full

“Fireside Meeting at the Pride Festival” by Friends of the Fireplace

Today’s story is a collaborative piece with contributions by Pascal Farful, Norm, the Inadequate Cat, Marshe Summers, and Rob MacWolf.

Read by Dralen, the Dapper Dragonfox, Rhubarb, Feathered Starfarer, Cross, a Composed Hyena, Icefang, in the Cozy Corner of the Cafe, and Rob MacWolf, Werewolf Hitchhiker.

This concludes, for this year, Pride Month. But Pride, like the fire around which we tell our stories, is inextinguishable. So please return, perhaps next week as we resume our regular schedule, for another story, another time. You can find more stories on the web at thevoice.dog, or find the show wherever you get your podcasts. Happy Pride, and Thank you, friends of every shape, ability, gender, and species, for listening to The Voice of Dog.

thevoice.dog | Apple podcasts | Spotify | Google Podcasts

If you have a story you think would be a good fit, you can check out the requirements, fill out the submission template and get in touch with us.

https://thevoice.dog/episode/fireside-meeting-at-the-pride-festival-by-friends-of-the-fireplace

Transcript
Speaker:

You’re

Speaker:

listening

Speaker:

to

Speaker:

Pride

Speaker:

Month

Speaker:

on

Speaker:

The

Speaker:

Voice

Speaker:

of

Speaker:

Dog.

Speaker:

Today’s

Speaker:

story

Speaker:

is

Speaker:

a

Speaker:

collaborative

Speaker:

piece

Speaker:

with

Speaker:

contributions

Speaker:

by

Speaker:

Pascal

Speaker:

Farful,

Speaker:

Norm,

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

Inadequate

Speaker:

Cat,

Speaker:

Marshe

Speaker:

Summers,

Speaker:

and

Speaker:

Rob

Speaker:

MacWolf.

Whatever

Speaker:

else

Speaker:

Pride

Speaker:

is—riot,

Speaker:

festival,

Speaker:

debauchery—it

Speaker:

is

Speaker:

communal.

Speaker:

All

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

things

Speaker:

it

Speaker:

is,

Speaker:

all

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

things

Speaker:

we

Speaker:

need

Speaker:

it

Speaker:

for,

Speaker:

these

Speaker:

work

Speaker:

only

Speaker:

if

Speaker:

we

Speaker:

stand

Speaker:

together.

Speaker:

All

Speaker:

that

Speaker:

we

Speaker:

hope

Speaker:

to

Speaker:

accomplish,

Speaker:

we

Speaker:

must

Speaker:

accomplish

Speaker:

as

Speaker:

a

Speaker:

community.

Speaker:

Alone,

Speaker:

our

Speaker:

pride

Speaker:

can

Speaker:

be

Speaker:

broken

Speaker:

and

Speaker:

humiliated.

Speaker:

But

Speaker:

if

Speaker:

we

Speaker:

take

Speaker:

pride

Speaker:

in

Speaker:

eachother,

Speaker:

then

Speaker:

it

Speaker:

is

Speaker:

a

Speaker:

flame

Speaker:

inextinguishable.

Speaker:

For

Speaker:

five

Speaker:

years

Speaker:

now,

Speaker:

at

Speaker:

this

Speaker:

fireside,

Speaker:

we

Speaker:

have

Speaker:

told

Speaker:

stories,

Speaker:

and

Speaker:

some

Speaker:

of

Speaker:

those

Speaker:

stories

Speaker:

have

Speaker:

been

Speaker:

about

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

fireside

Speaker:

and

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

stories

Speaker:

we

Speaker:

tell

Speaker:

there, and

Speaker:

how

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in

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

telling

Speaker:

they

Speaker:

may

Speaker:

become

Speaker:

an

Speaker:

unreachable

Speaker:

refuge,

Speaker:

an

Speaker:

exodus

Speaker:

route,

Speaker:

and

Speaker:

a

Speaker:

thing

Speaker:

enduring

Speaker:

beyond

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

grasp of

Speaker:

time

Speaker:

and

Speaker:

space.

Speaker:

We

Speaker:

will

Speaker:

make

Speaker:

no

Speaker:

explicit

Speaker:

claims,

Speaker:

here,

Speaker:

as

Speaker:

to

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

plausibility

Speaker:

of

Speaker:

any

Speaker:

hopes

Speaker:

this

Speaker:

may

Speaker:

seem

Speaker:

to

Speaker:

express,

Speaker:

and

Speaker:

instead

Speaker:

say

only:

only:

let

only:

those

only:

of

only:

us

only:

who

only:

hope,

only:

hope

only:

bravely

only:

and

only:

together.

only:

And

only:

let

only:

this

only:

year’s

only:

final

only:

Pride

only:

Month

only:

story

only:

be

only:

one

only:

written,

only:

and

only:

told,

only:

and

only:

we

only:

hope

only:

heard,

only:

by,

only:

for,

only:

and

only:

as

only:

a

only:

community.

Read

only:

by

only:

Dralen, the

only:

Dapper

only:

Dragonfox,

only:

Rhubarb,

only:

Feathered

only:

Starfarer, Cross,

only:

a

only:

Composed

only:

Hyena,

only:

Icefang,

only:

in

only:

the

only:

Cozy

only:

Corner

only:

of

only:

the

only:

Cafe,

only:

and

only:

Rob MacWolf,

only:

Werewolf

only:

Hitchhiker.

Please

only:

enjoy


“Fireside

only:

Meeting

only:

at

only:

the

only:

Pride

only:

Festival”

It

only:

was

only:

not

only:

dark.

only:

Perhaps

only:

some

only:

places,

only:

but

only:

not

only:

here.

only:

Perhaps

only:

some

only:

nights,

only:

but

only:

not

only:

tonight.
This

only:

night

only:

there

only:

were

only:

lights

only:

strung

only:

between

only:

every

only:

tree,

only:

in

only:

every

only:

color

only:

imaginable.

only:

There

only:

were

only:

streetlights,

only:

and

only:

lighted

only:

windows.

only:

There

only:

was

only:

light

only:

spilling

only:

from

only:

the

only:

doorway

only:

of

only:

every

only:

bar,

only:

every

only:

theatre,

only:

every

only:

club,

only:

every

only:

bubble

only:

tea

only:

shop.

only:

The

only:

scantily

only:

clad

only:

crowds, of

only:

every

only:

age,

only:

shape,

only:

ability

only:

and

only:

gender,

only:

wore

only:

body

only:

paint that

only:

shone

only:

neon

only:

in

only:

the

only:

visible

only:

light

only:

and

only:

fluoresced

only:

under

only:

the

only:

blacklights,

only:

of

only:

which

only:

there

only:

was

only:

no

only:

shortage.

only:

As

only:

if

only:

an

only:

innumerable

only:

myriad

only:

of

only:

voices

only:

had

only:

each

only:

said,

only:

let

only:

there

only:

be

only:

light,

only:

and

only:

there

only:

were

only:

lights,

only:

and

only:

all

only:

the

only:

flags,

only:

of

only:

all

only:

colors

only:

of

only:

the

only:

rainbow

only:

and

only:

beyond,

only:

caught

only:

the

only:

light

only:

like

only:

stained

only:

glass,

only:

like

only:

paper

only:

lanterns,

only:

like

only:

thunderclouds.
The

only:

little

only:

fire,

only:

in

only:

a

only:

rusty

only:

steel

only:

grill

only:

in

only:

a

only:

corner

only:

of

only:

the

only:

city

only:

park,

only:

was

only:

inconspicuous

only:

not

only:

because

only:

it

only:

was

only:

isolated

only:

or

only:

remote,

only:

but

only:

because

only:

it

only:

was

only:

only

only:

one

only:

light

only:

in

only:

an

only:

uncountable

only:

multitude.
“Was

only:

only

only:

last

only:

year

only:

they

only:

were

only:

still

only:

raiding

only:

the

only:

bars

only:

for ‘lewd

only:

conduct,’”

only:

the

only:

scruffily-dressed

only:

werewolf

only:

was

only:

facing

only:

the

only:

main

only:

ground of

only:

the

only:

park,

only:

away

only:

from

only:

the

only:

fire,

only:

toward

only:

the

only:

fountain,

only:

the

only:

playgrounds,

only:

and

only:

the

only:

rugby

only:

field. “Was only

only:

five

only:

years

only:

ago

only:

they

only:

were

only:

tear

only:

gassing

only:

folks

only:

where

only:

we

only:

stand

only:

now.”

only:

It

only:

was

only:

not

only:

immediately

only:

apparent

only:

to

only:

whom

only:

he

only:

was

only:

speaking. “Only

only:

ten

only:

years

only:

ago that

only:

it

only:

was

only:

made

only:

legal

only:

to

only:

marry.

