full
“Jumping to Conclusions” by TiberiusRings & Fruitz (read by Solomon)
A quiet lake. A coyote searching for meaning. A mysterious fox with a timeless smile. In a town that remembers what others forget, two strangers meet under summer’s fading light—and nothing will ever be the same.
It is with great pleasure, and indeed Pride, that we welcome you, friends of every shape, ability, gender, and species, once again to Pride Month. Today’s story is “Jumping to Conclusions,” a story about growth and choice by Tiberius Rings and Fruitz of Fruitzberg Press, co authors of the trilogy series, Come to Dust.
Read by Solomon Harries, Cuddly Badger Dad.
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/jumping-to-conclusions-by-tiberiusrings-fruitz
Transcript
You’re
listening
Speaker:to
Speaker:The
Speaker:Voice
Speaker:of
Speaker:Dog.
Speaker:It
Speaker:is
Speaker:with
Speaker:great
Speaker:pleasure,
Speaker:and
Speaker:indeed
Speaker:Pride,
Speaker:that
Speaker:we
Speaker:welcome
Speaker:you,
Speaker:friends
Speaker:of
Speaker:every
Speaker:shape,
Speaker:ability,
Speaker:gender,
Speaker:and
Speaker:species,
Speaker:once
Speaker:again
Speaker:to
Speaker:Pride
Speaker:Month.
Speaker:This
Speaker:is
Speaker:Rob MacWolf,
Speaker:your
Speaker:fellow
Speaker:traveler,
Speaker:and
Speaker:Today’s
Speaker:story
Speaker:is “Jumping
Speaker:to
Speaker:Conclusions,”
Speaker:a
Speaker:story
Speaker:about
Speaker:growth
Speaker:and
Speaker:choice
Speaker:by
Speaker:Tiberius Rings and
Speaker:Fruitz of
Speaker:Fruitzberg
Speaker:Press,
Speaker:co authors
Speaker:of
Speaker:the
Speaker:trilogy
Speaker:series,
Speaker:Come
Speaker:to
Speaker:Dust.
It
is
Speaker:well
Speaker:to
Speaker:begin
Speaker:Pride
Speaker:with
Speaker:a
Speaker:reflection
Speaker:on
Speaker:the
Speaker:past.
Speaker:Perhaps
Speaker:this
Speaker:year
Speaker:more
Speaker:than
Speaker:any
Speaker:other,
Speaker:as
Speaker:we
Speaker:face
Speaker:perhaps
Speaker:the
Speaker:most
Speaker:concerted
Speaker:attempt
Speaker:in
Speaker:decades
Speaker:to
Speaker:force
Speaker:all
Speaker:of
Speaker:us
Speaker:back
Speaker:into
Speaker:that
Speaker:past.
Speaker:But
Speaker:reflection
Speaker:on
Speaker:the
Speaker:past
Speaker:should
Speaker:be
Speaker:done not
Speaker:solely
Speaker:out
Speaker:of
fear:fear:
we
fear:can
fear:draw
fear:encouragement
fear:from
fear:the
fear:fact
fear:that,
fear:no
fear:matter
fear:how
fear:unjust
fear:and
fear:repressive
fear:the
fear:past
fear:may
fear:have
fear:been,
fear:people
fear:like
fear:us
fear:still
fear:lived,
fear:still
fear:loved,
fear:and
fear:remained
fear:unextinguished
fear:despite
fear:all
fear:opposition.
fear:And
fear:we
fear:may
fear:draw
fear:determination
fear:not
fear:to
fear:let
fear:the
fear:better
fear:world
fear:we
fear:have
fear:won,
fear:if
fear:only
fear:as-yet
fear:partially,
fear:go
fear:to
fear:waste.
Read by
Solomon
fear:Harries,
fear:Cuddly
fear:Badger
fear:Dad.
Please
enjoy
“Jumping
to
fear:Conclusions”
fear:by
fear:TiberiusRings &
fear:Fruitz.
