don s of

    my CyS gos crazy lauging You kno s says I don n

    kno r I pu a ing

    I fl ay oo man o say anying I ook across rairoado a ld son in imoy Tr ar s r pums o suck ancin gass T gas bus bu and I ondr if ancinsun as blu. T racks run on i yr a do n bronaz Ty gi o cicks om ir sics Som ankrs aon spur T s ar sing o rac onda o ll I r and i rilobis

    Bg nig n Rock Camp I say I ac Gnny drnk. skn is so glos yois and as ig maks sparksn r rd air

    S says Daddy oud ras l Me s cos o ls

    Your a bg grl no C'mon l's alkW g ou and s up and grabs my a r ngs f k

    ribbons on ins of my ando long you n for? I sayJus a k r n a k i Daddy in N York I can

    ai o g back I's gra

    You go a guy?S ooks a m i s nny smi of rs Ya I go a

    guy s dong pankon rsarcEr sinc I akd back I bn afraid bu no I ur

    agan W com o ankrs, and s aks od on a laddr

    sps up

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    OR OF RC D Chs gh She looks y ll ohe lke shes js

    le g o he ly I lghNl he e ees he ege I yo slp yo ge howe

    le Wy yo e g o he y sk yo e Sesoboy' e keShe seps o b oes' ke y h He gh yo

    eeyhg Wh klle hLle shell ge Bee h se he w Go hs

    loo sp y ges w o lk he pe

    wo eoe wos see ysel see ee ell les ohe ohes pll he bk keel he k gss ollhe boy ep look he eyes log e beoe I shhe Yo ee lk bo yo o sy

    She sys o' w o goes g o ope wow he epo She peeks ts o e C we o

    hy Nohg hee b ol egh slesBese s spooky e w o She s k

    ksses e o he heek I' oe wh hs gl lok Sle ge p wlk o he epo I g oe beh

    he oke wow lb . I ke Gys h o help he

    A ble o glss sles he oe he ph s shllow ke o y sh o wp he loo los pple o heloh

    HNo elly wh be l o he glss le Its elle

    wgs k s wlks he ege I sks wh he glss hs speo he sk he he wokg he wlls

    Gy s he ohe wow she pees hogh kohole he ploo

    sy See h lgh gee spo o he seo hllYeh

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    h's he opper o yos rooShe ts, ses eI oe here ots I sy I brehe he sy i I

    wy o he ook o he wiow o Copy Hi, b I ee her se Copy Hi ooks bigger he sk Ihk o he his ro o Ie eer se o Giyoes p behi e here's gssh wih he sepshe h goes o e, he iy spo o boo o gsy bk

    h s Coy hy we he y he I ws yog pk I re o r wy o hoe

    I ws wkig hogh his eow o he other sie o he Hi hs show psse oer e. I hoes o go hogh i ws peoy I ws e rpe I ws so Ie hoe I pee hips o p o he wow e, wor her o k She es gs e I kss he e eepHe ws bhes y hs he ski o her ek s os whe he e eeig I kow she oes ers

    I sie he o he oor He se ises o e I shoees se o ke roo I o wi She s kig oe

    shes geg i A igh, I hik, rgh. Ge I p heps ro he kes, he I k o kers siseGiy s here ikers sise s e e A wsh o beigh psses oer e I ope y eyes o he oor se h go iwe woo Bk skes I ws he oy e he h whp e

    Le e go wh yo I sy I w o be soy, b I Coy pese She shoes e bk. He he s oig

    spiers o pi gssI ook og e he hoow shows hig her eyes She

    soeboy I e og e go I eebe he eo e he oes bk o e I s gs he w

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    SORIS OF R D'J ANAKy spine ches. I isten to the ud dubers buiding nests ndrce nger ong her throt

    She sys I wnt to go. My hurts Her oice coes o

    soeplce deep in her chestWe cib out. A yeow light bus on the crossties nd theswitches click r wy I her trin She gies e y shirtnd gets in her cr I stnd thee ooing t the blood spots on thecloth I eel od s hell When I loo up her tilights re reddishlurs in the og

    I wl round to the pto slup on the bench. he eeningcools y eyelids. I thin o how tht one tie ws the ony irpnetht eer pssed oer e

    picture y ther young hobo with the Michign sunseting hi squint the ke behind hi. His ce is hd o lthe dys nd pces he ought to lie in nd o sudden I knowhis istke ws coing bck here to set tht locust-tree post onthe kob

    Eer notice how ony bue lightning bugs coe out ter in? Green ones lost neer do

    I her the trin coing She is highbling l right No stis

    in tht lind gggeWell you know the eys ust o been big rier. ust stnd

    on Copny Hill nd look cross the bottos. You'll see.

    My skin is hey with her noise Her ight cuts wide slice inthe og No sti in his right ind coud t this one on the yShes hel-bent or eection

    Ji sid it owed west y northwest ll the wy up to the oldSint Lwrence Drin Hd grsh ten ybe wenty oot longSid theyre stil in there

    Good old i'll probby cok on lie like tht I wtch heret y A woout tie belches ud with her weight She's just

    t t to jup Plin nd siple

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    TRLOTI gt up I pnd tonigt at om I got y to ut in

