Governments Will Rise, And Governments Will Fall,

A Thousand Times Today I've Started To Open My Mouth, Started To Squeak Out, "can You Tell Me...? But Then I'd Look Into The Front Seat, At My Mother's Silent Shaking, My Father's Grim Profile, The Mournful Bags Under His Eyes, And All The Questions I Might Ask Seemed Abusive. Assault And Battery, A Question Mark Used Like A Club. My Parents Are Old And Fragile. I'd Have To Heartless To Want To Hurt Them.

...it’d Be Like Looking For A Needle In A Burning Haystack.' 'oh, I’ve Done That,' Mark Said Airily. 'it’s A Game We Used To Play, After We Got Rid Of All Our Livestock And Didn’t Need Our Hay No More. You Throw A Match Into The Haystack, Give The Fire A Three-second Head Start, And Begin Looking. You Can Find The Needle Every Time If You Work Quick

I Was Lucky Enough Not To Face Any Required Summer Reading Lists Until I Went To College. So I Still Think Of Summer As The Best Time To Read For Fun.

That Porch Is A Happy-looking Place, And My Father - Burdened, Stoop-shouldered, Cadaverously Thin - Doesn't Seem To Belong On It.

Oh, Myr," He Chokes Out. "i Hate Having To Ask This Of You..." He Glances Towards The Car Again, And I Crouch Down In The Shadows, Hoping It's Too Dark For Him To See Whether The Window Is Open Or Closed. The Woman Pats His Arm, Cradling Her Hand Against His Elbow. "you Know I'd Do Anything For You And Hil," She Says. I Like Her Voice. It's Throaty And Rich. "you'd Do Anything?" My Father Repeats Numbly. "even Now? After -?" "even Now," The Woman Says Firmly.