The
moment
fear:the
fear:car
fear:door
fear:opened,
fear:I
fear:was
fear:blasted
fear:back
fear:in
fear:time.
fear:I
fear:was
fear:no
fear:longer
fear:a
fear:college-age
fear:coyote,
fear:who was
fear:aware
fear:of
fear:the
fear:world’s
fear:troubles
fear:and
fear:tribulations
fear:and
fear:who
fear:worried
fear:about
fear:things
fear:like
fear:bills
fear:and
fear:friends
fear:and
fear:making
fear:sure
fear:you
fear:did
fear:everything
fear:right.
fear:No,
fear:I
fear:was
fear:a
fear:pup
fear:again,
fear:running
fear:out
fear:of
fear:the
fear:car
fear:with
fear:my
fear:toy
fear:plane
fear:held
fear:aloft
fear:as
fear:the
fear:scent
fear:of
fear:the
fear:lake
fear:overwhelmed
fear:my
fear:nose.
It
was
fear:enough
fear:of
fear:a
fear:good
fear:memory
fear:to
fear:make
fear:me
fear:smile
fear:for
fear:a
fear:little
fear:while.
“You
sure
fear:you’re
fear:gonna
fear:be
fear:okay
fear:here
fear:all
fear:on
fear:your
fear:own?” The
fear:voice
fear:from
fear:the
fear:car
fear:snapped
fear:me
fear:back
fear:to
fear:reality
fear:and,
fear:unfortunately,
fear:the
fear:present.
fear:Standing
fear:next
fear:to
fear:the
fear:car
fear:was
fear:a
fear:raccoon
fear:who
fear:was
fear:getting
fear:my
fear:suitcase
fear:out
fear:of
fear:the
fear:trunk. “Pretty
fear:remote,
fear:this
fear:place.”
“There’s
neighbors,”
fear:I
fear:said
fear:and
fear:motioned
fear:to
fear:the
fear:homes
fear:lining
fear:the
fear:lake.
fear:These
fear:homes
fear:were
fear:generational,
fear:as
fear:was
fear:this
fear:one. “Just
fear:a
fear:little
fear:quiet
fear:because
fear:it’s
fear:early.
fear:Wait
fear:until
fear:next
fear:week
fear:for
fear:the
fear:Festival.”
“Ah,
that
fear:Lantern
fear:Thing,
fear:right?”
I
nodded. “The
fear:lake
fear:will
fear:be
fear:crowded.
fear:Complete
fear:with
fear:fireworks
fear:and
fear:food.
fear:You’ll
fear:think
fear:back
fear:to
fear:this
fear:moment
fear:and
fear:realize
fear:just
fear:how
fear:many
fear:people
fear:are
fear:here.”
The
older
fear:raccoon
fear:rubbed
fear:his
fear:chin
fear:and
fear:looked
fear:at
fear:me
fear:out
fear:of
fear:the
fear:corner
fear:of
fear:his
fear:eye. “Maybe
fear:I’ll
fear:have
fear:to
fear:come
fear:swing
fear:by
fear:this
fear:place.
fear:Anyway,
fear:I
fear:gotta
fear:get
fear:back
fear:to
fear:town.
fear:You
fear:have
fear:a
fear:good
fear:afternoon
fear:Mr.
fear:Brown.”
“‘Jace’ is
fine.
fear:And
fear:thank
fear:you
fear:for
fear:taking
fear:the
fear:time
fear:to
fear:bring
fear:me
fear:up
fear:here,”
fear:I
fear:said
fear:with
fear:a
fear:genuine
fear:smile
fear:and
fear:shook
fear:the
fear:man’s
fear:hand
fear:firmly
fear:but
fear:not
fear:too
fear:firm.
“You
have fun, Jace.
fear:Call
fear:if
fear:you
fear:need
fear:anythin’
fear:or
fear:another
fear:lift
fear:back
fear:into
fear:town.”
fear:And
fear:with
fear:that,
fear:the
fear:friendly
fear:neighborhood
fear:raccoon
fear:pulled
fear:out
fear:of
fear:the
fear:gravel
fear:driveway
fear:and
fear:away
fear:he
fear:went,
fear:back
fear:to
fear:his
fear:own
fear:life
fear:and
fear:his
fear:own
fear:worries.