    Micigan mayb n Grmany or Cina don kno yt Iak but Im not card I f my fa moing aay n rings

    troug tim for a miion yars

    7

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    OO

    HCD n hs knees n th thee-t se, Buy wsst n the hyth the uk nes ely the gtte

    n snstne n hs p lght, the settng n lng n pung hs ws nthng lke the el ne n eep tunnes nps nly the settng ltng pung nly the ghtsh ps n the ely In the pe he yee hs the wengh nt the ste: ny ues g he tuhe the tlewls, et the st the wte belw he the puleysquek n the le blue be he buket tn bukle unehs tny eet, n he begn t Hs the hue h up

    hts the wy we t he lughe ng Buy t thehuseBut tht e bee eethng bee they e the

    ge bee the bg ne lse bee wele Dwn the eythe en wee quet n Buy wnee they thught sp thngs whee he squtte he u see the gy gn

    lght t the uth the Mh wn spyng ust nt ttle ushe hltn ws n the lst n n the ely she ttw the hute n tw-by-u tks

    ke bek e the penng n s Buy set hsshel se, he sw hs usn Cuts stt thugh the uth

    He ws ggng pp pst behn h s he we pst theely tw the e Buy wthe whe Cuts wke the

    9

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    OR OF R D'j ANAKpost pight it ws too shot d Ctis heed wedges i totighte the t

    Got it? Bddy sked

    Hel o, bt she ooks e petyEstep Bddys ot , gted gh D se's getti too deep Ait othi' bt o i this hee hoe Whe wego hit god?

    Bddy et Estep's p-ight o his e d ted towd itEstep ws giig, pe ght t oozig thogh the dst

    d swet o his heekChew? Estep hed ot his poh d Bddy tk thee

    ges beoe they leed gist eh othe bk to bk, stethigthei egs wokig thei hews

    Fe is getti petty tl tep sid Bddy old eel theoie i his bk

    Se thi's hppei' p St Ceek he sid plig thesggig pddig p to his kees

    A' ohsos sth doe the seC Bddy shoted whed they ke oe sple o

    this idge

    Hells bells I do't kow he sid yig to wok i othewedge

    Mst bee sixty yes go tep sid eollet ye dddy shooti' t 'e hoght theys Phidel lw'e

    Yeh Bddy lghed eebeig the tlesFo e the opeig, whee the est o the ely gtheed o

    i e highpithed gh d Bddys sles wet tightOe these dys I' go wig tht Flle's ek he

    sid spittig ot the sweet tobo ieWht he sid stil eti t yHe it bee woth shit sie he got tht It's Sly it itNw, let'e go Woless

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    OOWTe goup uged gin, nd oice sid Ask BuddyAsk i wt? Buddy sined is igt ong te ow o diy

    ces ony ues ws wide wi gin

    s S gon bck to woin? ue sedGoddn you, Buddy sid but beoe e coud get up, Estepooked bot is ebows n Buddys nd ue uged t isstgge Cuts scbed bck gbbng Buddys co

    I eckon you ested noug Cuis soued nd wentey ed co tting o te bin to te tck, tey pcked up

    tei soes, got nto ineBuddy oosened up giing in to Cuis nd Estep Tongt t

    Tnys e souted t ue.ue ugedSut up Cutis sid You nd tep wok te ce Estep et go, nd tey cwed to te co ce nd took up tei

    so-nded spdes Te ce ws edy ou eet g ndbot en coud stetc out o tei knees knockng spkngcunks nto te pie, pusing it bck o te ey

    Bet ts woe dn dge is ig seMke t wo oe tn ten swts dy

    By God, Buddy sid, nd e dug wondeed te oneywoud ke Sy sty eebeng ue, e t e ce despying co spntes into te

    Estep stopped digging nd n dity seee coss one eyeBuddy ws cougng spy weeze ogging co to is eeStop k in snkes tow in stu in y eyes

    Buddy stopped digging Esteps oce wsed oe is ngeeng i s nd cod in te gint o te co ce yet bod ndbette tn Estep o ue.

    So ts just I d e cougedGet ye cnce tonigt Con pce o one, o Togete tey tew te ey bck into yt dded speed

    Te cnk o spdes nd scpe o soes spped into te usces

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    TH SORIS O BRC J PANCAK

    uni ony e rumbe o e reuing ru ould sow emTe sem grew were sould e ued nd ey uneredo eir ee diggin owrd e in gry line o eling

    Ge some pis Buddy grinnedNw needs sorn yeCuris slipped roug e rely o e e s lig sowing

    roug e dus up-dow srems Wen he go dow o emey leed gins e sidewls o gie m room nd e stu poe leel o e eing wing s e bubble rose owrd

    e eKno o il Mondy e sid We i go e imbers er

    is ere.

    As e men rwed ou owrd e boom pie wisper o

    luger seeped bk roug e mie o e e d Buddydropped o his bely o slin ouside unurred Een lmrw d winded hm nd e wied by e ue or Esep ndCuris s he old ir dried is swe selig e drt o is sHe ould er beneh e winng low gers o e ol rue brg o dog dow e ollow He s dow hrd d

    leed gns e huerom e ere o e illop ws wold o twenty yrds e

    ded sls o broom sedge rippng he wid Buddy guredhe oerburde o drt oud be moed i mon e ol resed less yer He ew Sly would o w ws osure e wned er

    He remembered me wen e pre o er meup nd nybis woud e ed hs moer nd ssers someng besidese mue bgs o ommodes e se nded ou

    Esep me ou nd Buddy oered im smoe s ey wedhe ru simmy under e bn eeling s od

    Goddmned er pier Esep grunted owrd e drierr dow e il

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    OOWGo be lots ore he l tht gone o . Buy

    looke to the weste riges where the su set o strip o reCrtis e up behi the siig. I goi hoe n get

    l nke up. Lst tie I oe tht, Estep si, got e ew bby Gonwth ol M M here sos he ot ter up Tiy's.