only:

Only

only:

thirty

only:

years

only:

ago

only:

the

only:

man

only:

this

only:

park

only:

was

only:

named

only:

after

only:

was

only:

laid

only:

to

only:

rest.

only:

Only

only:

fifty-six

only:

years

only:

ago

only:

they

only:

threw

only:

the

only:

first

only:

brick.”

only:

He

only:

turned

only:

to

only:

the

only:

fire,

only:

as

only:

if

only:

to

only:

an

only:

audience,

only:

but

only:

as

only:

yet

only:

he

only:

was

only:

apparently

only:

still

only:

alone. “There’s

only:

not

only:

a

only:

one

only:

of

only:

them

only:

as

only:

doesn’t

only:

have

only:

a

only:

memory

only:

of

only:

living

only:

in

only:

a

only:

world

only:

determined that

only:

folk

only:

like

only:

them,

only:

folk

only:

like

only:

us,

only:

weren’t

only:

to

only:

be

only:

allowed

only:

to

only:

exist.”
“It’s

only:

all

only:

real…”

only:

The

only:

Hyena

only:

with

only:

the

only:

Guitar

only:

slung

only:

over

only:

his

only:

shoulder

only:

hadn’t

only:

been

only:

there

only:

a

only:

moment

only:

ago,

only:

surely. “Uh,

only:

momentous,

only:

I

only:

guess.”

only:

He

only:

seemed

only:

distracted.
“You

only:

were

only:

looking

only:

at

only:

the

only:

guys

only:

with

only:

their

only:

shirts

only:

off.”
The

only:

Hyena’s

only:

eyes

only:

would

only:

have

only:

gone

only:

wider

only:

if

only:

they

only:

hadn’t

only:

already

only:

been

only:

as

only:

wide

only:

as

only:

possible.
“It’s

only:

fine!”

only:

the

only:

Hitchhiker

only:

snorted, “That’s

only:

the

only:

point

only:

of

only:

it

only:

too!

only:

Just

only:

don’t

only:

forget, the

only:

fire’ll

only:

take

only:

you

only:

where

only:

you

only:

need

only:

to

only:

be

only:

but

only:

it

only:

requires

only:

a

only:

story

only:

told

only:

in

only:

exchange

only:

and

only:

fellowship.”
“I

only:

know,

only:

I

only:

know…”

only:

The

only:

Hyena

only:

sat

only:

back

only:

on

only:

a

only:

nearby

only:

bench,

only:

idly

only:

tapping

only:

no

only:

melody

only:

in

only:

particular

only:

on

only:

the

only:

strings. “I

only:

just

only:

never

only:

had

only:

a

only:

chance

only:

to

only:

go

only:

to

only:

one-a

only:

these

only:

before,

only:

and

only:

I

only:

heard

only:

there

only:

was

only:

this

only:

magic

only:

that’d

only:

get

only:

me

only:

there,

only:

and-”
“And so

only:

you

only:

did

only:

the

only:

magic

only:

without

only:

understanding

only:

what

only:

it

only:

meant

only:

or

only:

how

only:

it

only:

worked,”

only:

said

only:

a

only:

voice

only:

from

only:

above,

only:

and

only:

a

only:

fox

only:

swooped

only:

out

only:

of

only:

the

only:

night

only:

on

only:

graceful

only:

draconic

only:

wings.
“He

only:

wouldn’t

only:

be

only:

the

only:

first,”

only:

the

only:

Werewolf

only:

Hitchhiker

only:

nodded

only:

to

only:

the

only:

new

only:

arrival.
“And

only:

won’t

only:

be

only:

the

only:

last,”

only:

came

only:

another

only:

voice

only:

from

only:

the

only:

darkness,

only:

at

only:

the

only:

very

only:

corner

only:

of

only:

the

only:

park.

only:

A

only:

wolf

only:

emerged

only:

from

only:

the

only:

empty

only:

air,

only:

bringing

only:

with

only:

him

only:

the

only:

faint

only:

smell

only:

of

only:

coffee,

only:

of

only:

fresh

only:

bread,

only:

and

only:

of

only:

crisp,

only:

never-yet-been

only:

opened,

only:

mass

only:

market

only:

paperbacks. “You

only:

did

only:

tell

only:

him,”

only:

he

only:

stared

only:

hard

only:

at

only:

the

only:

Hitchhiker, “that

only:

it

only:

can

only:

take

only:

him

only:

to

only:

more

only:

fantastical

only:

places

only:

though,

only:

right?”
“More

only:

fantastical

only:

than

only:

a

only:

pride

only:

festival?”

only:

The

only:

Hyena

only:

grinned.
“Is

only:

this

only:

the

only:

rendezvous?"

only:

called

only:

a

only:

new

only:

voice,

only:

from

only:

above.

only:

As

only:

if

only:

dropping

only:

from

only:

an

only:

invisible

only:

rope,

only:

a

only:

figure

only:

in

only:

a sailor’s

only:

tricorn

only:

and

only:

oxygen

only:

mask

only:

landed atop

only:

the

only:

picnic

only:

table

only:

before

only:

peeling

only:

both

only:

off

only:

and

only:

shaking

only:

out

only:

a

only:

mass

only:

of

only:

crimson

only:

feathers. “Sorry

only:

if

only:

I’m

only:

late,

only:

was

only:

leeward

only:

of

only:

Orion

only:

when

only:

I

only:

felt

only:

the

only:

fire

only:

appear.”
The

only:

Well Dressed

only:

Fox

only:

and

only:

the

only:

Wolf

only:

in

only:

the

only:

Corner

only:

looked

only:

at

only:

the

only:

Hyena

only:

as

only:

if

only:

silently

only:

debating

only:

which

only:

of

only:

them

only:

would

only:

get

only:

to

only:

say ‘I

only:

told

only:

you

only:

so.’
“You’re

only:

just

only:

in

only:

time,”

only:

but

only:

the

only:

Hitchhiker

only:

gave

only:

them

only:

no

only:

chance, “to

only:

tell

only:

the

only:

first

only:

story.”
The

only:

view

only:

out

only:

the

only:

back

only:

window

only:

made

only:

my

only:

heart ache.

only:

There

only:

wasn’t

only:

much

only:

room

only:

to

only:

garden

only:

in

only:

our

only:

rental,

only:

but

only:

my

only:

partner

only:

Corbin

only:

had

only:

taken

only:

a

only:

few

only:

scrapes

only:

of

only:

soil

only:

and

only:

convinced

only:

a

only:

row

only:

of

only:

marigolds

only:

to

only:

grow

only:

in

only:

them.

only:

It

only:

was

only:

impossible

only:

to

only:

look

only:

at

only:

a

only:

burst

only:

of

only:

color

only:

and

only:

beauty

only:

without

only:

thinking

only:

of

only:

the

only:

gray

only:

feline.
Whenever

only:

he

only:

ran

only:

late,

only:

my

only:

eyes

only:

were

only:

drawn

only:

to

only:

the

only:

outside

only:

world,

only:

eager

only:

to

only:

catch

only:

a

only:

glimpse

only:

of

only:

him

only:

coming

only:

home.
But

only:

the

only:

room had

only:

only

only:

one

only:

window.

only:

I

only:

could

only:

only

only:

look

only:

back

only:

at

only:

the

only:

flowers

only:

and

only:

trust

only:

that

only:

Corbin

only:

would

only:

return

only:

safely.

only:

Whenever

only:

he

only:

was

only:

out,

only:

I

only:

always

only:

looked

only:

the

only:

wrong

only:

way.

only:

Two

only:

stories

only:

of

only:

old

only:

families,

only:

older

only:

wood, and

only:

a

only:

vague

only:

sense

only:

of

only:

propriety

only:

stood

only:

between

only:

me

only:

and

only:

the

only:

road.
So

only:

I

only:

looked

only:

at

only:

his

only:

flowers

only:

and

only:

turned

only:

an ear

only:

back

only:

to

only:

the

only:

door.
Most

only:

of

only:

the

only:

time

only:

the

only:

quiet

only:

offered

only:

us

only:

a

only:

wonderful

only:

sense

only:

of

only:

privacy

only:

and

only:

protection.

only:

As

only:

the

only:

world

only:

beyond

only:

our

only:

walls

only:

grew

only:

more

only:

unpredictable,

only:

I

only:

learned

only:

to despise the silence. The latch should have clicked and he should have opened the

only:

door.

only:

Yet

only:

the

only:

unwelcome

only:

emptiness

only:

lingered,

only:

stretching

only:

on

only:

from

only:

one

only:

moment

only:

into

only:

the

only:

next.

only:

Seconds

only:

turned

only:

to

only:

minutes

only:

and

only:

I

only:

couldn’t

only:

stop

only:

thinking

only:

that

only:

this

only:

was

only:

the

only:

time

only:

he

only:

wasn’t

only:

coming

only:

back.
The

only:

click

only:

of

only:

the

only:

key

only:

twisted

only:

the

only:

fear

only:

in

only:

my

only:

heart

only:

into

only:

joy.

only:

With

only:

a

only:

creak,

only:

the

only:

door

only:

swung

only:

in

only:

and a

only:

short

only:

gray

only:

cat

only:

with

only:

white

only:

freckles

only:

on

only:

his

only:

cheeks

only:

entered.
“Welcome

only:

home,”

only:

I

only:

said.
Corbin

only:

dropped

only:

his

only:

bag

only:

beside

only:

the

only:

shoe

only:

rack

only:

and

only:

pushed

only:

into

only:

my

only:

arms,

only:

his

only:

thin

only:

tail

only:

flicking

only:

about

only:

with

only:

glee.
“You’re

only:

awful

only:

pleased

only:

to

only:

see

only:

me,”

only:

he

only:

said,

only:

lifting

only:

his

only:

cheek

only:

from

only:

my

only:

black-furred

only:

chest.
“Always,”

only:

I

only:

purred.

only:

I

only:

brushed

only:

my

only:

pads

only:

over

only:

Corbin’s

only:

cheek.

only:

The

only:

tom

only:

flinched

only:

when

only:

I

only:

touched

only:

beneath

only:

his

only:

ear.
“What

only:

happened?”

only:

I

only:

frowned,

only:

pulling

only:

my

only:

paw

only:

away.
“It’s

only:

nothing.

only:

I

only:

banged

only:

into

only:

a

only:

bookshelf,

only:

that’s

only:

all.”
“It’s

only:

not

only:

nothing

only:

if

only:

you’re

only:

that

only:

tender.”

only:

I

only:

licked

only:

Corbin’s

only:

ear. “Banging

only:

on

only:

a

only:

bookshelf,

only:

and

only:

you

only:

didn’t

only:

think

only:

to

only:

invite

only:

me?”
My

only:

partner’s

only:

laughter

only:

traveled

only:

across

only:

the

only:

room.

only:

All

only:

of

only:

our

only:

lives

only:

were

only:

tucked

only:

between

only:

that

only:

bed,

only:

the

only:

desks

only:

that

only:

doubled

only:

as

only:

tables,

only:

and

only:

the

only:

little

only:

kitchenette

only:

we

only:

built

only:

beside

only:

the

only:

window.
Corbin

only:

glanced

only:

between

only:

the

only:

chairs

only:

and

only:

the

only:

bed

only:

before

only:

choosing

only:

to

only:

sit

only:

on

only:

the

only:

edge

only:

of

only:

the

only:

latter. “It’s

only:

not

only:

like

only:

I

only:

fell

only:

in

only:

battle

only:

or

only:

something.”
I

only:

jumped

only:

up

only:

beside

only:

him,

only:

throwing

only:

my

only:

arm

only:

around

only:

his

only:

shoulders.

only:

I

only:

tried

only:

not

only:

to

only:

think

only:

about

only:

how

only:

we’d

only:

met—Corbin

only:

covered

only:

in

only:

bruises,

only:

some

only:

showing

only:

through

only:

bare

only:

spots

only:

where

only:

the

only:

fur

only:

had

only:

been

only:

torn

only:

from

only:

his

only:

pelt.

only:

I

only:

promised

only:

myself

only:

I’d do

only:

whatever

only:

it

only:

took

only:

to

only:

ensure

only:

Corbin

only:

never

only:

experienced

only:

that

only:

again.
“I

only:

know

only:

it’s

only:

stupid,

only:

but

only:

whenever

only:

you’re

only:

running

only:

late,

only:

I

only:

imagine

only:

the

only:

worst,”

only:

I

only:

said.
Corbin

only:

brushed

only:

the

only:

tips

only:

of

only:

his

only:

claws

only:

down

only:

my

only:

belly. “Because

only:

I’m

only:

not

only:

as

only:

big

only:

as

only:

you?”
“You

only:

can

only:

take

only:

care

only:

of

only:

yourself,”

only:

I

only:

said. “I

only:

know

only:

that.

only:

My

only:

heart

only:

worries,

only:

though.

only:

I

only:

can’t

only:

help

only:

it.”
I

only:

thought

only:

Corbin

only:

might

only:

take

only:

some

only:

offense

only:

to

only:

my

only:

protective

only:

instinct,

only:

but

only:

the

only:

tom

only:

only

only:

laughed

only:

before

only:

resting

only:

his

only:

weight

only:

against

only:

me

only:

and

only:

urging

only:

me

only:

back

only:

onto

only:

the

only:

covers.
“What’s

only:

so

only:

funny?”

only:

I

only:

asked.
Corbin

only:

shook

only:

his

only:

head,

only:

purring

only:

with

only:

amusement. “I

only:

struggled

only:

with

only:

it,

only:

too.

only:

For

only:

a

only:

long

only:

time,

only:

I

only:

couldn’t

only:

stop

only:

reliving

only:

that

only:

moment.

only:

Those

only:

people

only:

were

only:

gone,

only:

but

only:

they

only:

were

only:

still

only:

with

only:

me,

only:

you

only:

know?

only:

I’d

only:

see

only:

them

only:

every

only:

time

only:

I

only:

passed

only:

through

only:

Fairview.

only:

Sometimes

only:

I’d

only:

catch

only:

glimpses

only:

of

only:

them

only:

in

only:

the

only:

alley.

only:

I

only:

got

only:

tired

only:

of

only:

letting

only:

them

only:

control

only:

me.

only:

I

only:

had

only:

to

only:

let

only:

go

only:

of

only:

the

only:

fear

only:

so

only:

I

only:

could

only:

move

only:

on.”

only:

He

only:

pushed

only:

closer,

only:

nuzzling

only:

until

only:

his

only:

forehead

only:

rested

only:

beneath

only:

my

only:

chin. “So

only:

I’m

only:

fine.

only:

It’s

only:

just

only:

a

only:

little

only:

bruise,

only:

okay?”
“I

only:

still

only:

prefer

only:

you

only:

without

only:

the

only:

bumps,”

only:

I

only:

said,

only:

nibbling

only:

at

only:

his

only:

ear

only:

tips. “Maybe

only:

I

only:

like

only:

worrying

only:

about

only:

you

only:

a little

only:

bit,

only:

hm?

only:

You

only:

ever

only:

consider

only:

that?”
“Oh,

only:

I’ve

only:

been

only:

so inconsiderate,”

only:

Corbin

only:

teased

only:

me

only:

back. “I

only:

don’t

only:

mind

only:

being

only:

greeted

only:

at

only:

the

only:

door

only:

like

only:

that, but

only:

you’re

only:

going

only:

to

only:

have

only:

to

only:

let

only:

go

only:

of

only:

what

only:

happened

only:

sooner

only:

or

only:

later.”
Neither

only:

of

only:

us

only:

spoke

only:

for

only:

a

only:

while.

only:

I

only:

listened

only:

to

only:

Corbin’s

only:

breath

only:

steadily

only:

and

only:

fall.

only:

It

only:

was

only:

much

only:

steadier

only:

than

only:

mine,

only:

still

only:

shivering

only:

from

only:

fear

only:

and

only:

excitement.

only:

His

only:

scent

only:

always

only:

made

only:

me

only:

a

only:

little

only:

excitable,

only:

but

only:

it

only:

wasn’t

only:

the

only:

right

only:

time

only:

to

only:

grab

only:

him.
“Maybe

only:

next

only:

year

only:

I’ll

only:

plant

only:

daisies,”

only:

said

only:

Corbin.

only:

He

only:

rolled

only:

against

only:

my

only:

side

only:

so

only:

he

only:

could

only:

look

only:

at

only:

his

only:

garden.

only:

I

only:

followed

only:

his

only:

imagination

only:

another

only:

year

only:

into

only:

the

only:

future

only:

and

only:

didn’t

only:

mind

only:

being

only:

there,

only:

as

only:

long

only:

as

only:

we

only:

were

only:

there

only:

together.
“How

only:

about

only:

you

only:

plant

only:

something

only:

I

only:

can

only:

eat

only:

next

only:

time?”

only:

I

only:

groused,

only:

tugging

only:

his

only:

leg

only:

over

only:

mine. “Pretty

only:

as

only:

your

only:

flowers

only:

are.”
Corbin

only:

kissed

only:

my

only:

whiskers

only:

and

only:

smiled. “Why

only:

not?

only:

I

only:

can

only:

make

only:

some

only:

room,

only:

maybe

only:

grow

only:

you

only:

one

only:

whole

only:

potato.”
“Now

only:

we’re

only:

talking,”

only:

I

only:

rumbled.
It

only:

wasn’t

only:

always

only:

easy

only:

to

only:

be

only:

with

only:

my

only:

kitten,

only:

but

only:

when

only:

it

only:

was

only:

it

only:

was

only:

incredible.

only:

We

only:

spoke

only:

each

only:

other’s

only:

thoughts

only:

without

only:

fearing

only:

how

only:

the

only:

other

only:

would

only:

react.

only:

Every

only:

touch

only:

of

only:

his

only:

fur

only:

against

only:

mine

only:

was

only:

pure

only:

electricity.
Maybe

only:

I

only:

can’t

only:

keep

only:

myself

only:

from

only:

worrying,

only:

I

only:

thought,

only:

but

only:

I

only:

can

only:

let

only:

go

only:

for

only:

you

only:

now

only:

and

only:

then.
“What’s

only:

on

only:

your

only:

mind?”

only:

asked

only:

Corbin.

only:

He

only:

was

only:

too

only:

familiar

only:

with

only:

the

only:

furrow

only:

of

only:

my

only:

whiskers

only:

worrying

only:

over

only:

his

only:

face.

only:

It

only:

was

only:

almost

only:

as

only:

if

only:

he

only:

could

only:

read

only:

my

only:

mind

only:

at

only:

times.
“Thinkin’

only:

about

only:

giving

only:

that

only:

bookshelf

only:

a

only:

shot,”

only:

I

only:

said.
“You’re

only:

terrible,”

only:

he

only:

laughed.
“Sure

only:

am.”

only:

I

only:

wrapped

only:

my

only:

arms

only:

around

only:

him

only:

and

only:

pulled

only:

him

only:

up

only:

against

only:

me. “I’m

only:

real

only:

lucky

only:

to

only:

have

only:

a

only:

cat

only:

like

only:

you

only:

looking

only:

out

only:

for

only:

me.”
What

only:

a

only:

perfect

only:

view,

only:

I

only:

thought,

only:

looking

only:

through

only:

his

only:

silvery

only:

fur

only:

and

only:

to

only:

the

only:

blooming

only:

marigolds.

only:

No

only:

matter

only:

how

only:

out

only:

of

only:

control

only:

the

only:

world

only:

felt,

only:

Corbin

only:

always

only:

managed

only:

to

only:

grab

only:

a

only:

piece

only:

of

only:

it

only:

and

only:

make

only:

it

only:

beautiful

only:

just

only:

by

only:

being

only:

in

only:

it.
“Happy

only:

ending, huh?”

only:

said

only:

the

only:

Wolf

only:

in

only:

the

only:

Corner.

only:

The

only:

firelight,

only:

formerly

only:

a

only:

natural

only:

orange,

only:

had

only:

begun

only:

darkening

only:

to

only:

red

only:

when

only:

it

only:

flickered.
“There

only:

was

only:

clearly

only:

some

only:

not-so-happy

only:

stuff

only:

in

only:

that

only:

past,

only:

though,”

only:

the

only:

Fox

only:

said. “Besides,

only:

who’s

only:

gonna

only:

bring

only:

a

only:

depressing

only:

story

only:

tonight?”
“I’m

only:

just

only:

saying,”

only:

said

only:

the

only:

Wolf, “sometimes

only:

it’s

only:

more

only:

complex

only:

than

only:

happily

only:

ever

only:

after.”
“The

only:

fact

only:

you’re

only:

making

only:

this

only:

many

only:

excuses,”

only:

the

only:

feathery

only:

star-sailor

only:

snorted, “makes

only:

me

only:

wonder

only:

if

only:

you’re

only:

sure

only:

about

only:

your

only:

own

only:

story.”
The

only:

Wolf

only:

in

only:

the

only:

Corner

only:

raised

only:

his

only:

brows. “That

only:

a

only:

challenge?”
“You

only:

want

only:

one?”
“Alright,

only:

that’s

only:

enough

only:

of

only:

that!” the

only:

Hitchhiker

only:

interjected. “You’re

only:

settin’

only:

a

only:

bad

only:

example

only:

for

only:

the

only:

new

only:

kid.

only:

Go

only:

on

only:

and tell

only:

your

only:

story,

only:

instead

only:

of

only:

bickering

only:

about

only:

it.”
“Fine,” the

only:

wolf

only:

in

only:

the

only:

corner

only:

huffed.
Blessed

only:

are

only:

the

only:

poor.

only:

Not

only:

the

only:

poor

only:

in

only:

spirit,

only:

for

only:

naught

only:

there

only:

is

only:

less

only:

blessed

only:

than

only:

paucity

only:

of

only:

spirit,

only:

but

only:

the

only:

truly

only:

poor,

only:

for

only:

they

only:

have

only:

nothing

only:

to

only:

lose

only:

but

only:

their

only:

chains.
And

only:

it

only:

came

only:

to

only:

pass

only:

that

only:

Juan,

only:

on

only:

being

only:

cast

only:

out

only:

by

only:

those

only:

who

only:

would

only:

not

only:

receive

only:

his

only:

name,

only:

went

only:

out

only:

into

only:

the

only:

world,

saying:

“Hitherto

saying:

have

saying:

I

saying:

called

saying:

thee

saying:

my

saying:

father

saying:

and

saying:

mother

saying:

on

saying:

earth,

saying:

but

saying:

now

saying:

I

saying:

say

saying:

unto

saying:

thee,

saying:

I

saying:

shall

saying:

be

saying:

myself

saying:

my

saying:

own

saying:

Father,

saying:

that

saying:

the

saying:

Father

saying:

and

saying:

I

saying:

may

saying:

be

saying:

One,

saying:

and

saying:

Mother

saying:

shall

saying:

I

saying:

have

saying:

none

saying:

but

saying:

those

saying:

who

saying:

have

saying:

gone

saying:

before

saying:

me.

saying:

For

saying:

I

saying:

was

saying:

not

saying:

come

saying:

to

saying:

bring

saying:

peace,

saying:

but

saying:

the truth,

saying:

that

saying:

shall

saying:

set

saying:

parent

saying:

against

saying:

child.”

saying:

And

saying:

he

saying:

went

saying:

forth

saying:

in

saying:

solitude.
Blessed

saying:

are

saying:

they

saying:

that

saying:

grieve,

saying:

for

saying:

they

saying:

shall

saying:

receive

saying:

Rest

saying:

From

saying:

Grieving.
For

saying:

forty

saying:

days

saying:

and

saying:

nights

saying:

Juan

saying:

was

saying:

in

saying:

the

saying:

wilderness,

saying:

in

saying:

the

saying:

alleys,

saying:

and

saying:

beneath

saying:

the

saying:

overpasses,

saying:

and

saying:

the

saying:

subway

saying:

stations,

saying:

and

saying:

like

saying:

many

saying:

of

saying:

us

saying:

had

saying:

no

saying:

place

saying:

to

saying:

lay

saying:

his

saying:

head.

saying:

But

saying:

the

saying:

many-colored

saying:

flame

saying:

was

saying:

with

saying:

him,

saying:

and

saying:

warmed

saying:

him,

saying:

even

saying:

as

saying:

it

saying:

burned

saying:

away

saying:

all

saying:

of

saying:

him

saying:

that

saying:

was

saying:

yet

saying:

mortal

saying:

as

saying:

had

saying:

too

saying:

the

saying:

saints

saying:

and

saying:

prophets

saying:

of

saying:

old

saying:

been

saying:

immolated.
And

saying:

the

saying:

sunset

saying:

descended

saying:

upon

saying:

him,

saying:

and

saying:

all

saying:

blindness

saying:

was

saying:

lifted

saying:

from

saying:

him,

saying:

and

saying:

a

saying:

voice

saying:

from

saying:

the

saying:

coldest

saying:

region

saying:

of

saying:

night

saying:

said

saying:

unto

saying:

him “What

saying:

thou

saying:

hast

saying:

cleansed, let

saying:

none

saying:

call

saying:

unclean.

saying:

What

saying:

thou

saying:

hast

saying:

joined

saying:

together,

saying:

let

saying:

no

saying:

law

saying:

put

saying:

asunder.

saying:

What

saying:

thou

saying:

art,

saying:

thou

saying:

shalt

saying:

ever

saying:

be,

saying:

world

saying:

without

saying:

end.

saying:

Amen.”
Blessed are the

saying:

Proud,

saying:

for

saying:

they

saying:

shall

saying:

inherit

saying:

the

saying:

Month

saying:

of

saying:

Highest

saying:

Summer,

saying:

and

saying:

take

saying:

Pride

saying:

therein.
Then

saying:

did

saying:

Juan

saying:

Dark

saying:

go

saying:

among

saying:

the

people:

people:

in

people:

the

people:

bars,

people:

in

people:

the

people:

brothels,

people:

and

people:

in

people:

the

people:

bathhouses.

people:

And

people:

some

people:

who

people:

saw

people:

him

people:

were

people:

amazed,

people:

saying

people:

to

people:

one

people:

another, “Is

people:

this

people:

not J---a,

people:

whose

people:

father

people:

and

people:

mother

people:

we

people:

know?

people:

How

people:

then

people:

can

people:

he

people:

say “I

people:

myself

people:

am

people:

my

people:

Father,

people:

and

people:

Mother

people:

I

people:

have

people:

none?”

people:

But

people:

others

people:

saw

people:

him

people:

as

people:

he

people:

was,

people:

and

people:

understood,

people:

and

people:

received

people:

him,

people:

and

people:

by

people:

this

people:

were

people:

those

people:

who

people:

were

people:

truly

people:

of

people:

the

people:

family

people:

known.
Blessed are the Naked, for

people:

their

people:

light

people:

shall

people:

be

people:

hidden

people:

not

people:

but

people:

shall

people:

Glorify

people:

them.
And

people:

as

people:

many

people:

were

people:

gathered

people:

to

people:

him,

people:

to

people:

them

people:

did

people:

Juan

people:

say “Who

people:

do

people:

they

people:

say that I

people:

am?”
They

people:

answered

people:

him “Some

people:

say

people:

Saint

people:

Michael,

people:

Saint

people:

Margaret,

people:

or

people:

Saint

people:

Catherine.

people:

Some

people:

say

people:

Saint

people:

Sebastian.

people:

Some

people:

say

people:

you

people:

are

people:

the

people:

Publick

people:

Universal

people:

Friend.

people:

Still

people:

others

people:

say

people:

you

people:

are

people:

the

people:

Emperor

people:

Elagabalus,

people:

both

people:

and

people:

neither

people:

male

people:

and

people:

female,

people:

beloved

people:

of

people:

the

people:

Sun,

people:

firstfruits

people:

of

people:

the

people:

Tree

people:

of

people:

Life.

people:

And

people:

still

people:

others

people:

say

people:

Apollo

people:

or

people:

Horus,

people:

Balder

people:

or Erzulie

people:

or

people:

Gawain, or

people:

another

people:

of

people:

the

people:

Old

people:

Gods.”
And

people:

then

people:

he

people:

asked, “And

people:

who

people:

do

people:

you

people:

say

people:

that

people:

I

people:

am?”
And

people:

they

people:

answered, “None

people:

but

people:

yourself.”
Blessed

people:

are

people:

the

people:

Impure

people:

of

people:

Heart,

people:

for

people:

they

people:

shall

people:

not

people:

suffer

people:

doubt.
Then

people:

did

people:

Juan

people:

go

people:

through

people:

the

people:

city,

people:

and

people:

all

people:

his

people:

disciples

people:

with

people:

him,

people:

and

people:

many

people:

cast

people:

garments of

people:

every

people:

kind

people:

and

people:

color

people:

upon

people:

the

people:

road

people:

before

people:

him,

people:

crying

people:

out “Glory

people:

in

people:

the

people:

highest,

people:

for

people:

we

people:

are

people:

here,

people:

and

people:

we

people:

are

people:

ourselves,

people:

and

people:

behold,

people:

all

people:

things

people:

shall

people:

be

people:

made

people:

anew!”
And

people:

there

people:

were

people:

some

people:

who

people:

rebuked

people:

them,

people:

saying “What

people:

company

people:

of theives

people:

and prostitutes is this?”
But

people:

Juan

people:

Dark

people:

said

people:

to

people:

them “If

people:

we

people:

are

people:

thieves

people:

and

people:

prostitutes,

people:

then

people:

thieves

people:

and

people:

prostitutes

people:

have

people:

entered

people:

the

people:

kingdom

people:

of

people:

heaven

people:

ahead

people:

of

people:

you.”
And

people:

others

people:

demanded

people:

they

people:

cease,

people:

and

people:

deny all

people:

they

people:

had

people:

said

people:

and

people:

done,

people:

and

people:

live

people:

as

people:

others

people:

do.

people:

But

people:

Juan

people:

Dark

people:

said

people:

to

people:

them “It

people:

would

people:

be

people:

better

people:

to

people:

die

people:

than

people:

to

people:

deny

people:

the

people:

works

people:

of

people:

whatever

people:

god

people:

has

people:

made

people:

us

people:

as

people:

we

people:

are.”
And

people:

others

people:

demanded

people:

they

people:

be

people:

silent,

people:

saying, “This

people:

is

people:

unseemly,

people:

this

people:

is

people:

unworthy,

people:

how

people:

shall

people:

we

people:

explain

people:

this

people:

to

people:

our

people:

children?”
“I

people:

know

people:

not

people:

who

people:

it

people:

is

people:

that

people:

has

people:

appointed

people:

you,”

people:

Juan

people:

Dark

people:

said

people:

to

people:

them, “judge

people:

over

people:

the

people:

likes

people:

of

people:

us.

people:

Beware,

people:

lest

people:

it

people:

is

people:

your

people:

judgement

people:

that

people:

be

people:

found

people:

unseemly,

people:

and

people:

unworthy,

people:

and

people:

your

people:

own

people:

children

people:

demand

people:

explanation

people:

when

people:

comes

people:

their

people:

own

people:

turn

people:

for

people:

judgement!”
Blessed

people:

are

people:

those

people:

who

people:

Hunger

people:

and

people:

Thirst,

people:

for

people:

the

people:

dead

people:

who

people:

hunger

people:

and

people:

thirst

people:

no

people:

more

people:

shall

people:

indeed

people:

envy

people:

them.
And

people:

it

people:

came

people:

to

people:

pass

people:

that

people:

those

people:

whom

people:

Juan

people:

loved

people:

were

people:

gathered

people:

together

people:

in

people:

one

people:

place.

people:

And

people:

they

people:

took

people:

wine

people:

together,

people:

for

people:

it

people:

was

people:

the

people:

final

people:

week

people:

of

people:

the

people:

Festival

people:

of

people:

Pride,

people:

and

people:

Juan

people:

knew

people:

his

people:

hour

people:

was

come:

come:

having

come:

loved

come:

his

come:

own

come:

who

come:

were

come:

in

come:

the

come:

world,

come:

he

come:

loved

come:

them

come:

to

come:

the

come:

end.
And

come:

he

come:

opened

come:

himself

come:

to

come:

them,

come:

saying “Take

come:

of

come:

this,

come:

all

come:

of

come:

you,

come:

and

come:

delight

come:

in

come:

it.

come:

This

come:

is

come:

my

come:

body,

come:

which

come:

is

come:

given

come:

up

come:

for

come:

you,

come:

and

come:

whoever

come:

tastes

come:

my

come:

flesh

come:

shall

come:

live

come:

in

come:

me,

come:

and

come:

I

come:

in

come:

him.

come:

Do

come:

this

come:

in

come:

memory of

come:

me.”
Blessed

come:

are

come:

those

come:

persecuted

come:

for

come:

Lewd

come:

Conduct,

come:

who

come:

are

come:

rejected

come:

and

come:

insulted

come:

therefore,

come:

and

come:

have

come:

every

come:

kind

come:

of

come:

evil

come:

said

come:

against

come:

them,

come:

for

come:

theirs

come:

is

come:

the

come:

kingdom

come:

of

come:

Conquering

come:

Cold,

come:

of

come:

Sunset,

come:

and

come:

of

come:

Many-Colored

come:

Flame.
And

come:

there

come:

came

come:

a

come:

company

come:

of

come:

Dukes

come:

and

come:

Dauphins,

come:

of

come:

Preachers

come:

and

come:

Bishops,

come:

and

come:

of

come:

Policemen,

come:

bearing

come:

swords,

come:

and

come:

chains,

come:

and

come:

tear

come:

gas

come:

and

come:

riot-suppression

come:

gear.

come:

And

come:

Juan

come:

Dark

come:

said

come:

to

come:

them “Who is it

come:

you

come:

want?”
“J---a,”

come:

they

come:

answered.

come:

And

come:

he

come:

made

come:

no

come:

reply,

come:

for

come:

that

come:

was

come:

not

come:

his

come:

name.
Again

come:

he

come:

said

come:

to

come:

them “Who

come:

is

come:

it

come:

you

come:

want?”
“J---a,”

come:

they

come:

replied.
“There

come:

is

come:

none

come:

here

come:

by

come:

that

come:

name,”

come:

Juan

come:

said, “but

come:

if

come:

you

come:

are

come:

seeking

come:

me,

come:

let

come:

all

come:

of

come:

these

come:

go.”
Blessed are

come:

those

come:

that

come:

Love,

come:

and

come:

those

come:

that

come:

are

come:

Beloved,

come:

for

come:

in

come:

their

come:

midst

come:

there

come:

is

come:

the

come:

Holy

come:

Spirit.
So

come:

Juan

come:

was

come:

tried

come:

and

come:

condemned

come:

for

come:

Heresy,

come:

for

come:

Witchcraft,

come:

and

come:

for

come:

Refusing

come:

To

come:

Wear

come:

Women’s

come:

Garments,

come:

and

come:

led

come:

forth

come:

to

come:

the

come:

place

come:

of

come:

execution.

come:

There

come:

was

come:

he

come:

tied

come:

to

come:

a

come:

stake

come:

to

come:

be

come:

burned.
He

come:

looked

come:

upon

come:

those

come:

that

come:

were

come:

gathered,

come:

and

come:

said

come:

to

come:

them “Weep

come:

not

come:

for

come:

me.

come:

No

come:

death

come:

can

come:

change

come:

the

come:

truth

come:

of

come:

who

come:

and

come:

what

come:

I

come:

am.

come:

Rather

come:

I

come:

shall

come:

leave

come:

behind,

come:

merely,

come:

all

come:

but

come:

that

come:

truth.

come:

And

come:

truth

come:

is

eternal:

eternal:

there

eternal:

shall

eternal:

come

eternal:

a

eternal:

day

eternal:

when

eternal:

you

eternal:

shall

eternal:

be

eternal:

with

eternal:

me

eternal:

in

eternal:

Paradise.”
And

eternal:

when

eternal:

he had

eternal:

said

eternal:

these

eternal:

things,

eternal:

behold,

eternal:

the

eternal:

flames

eternal:

were

eternal:

transfigured

eternal:

into

eternal:

all

eternal:

colors

eternal:

imaginable,

eternal:

and

eternal:

they

eternal:

rose

eternal:

even

eternal:

up

eternal:

into

eternal:

heaven,

eternal:

and

eternal:

the

eternal:

glory

eternal:

thereof

eternal:

was

eternal:

too

eternal:

great

eternal:

for

eternal:

the

eternal:

sight

eternal:

of

eternal:

any

eternal:

to bear.
But

eternal:

it

eternal:

is

eternal:

said

eternal:

that

eternal:

to

eternal:

this

eternal:

day,

eternal:

whenever

eternal:

two

eternal:

or

eternal:

more

eternal:

of

eternal:

us are

eternal:

met

eternal:

together,

eternal:

the

eternal:

presence

eternal:

of

eternal:

Juan

eternal:

Dark,

eternal:

and

eternal:

others

eternal:

who

eternal:

like

eternal:

him

eternal:

have

eternal:

gone

eternal:

before

eternal:

us,

eternal:

is

eternal:

there

eternal:

as

eternal:

if

eternal:

in

eternal:

tongues

eternal:

of

eternal:

many-colored

eternal:

flame.
Amen.
“So

eternal:

like,”

eternal:

the Hyena

eternal:

had

eternal:

taken

eternal:

a

eternal:

seat

eternal:

on

eternal:

the

eternal:

grass and

eternal:

was

eternal:

tapping

eternal:

his

eternal:

guitar

eternal:

thoughtfully, “the

eternal:

stories

eternal:

are

eternal:

supposed

eternal:

to

eternal:

be…

eternal:

what?

eternal:

Cause

eternal:

the

eternal:

first

eternal:

one’s

eternal:

happy,

eternal:

and

eternal:

I

eternal:

guess

eternal:

I’d

eternal:

call

eternal:

the

eternal:

second

eternal:

empowering.

eternal:

I’m

eternal:

not

eternal:

sure

eternal:

I

eternal:

get

eternal:

the,

eternal:

like,

eternal:

theme.

eternal:

Where

eternal:

they’re

eternal:

supposed

eternal:

to

eternal:

be

eternal:

going.”
“Just

eternal:

up,”

eternal:

the

eternal:

Well Dressed

eternal:

Fox

eternal:

reassured

eternal:

him. “The

eternal:

stories

eternal:

are

eternal:

just

eternal:

supposed

eternal:

to

eternal:

end

eternal:

looking

eternal:

up,

eternal:

that’s

eternal:

all.”
“Especially

eternal:

these

eternal:

ones,”

eternal:

interjected

eternal:

the

eternal:

Star-Sailor.
“I

eternal:

think

eternal:

I

eternal:

get

eternal:

it…”

eternal:

The

eternal:

Hyena

eternal:

narrowed his

eternal:

eyes.

eternal:

He

eternal:

looked

eternal:

deep

eternal:

into

eternal:

the

eternal:

fire

eternal:

where

eternal:

yellow

eternal:

flames

eternal:

had

eternal:

joined

eternal:

the

eternal:

sunset-orange

eternal:

and

eternal:

pomegranite-crimson

eternal:

ones.
“Howabout,”

eternal:

the

eternal:

Fox

eternal:

stretched

eternal:

his

eternal:

paws, “I

eternal:

give

eternal:

you

eternal:

another

eternal:

example.”
Shelby

eternal:

wore

eternal:

the

eternal:

same

eternal:

thing

eternal:

to

eternal:

Pride

eternal:

every

eternal:

year.

eternal:

The

eternal:

waifish

eternal:

cat

eternal:

buttoned

eternal:

up

eternal:

his

eternal:

two-toned

eternal:

seafoam

eternal:

and

eternal:

teal

eternal:

bowling

eternal:

shirt

eternal:

before

eternal:

knotting

eternal:

a

eternal:

pure

eternal:

white

eternal:

tie

eternal:

around

eternal:

its

eternal:

floppy

eternal:

collar.

eternal:

He

eternal:

threaded

eternal:

his

eternal:

light

eternal:

blue

eternal:

belt

eternal:

through

eternal:

the

eternal:

loops

eternal:

of

eternal:

his

eternal:

blue

eternal:

jeans.

eternal:

He

eternal:

slipped

eternal:

on

eternal:

his

eternal:

navy

eternal:

loafers.

eternal:

Finally

eternal:

he

eternal:

knocked

eternal:

the

eternal:

dust

eternal:

off

eternal:

his

eternal:

green

eternal:

newsboy

eternal:

cap -

eternal:

which

eternal:

he

eternal:

only

eternal:

wore

eternal:

to

eternal:

Pride,

eternal:

as

eternal:

it

eternal:

was

eternal:

too

eternal:

garish

eternal:

to

eternal:

wear

eternal:

on

eternal:

any

eternal:

other

eternal:

occasion -

eternal:

and

eternal:

secured

eternal:

it

eternal:

over

eternal:

his

eternal:

feline

eternal:

ears.

eternal:

He

eternal:

was,

eternal:

literally,

eternal:

wearing

eternal:

the ‘men

eternal:

loving

eternal:

men’

eternal:

pride

eternal:

flag.

eternal:

It

eternal:

was,

eternal:

in

eternal:

Shelby’s

eternal:

estimation,

eternal:

just

eternal:

silly

eternal:

enough

eternal:

to

eternal:

wear

eternal:

to

eternal:

a

eternal:

parade,

eternal:

whilst

eternal:

being

eternal:

subdued

eternal:

enough

eternal:

not

eternal:

to

eternal:

violate

eternal:

his

eternal:

personal

eternal:

sense

eternal:

of

eternal:

style.

eternal:

It

eternal:

was

eternal:

one

eternal:

thing

eternal:

to

eternal:

be

eternal:

proud,

eternal:

but

eternal:

it

eternal:

was

eternal:

quite

eternal:

another

eternal:

to

eternal:

be

eternal:

unfashionable.

eternal:

His

eternal:

boyfriend

eternal:

Curt

eternal:

waited

eternal:

patiently

eternal:

in

eternal:

the

eternal:

bedroom.

eternal:

The

eternal:

large

eternal:

bernese

eternal:

was

eternal:

idly

eternal:

playing

eternal:

with

eternal:

the

eternal:

knot

eternal:

on

eternal:

his

eternal:

pink,

eternal:

yellow,

eternal:

and

eternal:

cyan

eternal:

flag

eternal:

cape.
“Do

eternal:

you

eternal:

ever

eternal:

feel

eternal:

like

eternal:

a

eternal:

total

eternal:

phony?”

eternal:

Shelby

eternal:

called

eternal:

out

eternal:

from

eternal:

his

eternal:

walk-in

eternal:

closet.
“Expand

eternal:

on

eternal:

that,”

eternal:

Curt

eternal:

prodded.
“This

eternal:

time

eternal:

of

eternal:

year,

eternal:

all

eternal:

you

eternal:

see

eternal:

are

eternal:

social

eternal:

media

eternal:

posts

eternal:

about

eternal:

how

eternal:

the

eternal:

first

eternal:

pride

eternal:

was

eternal:

a

eternal:

riot,

eternal:

and

eternal:

fighting

eternal:

for

eternal:

every

eternal:

inch

eternal:

of

eternal:

freedom.

eternal:

But

eternal:

these

eternal:

days

eternal:

it’s

eternal:

a

eternal:

big

eternal:

party.

eternal:

People

eternal:

bring

eternal:

their

eternal:

kids.

eternal:

Are

eternal:

we

eternal:

still

eternal:

fighting

eternal:

the

eternal:

good

eternal:

fight

eternal:

or

eternal:

are

eternal:

we

eternal:

just

eternal:

being

eternal:

self indulgent?”

eternal:

Shelby

eternal:

emerged

eternal:

from

eternal:

the

eternal:

closet,

eternal:

modeling

eternal:

his

eternal:

special

eternal:

Pride

eternal:

outfit. “How

eternal:

do

eternal:

I

eternal:

look,

eternal:

hmm?” he

eternal:

added

eternal:

as

eternal:

a

eternal:

non-sequitur.
“You

eternal:

look

eternal:

pretty

eternal:

gay,

eternal:

bro,”

eternal:

Curt

eternal:

joked.
“I’m

eternal:

serious,”

eternal:

Shelby

eternal:

frowned. “You

eternal:

and

eternal:

I

eternal:

were

eternal:

on

eternal:

the

eternal:

kiss

eternal:

cam

eternal:

at

eternal:

the

eternal:

baseball

eternal:

game

eternal:

last

eternal:

week.

eternal:

I

eternal:

know

eternal:

there

eternal:

are

eternal:

still

eternal:

people

eternal:

who

eternal:

want

eternal:

to

eternal:

erase

eternal:

us,

eternal:

but

eternal:

I

eternal:

feel

eternal:

pretty

eternal:

accepted

eternal:

these

eternal:

days.

eternal:

Don’t

eternal:

you

eternal:

ever

eternal:

feel

eternal:

like

eternal:

a

eternal:

big

eternal:

phony?”
“Yeah,

eternal:

man.

eternal:

Sometimes.”
“Expand

eternal:

on

eternal:

that,”

eternal:

Shelby

eternal:

said

eternal:

flatly.
“Listen,

eternal:

we’ve

eternal:

never

eternal:

talked

eternal:

about

eternal:

dating

eternal:

history…”
“Because

eternal:

that

eternal:

doesn’t

eternal:

matter

eternal:

to

eternal:

me,”

eternal:

Shelby

eternal:

interrupted.
“...We’ve

eternal:

never

eternal:

talked

eternal:

about

eternal:

dating

eternal:

history,”

eternal:

Curt

eternal:

continued, “but

eternal:

I’ve

eternal:

never

eternal:

been

eternal:

with

eternal:

anyone

eternal:

but

eternal:

cis

eternal:

men.

eternal:

All

eternal:

guys.

eternal:

I’ve

eternal:

never

eternal:

even

eternal:

fooled

eternal:

around

eternal:

with

eternal:

a

eternal:

woman

eternal:

or

eternal:

non-binary

eternal:

person.”
“That

eternal:

doesn’t

eternal:

make

eternal:

you

eternal:

any

eternal:

less

eternal:

pan,

eternal:

Curt.

eternal:

You

eternal:

know

eternal:

better

eternal:

than

eternal:

that.”
“Exactly.

eternal:

I

eternal:

do

eternal:

know

eternal:

better

eternal:

than

eternal:

that.

eternal:

But

eternal:

it’s

eternal:

still

eternal:

hard.

eternal:

There’s

eternal:

still

eternal:

a

eternal:

voice

eternal:

in

eternal:

my

eternal:

head

eternal:

that

eternal:

says ‘you’re

eternal:

wearing

eternal:

this

eternal:

identity

eternal:

like

eternal:

a

eternal:

coat,

eternal:

this isn’t

eternal:

really

eternal:

you.’”

eternal:

Curt

eternal:

went

eternal:

on, “I

eternal:

have

eternal:

to

eternal:

fight

eternal:

against

eternal:

those

eternal:

feelings

eternal:

when

eternal:

they

eternal:

pop

eternal:

up.

eternal:

Because

eternal:

you’re

eternal:

right,

eternal:

I

eternal:

do

eternal:

know

eternal:

better.

eternal:

And

eternal:

so

eternal:

do

eternal:

you.

eternal:

I’m

eternal:

grateful

eternal:

we

eternal:

don’t

eternal:

have

eternal:

it

eternal:

as

eternal:

bad

eternal:

as

eternal:

the

eternal:

queers

eternal:

who

eternal:

came

eternal:

before

eternal:

us.

eternal:

I’m

eternal:

glad

eternal:

we

eternal:

get

eternal:

to

eternal:

be

eternal:

a

eternal:

bit

eternal:

more

eternal:

free

eternal:

than

eternal:

they

eternal:

were.

eternal:

I’m

eternal:

not

eternal:

going

eternal:

to

eternal:

feel

eternal:

guilty

eternal:

about

eternal:

enjoying

eternal:

that

eternal:

privilege.

eternal:

And

eternal:

you

eternal:

shouldn’t

eternal:

feel

eternal:

guilty,

eternal:

either.”

eternal:

Curt

eternal:

got

eternal:

up

eternal:

from

eternal:

the

eternal:

bed

eternal:

and

eternal:

wrapped

eternal:

his

eternal:

powerful

eternal:

arms

eternal:

around

eternal:

his

eternal:

little

eternal:

cat

eternal:

boyfriend.

eternal:

Shelby

eternal:

felt

eternal:

instantly

eternal:

comforted,

eternal:

not

eternal:

just

eternal:

by

eternal:

the

eternal:

embrace,

eternal:

but

eternal:

by

eternal:

Curt’s

eternal:

words.

eternal:

He

eternal:

was

eternal:

right,

eternal:

of

eternal:

course.

eternal:

Shelby

eternal:

nuzzled

eternal:

into

eternal:

the

eternal:

thick

eternal:

fur

eternal:

of

eternal:

Curt’s

eternal:

chest,

eternal:

exposed

eternal:

by

eternal:

his

eternal:

low-cut

eternal:

tank

eternal:

top,

eternal:

and

eternal:

purred.
“Your

eternal:

flag

eternal:

is

eternal:

still

eternal:

ugly,”

eternal:

Shelby

eternal:

teased.
“You

eternal:

say

eternal:

that

eternal:

every

eternal:

year,”

eternal:

Curt

eternal:

whispered,

eternal:

not

eternal:

letting

eternal:

Shelby

eternal:

free

eternal:

of

eternal:

the

eternal:

hug.
“It’s

eternal:

true

eternal:

every

eternal:

year!

eternal:

Some

eternal:

colors

eternal:

don’t

eternal:

belong

eternal:

together!”

eternal:

Shelby

eternal:

protested,

eternal:

now

eternal:

squirming

eternal:

against

eternal:

Curt’s

eternal:

arms,

eternal:

pretending

eternal:

to

eternal:

try

eternal:

to

eternal:

free

eternal:

himself.

eternal:

Curt

eternal:

would

eternal:

not

eternal:

relent,

eternal:

holding

eternal:

the

eternal:

slender

eternal:

cat

eternal:

even

eternal:

tighter

eternal:

against

eternal:

his

eternal:

chest.
“Say

eternal:

you

eternal:

love

eternal:

the

eternal:

pan

eternal:

flag,”

eternal:

Curt

eternal:

said

eternal:

playfully.
“Never!”

eternal:

Shelby

eternal:

cried,

eternal:

continuing

eternal:

to

eternal:

struggle

eternal:

helplessly

eternal:

in

eternal:

the

eternal:

arms

eternal:

of

eternal:

the

eternal:

much

eternal:

larger

eternal:

man. “You

eternal:

look

eternal:

like

eternal:

printer

eternal:

ink!”
“Ohh,

eternal:

that’s

eternal:

it,

eternal:

you’re

eternal:

in

eternal:

trouble

eternal:

now!”

eternal:

Curt

eternal:

bellowed,

eternal:

rolling

eternal:

onto

eternal:

the

eternal:

bed

eternal:

behind

eternal:

him,

eternal:

feline

eternal:

boyfriend

eternal:

still

eternal:

enveloped

eternal:

in

eternal:

his

eternal:

arms.

eternal:

He

eternal:

gave

eternal:

Shelby

eternal:

a

eternal:

couple

eternal:

big

eternal:

gator

eternal:

rolls,

eternal:

as

eternal:

the

eternal:

two

eternal:

fell

eternal:

into

eternal:

giggles.

eternal:

Curt

eternal:

finally

eternal:

released

eternal:

his

eternal:

beloved

eternal:

feline,

eternal:

who

eternal:

rolled

eternal:

limply

eternal:

onto

eternal:

his

eternal:

side

eternal:

of

eternal:

the

eternal:

bed,

eternal:

though

eternal:

both

eternal:

were

eternal:

still

eternal:

wracked

eternal:

with

eternal:

silly

eternal:

laughter.

eternal:

After

eternal:

a

eternal:

few

eternal:

more

eternal:

moments,

eternal:

the

eternal:

pair

eternal:

caught

eternal:

their

eternal:

breath

eternal:

and

eternal:

were

eternal:

able

eternal:

to

eternal:

continue

eternal:

their

eternal:

conversation. “So

eternal:

it’s

eternal:

a

eternal:

party.

eternal:

So

eternal:

what?

eternal:

It’s

eternal:

OUR

eternal:

party.

eternal:

Maybe

eternal:

that’s

eternal:

our

eternal:

act

eternal:

of

eternal:

rebellion -

eternal:

partying

eternal:

and

eternal:

enjoying

eternal:

ourselves.”
“That’s

eternal:

our

eternal:

legacy

eternal:

as

eternal:

gays?

eternal:

Having

eternal:

a

eternal:

few

eternal:

too

eternal:

many

eternal:

gin

eternal:

and

eternal:

tonics

eternal:

on

eternal:

Main Street

eternal:

every

eternal:

June?”

eternal:

Shelby

eternal:

fired

eternal:

back,

eternal:

still

eternal:

not

eternal:

fully

eternal:

convinced.
“Oh,

eternal:

did

eternal:

you

eternal:

want

eternal:

me

eternal:

to

eternal:

drive?”
“I

eternal:

figured

eternal:

we’d

eternal:

walk.”
“Well

eternal:

then,

eternal:

yes.

eternal:

Your

eternal:

legacy

eternal:

will

eternal:

be

eternal:

having

eternal:

too

eternal:

many

eternal:

G&T’s

eternal:

on

eternal:

Main

eternal:

Street.

eternal:

Mine

eternal:

will

eternal:

be

eternal:

having

eternal:

too

eternal:

many

eternal:

beers.

eternal:

And

eternal:

then

eternal:

we’ll

eternal:

make

eternal:

out

eternal:

and

eternal:

hold

eternal:

hands

eternal:

and

eternal:

be,

eternal:

you

eternal:

know,

eternal:

real

eternal:

gay

eternal:

about

eternal:

it.”
“I

eternal:

can

eternal:

live

eternal:

with

eternal:

that.”
“Yeah?”
“Yeah.

eternal:

Let’s

eternal:

go

eternal:

to

eternal:

Pride.”
“Share

eternal:

a

eternal:

dart

eternal:

before

eternal:

we

eternal:

go?”

eternal:

Curt

eternal:

asked.
“I’d

eternal:

like

eternal:

that,”

eternal:

Shelby

eternal:

replied.

eternal:

The

eternal:

couple

eternal:

retired

eternal:

to

eternal:

the

eternal:

balcony

eternal:

to

eternal:

share

eternal:

a

eternal:

cigarette

eternal:

before

eternal:

walking

eternal:

downtown. “You

eternal:

know,”

eternal:

Shelby

eternal:

said,

eternal:

before

eternal:

taking

eternal:

a

eternal:

long

eternal:

drag. “You’re

eternal:

pretty

eternal:

smart

eternal:

about

eternal:

this

eternal:

gay

eternal:

stuff.”
“I’ve

eternal:

been

eternal:

practicing,”

eternal:

Curt

eternal:

said

eternal:

with

eternal:

a

eternal:

wink.

eternal:

He

eternal:

took

eternal:

the cigarette from Shelby and

eternal:

took

eternal:

a

eternal:

puff.
“Is

eternal:

that

eternal:

right?”

eternal:

Shelby

eternal:

asked,

eternal:

raising

eternal:

an

eternal:

eyebrow.
“Yeah,

eternal:

I’ve

eternal:

been

eternal:

taking

eternal:

online

eternal:

classes.”

eternal:

Curt

eternal:

smiled.
“I’ve

eternal:

seen

eternal:

your

eternal:

search

eternal:

history,

eternal:

Curt.

eternal:

There is

eternal:

nothing

eternal:

educational

eternal:

about

eternal:

those

eternal:

websites.”

eternal:

Shelby

eternal:

took

eternal:

the

eternal:

cigarette

eternal:

back

eternal:

from

eternal:

Curt.
“I

eternal:

disagree.

eternal:

I’ve

eternal:

been

eternal:

learning

eternal:

so

eternal:

much!”

eternal:

Curt

eternal:

protested.
“Oh

eternal:

yeah?

eternal:

Show

eternal:

me.”
Curt

eternal:

took

eternal:

the

eternal:

cigarette

eternal:

gently

eternal:

from

eternal:

Shelby’s

eternal:

paw

eternal:

and

eternal:

extinguished

eternal:

it

eternal:

in

eternal:

the

eternal:

ashtray

eternal:

without

eternal:

looking.

eternal:

His

eternal:

eyes

eternal:

were

eternal:

locked

eternal:

on

eternal:

Shelby’s

eternal:

as

eternal:

he

eternal:

drew

eternal:

close.

eternal:

He

eternal:

held

eternal:

Shelby’s

eternal:

jaw

eternal:

in

eternal:

his

eternal:

massive

eternal:

handpaw and

eternal:

tilted

eternal:

the

eternal:

cat’s

eternal:

head

eternal:

tenderly.

eternal:

He

eternal:

leaned

eternal:

in

eternal:

and

eternal:

locked

eternal:

muzzles

eternal:

with

eternal:

the

eternal:

feline,

eternal:

letting

eternal:

his

eternal:

tongue

eternal:

slip

eternal:

past

eternal:

his

eternal:

teeth

eternal:

to

eternal:

mingle

eternal:

with

eternal:

Shelby’s.

eternal:

An

eternal:

involuntary

eternal:

purr

eternal:

rumbled

eternal:

through

eternal:

the

eternal:

cat

eternal:

as

eternal:

his

eternal:

eyes

eternal:

closed

eternal:

and

eternal:

he

eternal:

leaned

eternal:

into

eternal:

the

eternal:

kiss.

eternal:

Curt

eternal:

withdrew,

eternal:

leaving

eternal:

Shelby

eternal:

helplessly

eternal:

leaning

eternal:

forward,

eternal:

aching

eternal:

for

eternal:

more.

eternal:

His

eternal:

eyes

eternal:

fluttered

eternal:

open. “How

eternal:

was

eternal:

that?”

eternal:

Curt

eternal:

asked

eternal:

seductively.
“You’re

eternal:

perfect,

eternal:

Curt.”

eternal:

Shelby purred. “Let’s

eternal:

skip

eternal:

Pride

eternal:

and

eternal:

make

eternal:

love.”
“But

eternal:

our

eternal:

legacies!”

eternal:

Curt

eternal:

cried

eternal:

in

eternal:

mock

eternal:

outrage.

eternal:

Shelby

eternal:

opened

eternal:

the

eternal:

porch

eternal:

door

eternal:

to

eternal:

go

eternal:

back

eternal:

inside.

eternal:

Over

eternal:

his

eternal:

shoulder,

eternal:

he

said:


“I’ll

said:

leave

said:

it

said:

up

said:

to

said:

you.

said:

Attend

said:

the

said:

parade

said:

or

said:

take

said:

me

said:

back

said:

to

said:

the

said:

bedroom.

said:

Either

said:

way,

said:

it’s

said:

going

said:

to

said:

be

said:

extremely

said:

gay.”

said:

Shelby

said:

left

said:

Curt

said:

to

said:

ponder

said:

his

said:

choice,

said:

swaying

said:

his

said:

hips

said:

deliberately

said:

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time the Hitchhiker had finished nodding to the Hyena,

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tell.



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before:

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Hyena, “The

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in:

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and

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species,

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for

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The

in:

Voice

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of

in:

Dog.

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About the Podcast

Show artwork for The Voice of Dog
The Voice of Dog
Furry stories to warm the ol' cockles, read by Rob MacWolf and guests. If you have a story that would suit the show, you can get in touch with @VoiceOfDog@meow.social on Mastodon, @voiceofdog.bsky.social on Blue Sky, or @Theodwulf on Telegram.

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