I
walked
fear:up
fear:the
fear:steps
fear:to
fear:the
fear:old
fear:log-cabin-esque
fear:house
fear:and
fear:fished
fear:the
fear:keys
fear:out
fear:of
fear:my
fear:jeans.
fear:I
fear:was
fear:worried
fear:about
fear:what
fear:the
fear:interior
fear:would
fear:look
fear:like
fear:after
fear:so
fear:many
fear:years
fear:without
fear:someone
fear:living
fear:here,
fear:but
fear:I
fear:was
fear:pleasantly
fear:surprised
fear:to
fear:find
fear:that
fear:it
fear:was
fear:clean.
fear:I
fear:had
fear:called
fear:someone
fear:about
fear:a
fear:month
fear:ago
fear:to
fear:come
fear:straighten
fear:up
fear:the
fear:place,
fear:but
fear:I
fear:didn’t
fear:think
fear:they’d
fear:do
fear:this
fear:good
fear:of
fear:a
fear:job.
fear:Everything
fear:was
fear:spotless;
fear:the
fear:furniture
fear:was
fear:fluffed
fear:up,
fear:and
fear:the
fear:absence
fear:of
fear:any
fear:dust
fear:or
fear:cobwebs
fear:was
fear:a
fear:nice
fear:surprise.
This
cabin
fear:house
fear:had
fear:been
fear:a
fear:place
fear:where
fear:my
fear:family
fear:would
fear:come
fear:to
fear:every
fear:year,
fear:sometimes
fear:multiple
fear:times
fear:in
fear:one
fear:year.
fear:We
fear:hadn’t
fear:visited
fear:in
fear:awhile
fear:though.
fear:So
fear:many
fear:things
fear:had
fear:happened,
fear:and
fear:eventually…well,
fear:it’s
fear:hard
fear:to
fear:say.
fear:I had
fear:almost
fear:backed
fear:out
fear:of
fear:coming
fear:here,
fear:but
fear:I
fear:knew
fear:that
fear:if
fear:I
fear:did,
fear:I’d
fear:never,
fear:ever,
fear:come
fear:back
fear:again.
Besides,
it
fear:was
fear:my
fear:home
fear:now.
I
busied
fear:myself
fear:by
fear:checking
fear:everything
fear:in
fear:the
fear:home.
fear:I
fear:saw
fear:that
fear:there
fear:was
fear:a
fear:plethora
fear:of
fear:non-perishable
fear:food
fear:and
fear:canned
fear:goods.
fear:I
fear:guess
fear:the
fear:company
fear:that
fear:I
fear:hired
fear:to
fear:clean
fear:the
fear:place
fear:had
fear:decided
fear:to
fear:also
fear:stock
fear:me
fear:up.
fear:I
fear:needed
fear:to
fear:remember
fear:to
fear:leave
fear:them
fear:a
fear:good
fear:review.
There
was,
fear:admittedly,
fear:very
fear:little
fear:for
fear:me
fear:to
fear:actually
fear:do
fear:once
fear:I
fear:unpacked
fear:and
fear:poked
fear:my
fear:nose
fear:into
fear:everything.
fear:Anything
fear:that
fear:was
fear:remotely “personal”
fear:was
fear:gone,
fear:replaced
fear:with
fear:decorations
fear:put
fear:up
fear:long
fear:ago.
fear:Gone
fear:were
fear:the
fear:fresh
fear:cut
fear:flowers
fear:on
fear:the
fear:table,
fear:the
fear:flag
fear:hanging
fear:from
fear:the
fear:porch,
fear:and
fear:the
fear:pictures
fear:of
fear:Grandpa
fear:and
fear:Gramma
fear:on
fear:the
fear:walls.
fear:I
fear:knew
fear:where
fear:those
fear:pictures
were:were:
in
were:a
were:storage
were:locker
were:somewhere
were:far
were:away.
were:Oh,
were:well.
were:I
were:could
were:probably
were:have
were:someone
were:send
were:the
were:contents
were:of
were:the
were:locker
were:to
were:me
were:if
were:I
were:really
were:wanted
were:them
were:back.