    Thts where I'l be by Go, Buy si s i there ightstil be soething to ho to.

    ust ee ough o uller to rw in tht oghole o Mo

    y Cuis si, tkig o his p Buy stre t the lines ogry i his hir where the o ust h ot sette.

    I int ki o proises Buy si s he strte owthe pth towr the ro

    Pik y p t eight toight, tep yee wthing Buy

    we his lh buket o the tri.Night rose up o the holow s he e to the styess ro By ou eel the o ir wshing up rouhi king hi ough Pthes o os gthere oer the hollow glowig pik He te oto the blktop ro, bgig hislh box gist his leg s he wke, reebere hting

    ler s a y beuse er h le hi rige erAer ey yers o liig in the hoow he kew why ullerhte hi

    He lghe gi t the thought o the o. He wou he r by l n ew triler ybe ee oublewie Hee to think o wys to get Curtis to gie up oghoing n or

    oent thoght o skig Slly to go ito Cheyn with hi to ookt triers bt reebere her tk o eig

    Throgh the hight, he o ke ot the rottig tipplewhere hs ther ws she ony te ys beore they sht itow leig the iers to sbwok n DPA. The tippe rk

    le i the o the ss het le it on pole besie it se trsoer stil he No ore ol the engieers

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    SOR O R D PANAKh s but Buy h lwys luge t enginee een wene ws i n engnee opny i te Ay At te oot o thesoleing boe pile whee the sle wste been upe

    teps little boy stoppe, seingWht y oi' tee, AnyRoks, te boy si They's pites on e e ne

    Buy pee o shleossls Ol' e stuI' olletin' 'e

    Wt y wnn se ol e stu o he si ning teshle bk

    The boy looke own n shugge.You get on oe, e' Buy si, wthing s Ay s

    ppee own the seon eng i to the hu o the tnsoe. e wonee wy te boy looke so ol

    As he ste bk up te o he oul he the ogs pkingup, the howls ehong o te slopes, nelg toug teepty tipple he lous h tikene, n Buy elt the stne ops o sty in sok thoug te t o hs e Whenthe tees tnne he sw is tile ust o the bolts ley

    stekg the wite pnt o lst sue he ogs wee just upthe o n he woee i they oul sell Lny, is bluetkbth n the tle Slly st by the winow, lookg witing, buthe knew t ws ot o h

    Lny sile t Slly wgge t the soun o Buys ootsteps

    o the beoo n ow the hll Slly wlke wy o teoo wnow n set the pltes by the stoe

    teps stoppn oun eght Buy s ownig t thetups n bens beeth the potlis o suppe No et

    Slly s oting but took up he plte ollope out he

    oo leg te se et o Buy Se wthe seehisel n ou esel sting t the ekles o blk ust

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    OOWebedded i his e. A dog brk broke her stre, d she wet tothe tbe. She oud her the sig uder the oor

    They bother he out e she sid whe uddy st

    We, she stys i I dot eed o itter o utts uddyshed t betwee his ork progs, shig the le o the ess,d wthed Sly et Theys go be oey, Sl

    Dot strt up. Theys s gonna but they it eer yThis tes or sure Estep e, we worked tht stu tody

    A De dozer steshoed xed us el quik Curts

    got the deed Thought yer oks setted these here ridgesHe reebered stdig i the su t erl he ould ot

    sy whose, but the set o Vits o hs thers hds hdtued hs stoh, d his ew shoes pihed his eet

    Neer hd pot to pss i, either Stik roud, S.With her ork, Sly drew lzy ures i her besoup dshook her hed Nw, I tired o o tlk

    Ths t tk. Wht de y sty wth e this og?TkLe? Loe it tlk

    Whores tkHs hd shed ross the tbe, kokg her hed ske

    d she ushed She got up slowy put her plte i the sik dwlked dow the hll to the bedroo uddy herd her tu othe , but the soud ded dow, eig oy the whiper o thedogs He wthed hs pte tu old, grese ustig the edges

    Gettig bourbo or his oee he st his pte o the loor orthe bth d wet to the wdow With lpght shiig gree the eyes the pk led the er tlkig, witig He edo the lp d looked or the thig Sly stred ter but olythe lght gry sky d erblk ghost o the rod touhed the

    hollow the drkess he oud his 30-30 re d lshlight opeed

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    OR OF R DJ AKthe stte winow n poke the though Pssng oe twostong-bone houns his be ne on gge spitz n hee nto the beghts the shot singng though the wshes

    n guesThe ogs sttee to the bush beyon the o, eing thethshng sptz to ie n he y Liny pe the ties engthto the soun o the whnes but when they stoppe she sette onthe ouh he t ppng eh tie Buy oe

    The shot eke Sy o he h-seep, but she sette bk

    gin wthing the bue TV ght py ginst the usty oweso eing eks s the st gns o one soke into he heShe stethe, et ot n n oen o bue ght ipping ounhe boy n exe She knew she ws pettie thn the gsn the Thuneb Cub o the gi on the V n ots oe n

    Lotsss she whspee oe n oeBuys shouette st n the y hey wont bkhe si

    Who Sy st up ettng the sheets sie wy o he bestsThe ogsOh yeh

    Y nt ke ny oney t t S Too uh ee stu otnoun

    Yeh An ths oney ye kns gonn keep e heeHe tue bk own the hBuy she s n he hi stop Con he she hs shoes she notie he sope n his bk oe

    thn usu but ng to he hs hest swee when heunbuttone hs sh o whee he stoo the h ight xewth the TV shing he eyes white n pnk s she oe in thebketwe to ke oo o h