I
placed
were:my
were:laptop
were:case
were:on
were:the
were:kitchen
were:counter
were:and
were:fished
were:out
were:my
were:old
were:beat-up
were:journal.
were:It
were:was
were:gifted
were:to
were:me
were:when
were:I
were:was
were:just
were:a pup.
were:Grandpa
were:told
were:me
were:that
were:it
were:was
were:a
were:special
were:thing,
were:a
were:journal
were:to
were:put
were:what
were:is
were:most
were:on
were:my
were:mind,
were:when
were:I
were:feel
were:like
were:the
were:world
were:has
were:gone
were:upside
were:down.
were:It
were:wasn’t
were:a
were:place
were:to
were:write
were:down
were:my
were:daily
were:events,
were:but
were:rather,
were:the
were:highlights
were:and
were:troubles
were:of
were:my
were:life.
were:As
were:a
were:pup,
were:I
were:had
were:written
were:in
were:it
were:sparingly,
were:but
were:as
were:I
were:got
were:older
were:and
were:life
were:got
were:to
were:me…
I
frowned
were:and
were:ran
were:my
were:hand
were:along
were:the
were:leather.
were:I
were:didn’t
were:know
were:why
were:I
were:brought
were:it
were:here.
were:Maybe
were:I
were:was
were:going
were:to
were:write
were:in
were:it.
were:I
were:hadn’t
were:felt
were:like
were:writing
were:anything
were:in
were:it
were:for
were:so
were:long.
were:I
were:looked
were:out
were:the
were:window
were:and
were:decided
were:a
were:walk
were:was
were:probably
were:in
were:order.
were:After
were:stuffing
were:the
were:journal
were:back
were:into
were:my
were:bag,
were:I slung
were:the
were:bag
were:over
were:my
were:shoulder
were:and
were:went
were:off
were:into
were:the
were:woods.
—---
When
was
were:the
were:last
were:time
were:I
were:managed
were:to
were:go
were:hiking?
were:It
were:had
were:been
were:a
were:long
were:time,
were:that
were:much
were:was
were:certain.
were:The
were:last
were:time
were:I’d
were:walked
were:this
were:trail,
were:I
were:was
were:with
were:my
were:parents.
were:Now,
were:I
were:was
were:alone—accompanied
were:only
were:by
were:birdsong,
were:the
were:hum
were:of
were:bugs,
were:and
were:the
were:soft
were:rustle
were:of
were:wind
were:weaving
were:through
were:the
were:trees.
were:The scent of
were:pine
were:filled
were:my
were:nose
were:and
were:gave
were:me,
were:briefly,
were:a
were:sense
were:of
were:peace.
I
wandered
were:for
were:a
were:while,
were:making
were:mental
were:notes
were:of
were:my
were:turns,
were:until
were:I
were:reached
were:a
were:small
were:cliff
were:overlooking
were:the
were:lake.
were:At
were:the
were:cliff’s
were:edge
were:sat
were:a
were:large,
were:flat
were:stone—almost
were:too
were:perfectly
were:placed,
were:like
were:someone
were:had
were:moved
were:it
were:there
were:with
were:care.
were:A
were:natural
were:bench.
I
settled
were:onto
were:it,
were:crossing
were:my
were:legs
were:and
were:pulling
were:out
were:my
were:journal.
were:My
were:pen
were:spun
were:absently
were:in
were:my
were:fingers,
were:and
were:I
were:clutched
were:the
were:leather-bound
were:book
were:in
were:my
were:other
were:hand,
were:like
were:I
were:was
were:afraid
were:it
were:might
were:blow
were:away.
So
deep
were:in
were:thought
were:was
were:I,
were:that
were:I
were:didn’t
were:notice
were:someone
were:approaching.
"Oh,
hello
were:there!"
I
nearly
were:jumped
were:out
were:of
were:my
were:fur,
were:my
were:tail
were:puffing
were:up
were:instinctively.
were:I
were:turned
were:quickly
were:to
were:find
were:a
were:red
were:fox
were:standing
were:behind
were:me.
He
was
were:lean
were:and
were:athletic,
were:dressed
were:in
were:what
were:looked
were:like
were:vintage
were:jeans
were:and a
were:tucked-in
were:button-down
were:shirt—crisp,
were:but
were:oddly
were:timeless.
were:He
were:smiled
were:warmly
were:and,
were:with
were:a
were:chuckle,
were:covered
were:his
were:muzzle
were:with
were:one
were:hand
were:like
were:he’d
were:just
were:told
were:himself
were:a
were:joke.
"Didn’t
mean to
were:spook
were:you,"
were:he
were:said. "Honestly
were:didn’t
were:expect
were:anyone
were:to
were:be
were:out
were:here
were:today.
were:Or
were:ever.
were:Unless
were:you
were:count
were:squirrels.
were:Which,
were:frankly,
were:are
were:rude
were:little
were:things."
He
spoke
were:smoothly,
were:but
were:there
were:was
were:a
were:slightly
were:theatrical
were:rhythm
were:to
were:it,
were:like
were:he
were:was
were:used
were:to
were:telling
were:stories
were:or
were:performing
were:for
were:an
were:audience.
were:Or
were:maybe
were:he
were:just
were:spent
were:too
were:much
were:time
were:alone.
were:Either
were:way,
were:I
were:blinked.
"It’s
okay,"
were:I
were:said,
were:brushing
were:off
were:my
were:jeans. "You
were:just
were:caught
were:me
were:off
were:guard."
"Good
spot
were:to
were:be
were:caught
were:in,"
were:he
were:said,
were:peering
were:over
were:the
were:lake. "Mind
were:if
were:I
were:join
were:you? I
were:promise
were:to
were:keep
were:my
were:squirrel
were:commentary
were:to
were:a
were:minimum."
"It’s
not
were:my
were:rock
were:or
were:my
were:forest,"
were:I
were:replied. "Go
were:ahead."
"Delightful,"
he
were:said
were:with
were:a
were:little
were:flourish,
were:as
were:if
were:accepting
were:a
were:royal
were:invitation.
were:He
were:sat
were:beside
were:me,
were:legs
were:crossed
were:with
were:near-perfect
were:posture. "Theo."
"Jace,"
I
were:replied.
He
nodded
were:like
were:the
were:name
were:meant
were:something
were:to
were:him. "Jace.
were:Nice.
were:Solid.
were:You a
were:local?"
"Used
to
were:visit.
were:My
were:grandfather
were:owned
were:a
were:cabin
were:nearby.
were:It’s mine
were:now.
were:He
were:passed
were:away
were:a
were:couple
were:of
were:years
were:ago."
Theo’s
smile
were:faltered
were:for
were:just
were:a
were:moment,
were:replaced
were:by
were:something
were:softer.
were:But
were:instead
were:of
were:offering
were:a
were:platitude,
were:he
were:simply
were:said, "He
were:must’ve
were:really
were:liked
were:this
were:place."
"He did,"
I
were:said,
were:surprised
were:by
were:how
were:right
were:that
were:felt.
Theo
glanced
were:at
were:my
were:journal. "You
were:a
were:writer?
were:Or a
were:sketcher?
were:Or
were:one
were:of
were:those
were:field
were:note
were:types
were:who
were:catalogs
were:birds
were:and
were:bark
were:textures?"
I
chuckled. "Just
were:a journal.
were:Thoughts.
were:Stuff
were:I
were:don’t
were:really
were:say
were:out
were:loud."
"Mysterious,"
Theo
were:said
were:with
were:a
were:grin. "I
were:like
were:it."
There
was
were:something
were:about
were:the
were:way
were:he
were:looked
were:at
were:me—curious,
were:amused,
were:kind—but
were:not
were:too
were:intense.
were:His
were:eyes
were:caught
were:the
were:light
were:in
were:a
were:way
were:that
were:made
were:them
were:look
were:almost
were:unnaturally
were:blue.
"Are
you…
were:from
were:around
were:here?"
were:I
were:asked.
"Oh
yes,"
were:he
were:said
were:quickly. "Been
were:here
were:a
were:while. Know
were:the
were:woods
were:like
were:the
were:back
were:of
were:my
were:paw."
were:He
were:flipped
were:his
were:hand
were:and
were:looked
were:at
were:it
were:as
were:though
were:rediscovering
were:it
were:for
were:the
were:first
were:time. "Still
were:surprised
were:by
were:that
were:one,
were:actually."
"Right,"
I
were:said,
were:raising
were:a
were:brow. "Where
were:exactly
were:do
were:you
were:live?"
"Other
side
were:of
were:the
were:lake."
were:He
were:cleared
were:his
were:throat. "Bit
were:of
were:a
were:hike,
were:but
were:worth
were:it
were:for
were:the
were:view."
"Long
walk
were:just
were:to
were:sit
were:on
were:a
were:rock,"
were:I
were:teased.