    He be n hs o hns stokng he wist n she et he

    tte eos n hs uses She gge singe nge ohs spne to ke h shie

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    OOWWe y ePrey soo se sd pg oser

    Esep oed s o g d Ldy ded by e doorhwg

    o d Bddy ered, bog s se ok o e gsnd gowed e er eg

    Sy propped er pow gs e edbord nd i oergree se wed Bddy dress er w gened d

    se roed ses o e p o er gree n e re eo po See y se sd e sed do e

    Ye See y e swered keepg e dog sde e osede door

    sde he s nged wh sow d e sp y od

    e wer beded o s . Bddy e o w e pk dwked owrd e kg o eps enge d e so ppgo wpers ore e od ope e dr p bbed s gs e ed s re gs en ed o orge e bre e r's rdo

    Whdy kow Md M ep sd Bddy bed ogig

    Aswer e s Wyd y reko Cr ws props oro sore e d e dbs dogoe godd se oo Hes oe er

    He oes do' oe s

    Wdy dr How y y rekond wk o 's o dp e wer

    MondyBddy do go srke go yCo ow y y rekoMos Esep sd Mybe o erBddy odded 'd sy so

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    SORIS OF R DJ ANAKYe tli weid. Cts i y ct go cli stie o ye

    iI ie Ct e Bddy coghed Bt I tei y theys

    esy wy to tht col Wot wo, Bddy Opetio ie thtd pt eebody otwok Sides ld it good e othi te y stip

    Tht d he ggged, tht ld it o good owy d wecod so se wo. Wed se eebody i o hole A StoCeek A tht piddli o ohsos. i eql Kow how

    ch thtd be?Ct be ch with l the els i the ieT o y tho Does it t? He spped Esteps Wel,

    does it?Wheed we get the chies?ow o the col Cts got the deed jst eeds soe

    ew thii pt i his heds Yo with e?I ecko They ode wtchig the sow ce i towd the ights elt

    ig o the widshield beoe the wipe stc it Thogh theees Bddy cold see the stig o yelow light bbs boe the

    doo d widows o Tiysohso od ot whos stei his col, Estep sid lettig

    the c sow p Od M CoxHows he ow o se?Died ch pt i o-te shell Seled e oe

    with dst gle

    ess H ChistAw, didt ht i oe st sced i Estep sid, gid

    ig the c betwee chghoes i the pig otBddy opeed his doo M lie thts bd he bedIside Tiys Bddy odded d wed to ieds thogh

    the soe d lghte bt he did ot see e He sed Tiybt the oe-eed oy shgged, settig p two bees s

    8

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    OOWBuddy d wkd o h oo tb cd his qurtr bsidfour ohrs nd rtud to n ginst th br with Es

    So 1 Buddy yd to on of ohnson's shots

    So you too

    Johnson smid Thm qurtrs go fst

    ur cm in wkd to th br nd shook his hd whn Tinycm u

    ut tim y go hr Buddy sidSs ou yondr Wns o tk to y.Whdy go? Crod of goons?

    S fr yrsf ur wd owrd th window Sly stwith Lindy in h ont st of urs cr Buddy foowd uroutsid motioning for Sy o ro do th window but sh ondth door ting Lidy out.

    You bby-s for wh sh sidur ughd s h strtd th crBuddy bnt to colr Lindy but sh styd by him Srigh

    ning himslf Buddy ookd ftr th cr nd sw his bobbingin h bck st.

    Cmon Estp sid om bhind him Ls gt drunkd upn shoot ool.

    Yr on Buddy sid lding th dog into h br.

    Buddy ly on th rirs ct itt bl of ryon bttinggins his nosri s h brthd nd trid to rmmbr how hgo hr bu Sy's smi in his mind umbd hm rmmbrd bing drin bck by Estp fing down in th prking lo

    nd hitting rd ohnson but h did no know why stood u shook himsf nd nd down th hl to h

    bhroom Th bood ow om his hd nd th shock of th ighud h room u for momn nd h rn wr om thshowr on his hd to cr th i Lookng into h mirror hsw h imrins of th ct ptt on his chk th oisonhnging bnth his ys wnd to hrow u but coud not

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    E SORES O REEE DJ ANAKE01 e st he ttee hee lyAtop te oe st h-se bo Coe he toe

    t ow wtg o t to settle o oe p g Leg gst

    the wll he eebee the og e to he bt she otoe He looe t hs wt t ws e-thyHe wet to te g oo opee the oo the wet sow

    ws oletg ptes He lle Ly she e to ho be the tle ho ose be e He st teoo beee the ogs st o te oh Ly hoppe p

    bese h Poo ol gl he s pttg he wet se Ye e the wos ow Hs es wee splt boo leo hs ges bt he ol ot eel y bg

    Ss goe yes se s Yes se s Cope o ots welsow he yes we wl He sw sel Clesto te Clb

    te tg Sly oe s ew

    Hgy ol gl? Co Il x y p te te he looe o esh et to et he g

    oe opee o ses Wtg he lp te p hepoe hse bobo eelg bette lee gst theote Sllys plte ly se wth besop the s

    o oe he sse he He lge to hsel he woshow he

    Ly wle e the tble oghe p he sesDot ble y bt he s bt the o o ses

    sl he sw hsel eg t p ew te sel wollwys be thee hee ws o eso he so he to e p

    o eso he o ot he et o ytg e wte He toop hs le leg wee he h let t Ly be ohs heels No he sote gg e by te ol o soege tl he o sht te oo