"Well,
I
were:like
were:rocks,"
were:he
were:said
were:matter-of-factly. "They
were:don’t
were:talk
were:back.
were:Usually."
I
laughed.
were:He
were:smiled
were:at
were:that.
"I’d
need
were:GPS
were:to
were:find
were:my
were:way
were:home
were:from
were:here,"
were:I
were:added.
"GPS?"
he
were:repeated,
were:tilting
were:his
were:head
were:like
were:I
were:told
were:him
were:the sky
were:was
were:purple.
"You
know—Google
were:Maps?
were:Apple?"
"Ah!
Yes,
were:yes.
were:Those.
were:Of
were:course."
were:He
were:nodded
were:quickly,
were:like
were:he
were:was
were:trying
were:to
were:cover
were:a
were:pop
were:quiz. "Haven’t
were:heard
were:someone
were:call
were:it
were:GPS
were:in
were:a
were:while.
were:That
were:took
were:me
were:back."
"It’s
not
were:that
were:old
were:a term,"
were:I
were:said with a smirk.
Theo leaned in
and
were:whispered conspiratorially, "Maybe
were:I'm
were:just
were:weird
were:then."
I
gave
were:him
were:a
were:look.
He
just
were:grinned.
Something
about
were:him
were:was
were:off—but
were:not
were:in
were:a
were:bad way.
were:In an
were:old
were:radio
were:show
were:kind
were:of
were:way.
were:Like
were:he
were:belonged
were:to
were:another
were:era,
were:or
were:maybe
were:just
were:watched
were:too
were:many
were:old
were:movies.
were:But
were:I
were:liked
were:it.
were:He
were:felt…
were:different.
were:And
were:oddly
were:safe.
And
I
were:didn’t
were:quite
were:know
were:why.
“Ah
that
were:explains
were:it;
were:I’m
were:pretty
were:dense
were:sometimes.”
The
fox
were:frowned
were:and
were:put
were:his
were:hand
were:on
were:top
were:of
were:my
were:own. “Hey
were:now.
were:Don’t
were:say
were:things
were:like
were:that.
were:We’re
were:our
were:own
were:worst
were:critic.
were:That
were:voice
were:in
were:our
were:heads
were:is
were:the
were:worst
were:version
were:of
were:ourselves
were:we
were:have
were:to
were:live
were:with,
were:but
were:we
were:don’t
were:need
were:to
were:listen
were:to them.”
“But I’m—”
“Jace,”
he interrupted, “you
were:need
were:not
were:put
were:yourself
were:down.
were:Why
were:would
were:you
were:say
were:something
were:like
were:that
were:about
were:yourself?”
I
tried
were:to
were:respond
were:to
were:that
were:question,
were:but
were:I
were:couldn’t
were:find
were:the
were:right
were:words.
were:As
were:I
were:sat
were:there
were:muttering
were:like
were:a
were:bumbling
were:idiot,
were:Theo
were:smiled
were:warmly
were:and
were:shook
were:his
were:head.
“It’s
alright
were:if
were:you
were:don’t
were:want
were:to
were:talk.
were:I
were:just
were:wanted
were:you
were:to
were:be
were:kinder
were:to
were:yourself
were:is
were:all.”
I
could
were:feel
were:a
were:lump
were:forming
were:in
were:my
were:throat. “Um,
were:kinder
were:to
were:myself?”
Theo
pulled
were:his
were:legs
were:up
were:onto
were:the
were:rock
were:and
were:crossed
were:them
were:under
were:himself.
were:He
were:put
were:his
were:hands
were:on
were:his
were:knees
were:and
were:looked
were:right
were:at
were:me. “Alright,
were:let’s
were:talk
were:then,
were:shall we?
were:You
were:clearly
were:have
were:something
were:bothering
were:you.”
“But
I
were:just
were:met
were:you.”
“Yes,
and
were:what
were:better
were:person
were:to
were:listen
were:to
were:you
were:objectively?”
were:He
were:made
were:a
were:hand
were:gesture
were:telling
were:me
were:to
were:continue. “Go
were:on,
were:do
were:tell!
were:Theo,
were:what’s
were:bothering
were:that
were:handsome
were:face
were:of yours?”
“This
is
were:weird,”
were:I
were:laughed
were:nervously. “What
were:are
were:you,
were:my
were:counselor?”