    Otse the sow e he t wet lps g

    ptte the ess he b p te hl to te ge be

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    OOhe rer se hs lgs o eeig, he soppe o spi rehe Rese he wlke g qe rhyh wih he sleo sow o he e lees

    I he sh y he il, o rohe wg or he o lp y s sles igh he sow is Cwsshehe oe oly slighy wh he sos o hs sepsl he ws r p he ril, o o sigh herig The oe ow he rl, soppig oly o si he loo-sp he h le eh

    By he e By rese he rge he o eel he p orler he lee his he he soppe shor o he sl lokhe h l o ls l He hel reh o sow he wheezg whe soppe, s o hs ol sp whg he rs illgh o he sky gow row. He loe his g whe low

    l he sh r he sw hrogh oes o sow heghos ligh Fro he holow og yelps e o he rge The ws epy

    Beh hi soehig re i he lees he e hshe sowly herg he oes hs ek k I he rowlgh he e o he roe rs o ol og he h pye eore hey sol he l oe o he hoow Soehg srre ps r wy o h p he rge Fro he ygo he ogs elow he ws sre ws ox

    wee he los he hls hg he s, og seogh o rk kg he sow gise o he rhes Whe

    he looke wy o he s hs eyes were rw he oolshow o eer sg gs he yelow ro o suligh

    He oe sowly, lig he g o his e ig o heshow eore he ose spere o he hoow he sw sh o oee He r o he ple where he eer h s here ws o loo He ke he il oy e yrs o

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    SOS O C D PACAKwee it le It ws oe wit pik lip o wo ee sole, bt o bloo

    Wokig qiky, e spit e i teos tee te wit

    stige, oiste e o low ib He t oss tetot, boo ippe ito te sow bt s e te kiep te bey, soetig isie te ss jolte, oe gistte kie poit He kept ttig, we te gts sgge ot sqiig lp e t is eet

    He kike te bo w sie, isoete te oes gts,

    sie o te iqtes let te est o te ss ll ote seges to He i tee s slies o lie sie ite sow to

    W oe boo be is spit kkles e wse tewit sow, eebei wy e it e Joso o spikig O M Coxs ol He beg to lg He ol seeO M Cox seig is e o Sit e lge skigis e.

    He bit o piee o te oo w lie, s it jie betweeis teet, wte te toes o te w i te stey sowHe o ot wit to p te wte t te ie tooow,

    ge s e igie te ook o Ctiss e Stike ettee oe oe

    o te ige tee by te ogs te t wte,witig o te to ee

    2

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    A ROOM FORVR

    BCAUS o New Yers ge e big roo eig-dolr rooBu i sees sler n beore nd siing by e window

    ooing ou on e rin nd own I now e wiing es egin I sould neer sow up in ese ie rier owns unily ug pus in bu I wys coe erly wi wch peope one sree Ou ere por ps icer ioe bounce eir igup o he peen wis eeings color. A ew peoplew long in e drizzle bu ey don sop o loo ino cepsop windows

    Awys ps e srees see e rier in pces beween buildings nd e bc oins o rier re osed by is oggy rinBu on e rier is wys e se Tooow srs noeron on e rier en on on nd ony e les we ellwi cnge wrp round oer ies nd oer nes Bu erewill be e se crew on he Der e se duy or eigeen

    ours dy nd prey soon ere won be es For now Iwi wc e wind wip in ono e pnes nd bur e glss.

    I pug in e o pe or coee loo roug e pper orsoeing o do bu ere is no wresing or boxing or onighnd een he bowing ey is cosed or New Yers couldybe go down o br on irs Aenue sor o ie one on buno i I he o wc brge rs nd w e we seel edge

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    SORS OF C Dj PANCAoorrow. Beer o buy pn n wsey yse no n erysc beer no o n bou gong ou.

    I down y coee oo soon bu y ou Nong eer

    goes jus e wy sou I gure s y bc w NewYers s sr rg only I n bc on pes wed n e Ny n ow we pule ou e sops e yer we goo be so-es nd ees e eeng lousy o s ere nng bou pes n wor n e bby yer n e o woou yer I wn o u y ss ou o ere I e been nse

    oo ongI ge y jce nd wc cp en sn ouse y oor n

    g cgree. Te l n se re l up o eep wye wores n subebus Te oor cross e opens ne rg queen pees ou wns e Hppy New Yer Hecoses s oor quey n I cu loose c e oor sugee pn w y gu soles I er n ere ugng elugng becuse I one A e wy ow e srs I cner s ug He s rg I need won no jus ousycp I nee e lyng que er cp neer er oen I coe o e lobby ul o woen n od en I n

    ow s s ll e oe I e Mybe I e boug s roooreer I jus g no nee noer op er ong

    I sn uner e quee soe oo bc no e lobby e o crus I n ow l y osers wee o n os oe e by now Mybe 's beer ey re e or I g gobc n s e n crp er sye Tee woun be ny

    welre cec e o e now n I oo bg o be wppeI oss y cgee wc bob down e guerws n

    roug e ge I wl pobby be n e Msssspp beoree Delr. Mopng roun ese owns or nne ons s ee screwy; wng bges n secung ces n g wers ny go e own ere w e res o e crus Now you urs o e coee bu nd I on een eel le

    5

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    A RM FOREVERgettg sose wk ow the steet wt peope s tey pss tik how ee the ippies i tei og y ots wk ikethey he soepe to e I thik I gettg petty ow these

    o sows e sttg to ook goo. wk t I see ste t ito pssge etweetwo gs He hs got s et i i d e s s wyI stop to wth ths jkeegge t to spe ot s ppes oa e, t the eeze thog the pssge keeps stig is ppeso Its y to wth ths s hse ppes is od pis

    ot edy to od de h The issios wot et hi iese e s o et, so ths jke-egge hs to se hs ppestogt Petty soo tt exeise wi ke hi pke p ishet, I std g wit o tis to hppe t y gips whe I see he stig tht ooy

    She is jst gi oee, tee t she stes t e ikeshe kows wt I thikig wt witig to see wit tiso , she keeps ookg t e ike she s the Wt o Godo soethig. My eyes t to wth he o the se we keep y e o the ste, t I wt jst te se te ght o se s ot hippy He ot s oe ike ki

    who h hoe oe jes, e iot, pst s ohe he A she s wy too yog o tis tow te w wotpt p wth esh hike tis pe I tik se hs poy o tht type s to ge ot. I wk pst e pyo tteto the dk to dogt shop.

    Pie Ae sits t te ote tkig to hse, ig

    sty ges thogh is h e. His ski s yeowshese he teze his with oty-ot syste othe Cramer he he ws goo wie t ow e s jst go't sk, he is ity ses ke y wio o te steet

    I et y sike sp oee ook ot te wow T

    tkes the pties e iig p Tht gi wks y, ooks ithe stoeot t e ike se kows exty we gog to

    55

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    SORS OF RC D ANCAKetwee two ges lh It ges e the eeps d I eey oee go o soe whskey d p t whe I get otsde,she s dow the steet, gog towd the shty s o st

    Aee The lows p howl, whppg sheets o wte ogthe sidewlks I olow he t she gets to othe dooyMy wth p s soked, d wte stts g dow y ed ek t I go to he dooy, std the ookg the

    She sys, Yo wt to y e?

    std thee o log te tyg to ge t's oeooYo got ? I sy

    She shkes he hed, ooks oss the steet the p d dot

    Wel se e, t I wt soe oozeAll ght, I kow ple tht sels t, she sysI kow ette pe I wse to tht tk I ot

    ot to let he pp oll e Bt t gs e I 't gewht kd o pp woldt keep oo I she s wokg oeshe wot lst o dys eee the ops d the pps

    We go o do the steet to stte stoe It s good to he

    soeody to go og wth, t she ooks too seos, lke l shethks ot s the sess ed o ths y pt o JkDel's ty to joke Jk d e go wy k I sy t shets lke she t he e

    Whe we wk to the oy o the hote, two od e stop tkgto look t s thk how they st he the hots o he e

    e d I gd these ds e pyg tteto At y doo tke y te okg d hope the qee peeks ot, t hes o gettg ggeed We go , d I get s towe to d oke oee o the whskey

    Its e hee she sys

    Yeh They spy eg

    56

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    A ROOM OREVERo te st tie se sies nd tin ow se ougt to be

    o pyng js o soeting not uh good t ts, se sys. Te st guys ut

    e pett bd so wys sot o sed Tts beuse you n't ut out o tNo, ts ust need ple got to stop ong ound

    you nowYe n te wndow see ou gosts ginst te b gloss

    o glss. Se puts e ound e nd tin ow we ybe

    nee le te busness endyd you oe to e she sysYou looed t e nny ie you seen soeting wul ws

    gong to ppen to eShe ugs Well, didnt ws sizng you

    Ye. ust jitte tongt. ' seond te on tugts nd o dngeous Wht's seond te doEetng the ptn o st te won't do. t in't u

    o le Ten wy dont you just quit

    Soe tngs e wose Quits int te nswe Mye notHe nd on y ne teses e nto siing bout he, liing

    he Why dont you qut tyng to be ippy You in't got testu Youe bette tn tt

    t's nie you tn so, se sys loo t he, tn wt se oud be se d be o two

    But se wont get te ee. Nobody ee gets be oudtell e bout y ostes o te des n te wee oes, ndte wy tey looed t e wen tey put e on bus o notetown but t wouldnt e ny sense to e. tu o the ligt

    nd we undess get nto bed

    57

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    OR OF RC D PCAKe darkness is the best thing. There is no face no talk just

    warm skin something close and kind something to be lost in Butwhen take her know what ve got a little gils body that

    won't move om wear or pleasue a kid playing whore and feel ugly with he because of her force myself on her like therest kow am huing he but she will neve get any breaksShe whimpes and my body aches in spasms then after she curlsin a ball away om me and touch he. She is numb

    say "You could stay here this month mean if you wanted

    to could pay up the rent and you could get a real ob and payme back

    She ust lays there"Maybe you could get work uptown at Sears or Penneys"Why don't you ust shut-the-ck-up She climbs out of

    bed ust pay me o okay? get up nd my pants peel o enty and give it to her She

    doesn't look at the bill but gabs her coat ns out the door sit on the bed light a cigarette and my skin crawls to think

    what could happen to that gil; then tell myself it was just awaste of time and money think back to high school when was

    couing Jane Her paents le alone in the living room buthe poodle kept scewing at my leg Thee we wee ting to talkand her dog ust kept humping my leg. think d like to get acar and go back looking for that dog but it is always like that awaste of time and money

    snipe my cigarette lay back on the bed with the liht on ad

    think about Prince Albe with siker cmbs in his beard coeestains on his shi think how thee must be ten of his kind ineve to do to the delta and how the odds on ending up thatway must be petty low Somethig goes screwy ad they gabthe wong wire make a stupid move on the locks But if nothiggoes wrong then they are on fo a month o fo a month ad ifthey are lucky they can live that way the est of the days

    58

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    A O dess and go ou again is si aining and he cod pave

    men shines wih new ice. Beeen he buidings he bums aeseeping n he ash hey have pie up, and I hink abou some

    nu in Caioia who cu winos hoas, bu I can see he pecenage he sumbebums ae ike Pince Abe, hey an ouo uck hi he skids

    u ono Fis Avenue, wak sowy by he ow o cowedaves, ook in he windows a a he ucky peope geing paiedup o New Yeas hen I see he siing a a abe nea he back

    doo. I go in, ake a soo a he ba, oe a whiskey nea hesmoke coud is hea, bu I see he eecion in he mio behind he ba Fom he way he mouh is hanging imp I see sheis pey dunk. on guess she knows she can ink heway o o his.

    ook aoun A hese peope have come do om heiops becase hee ae no paies o hem o go o. hey aesanges who pay a ie poo o pinba, ink a ie booze Ayea hey gi hei eeh hey pmp gas an wai abes andscew chippies and bai quees, and hey on ike any o i, buheyknow hey ae ucky o ge i.

    ook o he in he mio bu she is gone woud haveseen he going ou he on, so I head o he back doo o ooko he. She is siing agains a biing in he ain, passe ouco When shake he, I see ha she has cu boh wiss owno he eaes, bu he co ain has coed he bood so ha onya ie oozes ou when move he. I go back insie

    "hees some gi ou back ied o ki heseFo gys a he ba n ou o he, ca he insie. he

    baene gabs he phone He says o me, you know he? say, "No. jus wen o some ai I go on o he doohe baene yes, "Hey, budy he cops wan o see you;

    hey, buy wak aong he avenue hinking how shi aways sinks and

    9

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    SOS OF C D PANCAKow all these tos dump their shit for the river to push it downto the delta. Then think about that girl sitting in the alley, sittingin her own slough, and I shake my head I have not gotten that

    lowI stop in ont of the bus station look in on the waiting peopleand think about all the places they are going But I kow theycan't run away om it or drink their way out of it or die to getrid of it It's always there you just look at somebody and theygive you a look like the Wrath of God toward the docks

    walk do to see if the Delr maybe put in early

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    FOX NRS

    pssig o utum igt eft o r o te ptcl rk bctop of te secodry rod tt ed to Pris Agry ooze o igt beg to crest te este is boe te oowd sift be ze troug te bc bowes o iig o brcesA sm wid siered, d sycmore ees cttered cross tepemet t were stopped by te gtig-gree orcrd grsso te berm

    Te opossm y quiety y te rodside Se d od oded f ims i wic to buid er witer de ot ee e empty oe Se pced er yog cross te rod d ito

    te ees were te ete crcss o oter opossum ySe did ot puse for sig or setimet

    Metcic Se stopd ire Se uered i tigt er gistte groud, er yog cutcig coser to er r Sot, rytmess umpigs excited er bood d se sk ower Wit dyd dger dcig fer ws bsig i er s se bced c

    tiosy ito iger brus rom er idig se wtced giteemy scuig o te bctop d red gow bocig brigtyi te remt of er igt

    fet tis to be te roy time o is dy tese sprse soitmomets we te rest of te word ws eiter goig to ed or otp yet He ws oe kew te power i sigurity yet wsid o it security crwsed troug is oo, eig

    6

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    O O C D Cim powerless again Soon e began a convesation to make theight seem coser to the road

    "Coee, he said to himself

    "Yeah, and Lucy, toosie, he answeed"And putin"Yeah and he quickened his pace, imitating a tain"Pintane, tane, putane, p, wooooThe opossum crouched lower Her uneady yet bo, o

    pring clung to her bely, nudging to nuse

    His pace lagged back Maybe Lucy was a whore, but how in theell woud he know? He liked the way she leaned ove the gilsowing slip and gates, and knowing it still, acting vaguely embarassed He liked the way she would cock her head to the rightnod solemnly, brows pused in winkled thought, while he takedabout cities he had seen on Or about his dad, who sucked souc mine gas, hey ad to bu im closed-con because ewas bue as eans woud live out a reckess verbal uewith Lucy She listened Occasionally she advised Once he wasgoing to n o to ew Yok and get educated Just chuck it al,eave is mother, and get educated in ew York He had fet sily

    and ashamed wen Lucy said to nis high schoo st Timeslike that, e le the dinette convinced Lucy was a whoe

    Fom up the road, e coud hea the mble of Enoch's tcknstinctivey he jumped over the embankment, slipped into thebs, and squatted A hiss came om within the bsh ued to see a gay-white form in the fog beside him It looke

    like a giant rat wit eyebows They staed neither wanting anya o te other the opossum ozen beeen acting dead orrunning, crouching lower as the headights neaed It wasnly two more miles to Parkins, but if Enoch saw him he woudstop ten would be "crazy boy at the gaage fo another weekue e would rater walk than ride with his boss

    2

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    OX SThe ck lattered by, it pk wrecker rig wgg, eati

    pedulum o puey, hook ad cable. uzipped hi pat ad ped wth oze opoum eye

    ookg o. Steam roe om the pudde, ad he huddered itdred to itegle wth the bue mt He bega wadg leaveup the embakmet

    he tamped the ohad ga at the be, aothe ckcould be head up the road, ad he ought the uge to de backdow the lope He could ot expa why he wated to walk, or

    wa he cea he wated to walk aymoe He tepped oto thepavemet eelg ted ad moved a ew pa ut headgh h path, howg up the hghway team ad makg the road gvebh to ltte ghot beeath h eet.

    The truck thudeed up behd the let thee hghptchedwhie pece the road pt o the mog wated o thetuk to top Whe t dd a voe aed Gt e gt obe.

    whled to look at the dve but oud h eye da tothe whte oblivo o the headght. B wa a he wa abe toay a h eye made ed ad pupe dot appea the lght

    el ye You bld

    looked to the gay hl to dag h atteto om the lght,ad owly remembeed every detal o Luy body a it dtegated to h ba Beat ha Jeu Cht, how log hadhe tood i that ght lke a oo Bl woud tel evebody that Holy wa out o h goddaed md He goped to the tuck,rubbg the ed dot to hi eye wth h had

    Gt i, ad Bl whle h eye expoed wth the amety he had oe ued to eah a twoheaded al or ttheaoud ether head gave a ltte gh a he clbed ito thek cab ad B poued wth the queto You k

    ut ot awake yet led He et poeoal about lyg,ad oce tated, would ot top Moma ovelept Got me up

    6

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    SORS OF RC Dj PACAKan ot withot coee an ha ee Sai I wa late to worWhat time i it Bil Qetion an compex entence haleae were the geat hiel o lia. Bill tie hi witwatch

    then neere at the ky a i T Bk aght Al ha beeno ay o on it nie cheeTen abter eben he gowe poning hi han againt the

    wheel"Shit yele watching Bil jmp a little "Bt Enoch

    pobaby ain't there yet. He alway late. Din't come in lat Sat

    ay til eleven."Ain't none o y bizwhack Bil nappe "By go I min

    my o bizwhack Bt knew Bill wol remember thia a goip gi to a bore wie.

    "' talkin' to Lary p to the Union Hal ai Bill exper

    imenting hamelly "an' he ay yer abeite ong' that amnRockin Ribe' " Roin' on the River'? Qetion on't give oe he thoght

    beie the ong' "Pro Ma"Stpi ong Yo oghta know bette. ai nothing

    "Son' like that' er a ibe to. We ain't got no riber inPakin.

    "Got the Elk in Uph Watch thi pothole The trck jotetwice "Ge it' eat p the whoe roa Bil ha to think toemembe whee he ha et o Ek?

    "The Ek ain't nothin to ing abot he cacke. "Now Mere

    agga he can te ya "Smatte Bi ain't yo po to be a Wet Viginian?"Se goammit bt a ong ike that e ebeboy ebe

    whee Yo jt ont iten to no goo t o ya? ette back in hi eat tck hi eet ne the heate an

    once hey were wa enogh to eel co ecie why he ikeLcy: he wa a genine peon

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    FO ERSn the silence, the opossum thae, an as carelly slippn

    up the bank snin afer the aner once so close t pause nthe sycamore leaves an et orchar rass then scutere cros

    the blacktop an back into the oos the ay it ha come t salmost moin

    When Bills truck toppe he al rae into Parkins the sunha alreay beun to ricochet om the este slopes n theease hills cast a ray shao over the ton From that re

    coul see ho as up an ho asnt by the postions o yellosquares o liht on the houses ucy as n the ktchen o heborinhouse, her tenants in the bathrooms The o Duncnsisters ho i nothn, rose early to et on ith it They osseabout their neihbors mostly about ucy She oe them thouht she like to be talke about

    Bronie Ross as openn hs eneral store near the ilrotuin on lihts raisin blins, shovelin col nto the stoe onere hy Broie opene early Enh t Broenever sol anythin bier than quartersack o nals beoenoon an i your car broke o, you have to lk to Prkns

    or a phoneBill orke or the railroa station manae n Luc

    boare the e men the reopene mine emane so both h to beup an oin by six Enoch opene early because Broe i nBronie as ust ol Mons chane ve little in Pkns

    Just let me o at the borinhouse Bll. ant cup

    coee"Ant none of y b-hacks Bill snappe the ck stoppe

    besie the lauhin yello bear BrakesnAlnment s. Outof the truck tue to thank the rver but Aint none oyors nether" as re back at him The tck umpe oa

    an let the lurch shut the oor He alke to the araeooino an peeke in: the yello niht-liht as still bun the

    65

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    THE STORES O REECE DJ PANCAE

    orkshop bench still scattere ith tools an parts from the nihtbefore. The reen Doe as one

    Musta one somethin riht he thouht they rove her aay.

    Neither Enoch nor recker ere i siht The portent of Billsattack hit home Enoch as up to tricks aai but only the meere suppose to kno Not even the anels i heaven shall knothe hour of his comin" Bo lauhe as he entere the oppressivesmell of re clay rease an asoline He straihte the toolbench, ase locke up an heae for ucys

    The boarinhouse as uly t loome three stories staihtup om the at hollobasin as plain an ponerous as the eatboulers Bo ha seen on estes Noise echoe throuh itsalls souns of plumbin malnctions an boarer isarements O the back a leanto ha bee converte into a inette

    sie reiscovere the aromas of breakfast Ten minersere eatin ucy as packin their lunches in arch-toppe tiboxes Bo saere to the jukebox punche F-6 in eantremembrance of Bill a sauntere to the counter But oboyha atche as h thouht they oul have ke Tuers bassvoice chante the rhythm; Tina hispere i

    ucy colly aske if he ante coee. He i ot anser, butot his coee anay The miners left an the stra bosses cameo nlike their me ho hispere labor an safety secresthe sta bosses ate alone an silently

    ithra atche them He onere hy he coul notclaim ki to men by toleratin their music their cars their fox

    huntin but he e scab of inierence to keep aaysociability

    Whe the foreme left, ucy relle Bos cup. Too many co