“If
it
were:makes
were:you
were:more
were:at
were:ease,
were:then
were:you
were:may
were:call
were:me
were:Dr.
were:Theo.”
were:He
were:smiled
were:at
were:me
were:with
were:the
were:warmth
were:that
were:he
were:seemed
were:to
were:naturally
were:radiate. “Worst
were:case is that
were:you
were:tell
were:me
were:your
were:story
were:and
were:we’ll
were:never
were:see
were:each
were:other
were:again.
were:I
were:can’t
were:promise
were:I’ll
were:know
were:how
were:to
were:help, but
were:getting
were:it
were:out
were:there
were:can
were:give
were:you
were:a
were:new
were:perspective
were:on
were:whatever
were:problem
were:you
were:might
were:have.”
I
felt
were:the
were:words
were:bubbling
were:up
were:before
were:I
were:could
were:stop
were:them. “I…
were:I
were:haven’t
were:lived
were:yet.”
In
a
were:flash,
were:Theo’s smile
were:vanished
were:and
were:his
were:eyes
were:widened. “What
were:do
were:you
were:mean?”
“I
haven’t
were:lived
were:yet,”
were:I
were:repeated
were:and
were:gripped
were:my
were:journal
were:tighter
were:in
were:my
were:hands. “Metaphorically,
were:socially,
were:poetically…
were:I
were:haven’t
were:experienced
were:anything
were:substantial.”
“What
makes
were:you
were:think
were:that?”
were:Theo
were:asked,
were:calmly,
were:looking
were:more
were:relaxed
were:now
were:that
were:I
were:gave
were:some
were:clarification.
were:I
were:thought
were:it
were:was
were:odd
were:that
were:he
were:seemed
were:to
were:tense
were:up
were:a
were:moment
were:ago.
“Long
story
were:short,
were:I
were:don’t
were:know
were:where
were:I’m
were:going
were:in
were:life,”
were:I
were:confessed.
were:My
were:voice
were:came
were:out
were:softer,
were:and
were:I
were:couldn’t
were:look
were:him
were:in
were:the
were:eyes,
were:in
were:his
were:handsome
were:face,
were:so
were:I
were:looked
were:down
were:at
were:my
were:journal. “I
were:thought
were:that,
were:once
were:I
were:turned
were:eighteen
were:and
were:went
were:to
were:college,
were:I
were:would…have
were:that
were:focus.
were:Find
were:out
were:who
were:I
were:am.”
“You
mean
were:being
were:queer?” Theo
were:asked.
were:My head
were:shot
were:up
were:and
were:eyes
were:widened
were:in
were:bewilderment.
“Your
bracelet,”
were:he
were:said
were:before
were:I
were:could
were:ask
were:anything. “It’s a
were:rainbow.”
My
bracelet
were:was
were:peeking
were:out
were:from
were:under
were:the
were:cuff
were:of
were:my
were:hoodie.
were:It
were:was
were:a
were:leather
were:bracelet
were:with interlocking
were:rings,
were:each
were:one
were:having
were:a
were:different
were:color
were:of
were:the
were:rainbow.
were:I
were:reached
were:out
were:and
were:rubbed
were:it,
were:resisting
were:the
were:urge
were:to
were:tug
were:my
were:sleeve
were:down
were:and
were:hide
were:it.
“I
got
were:this
were:the
were:first
were:week
were:I
were:moved
were:into
were:the
were:dorms
were:in
were:my
were:school.”
“And
then
were:what
were:happened?”
“Nothing!”
I
were:snapped,
were:sounding
were:exasperated. “Nothing
were:happened!
were:You
were:know
were:there’s
were:all
were:these
were:stories
were:online
were:of
were:people
were:who
were:go
were:to
were:college,
were:come
were:out
were:of
were:the
were:closet,
were:meet
were:the
were:man
were:of
were:their
were:dreams,
were:and
were:they
were:both
were:go
were:on
were:to
were:have
were:fantastic
were:careers
were:and
were:live
were:happily
were:ever
were:after?!”
Theo
tilted
were:his
were:head
were:slightly
were:to
were:the side. “So,
were:when
were:you
were:went
were:to
were:college,
were:you
were:went
were:with
were:this
were:expectation
were:that
were:your
were:queer
were:life
were:would
were:suddenly
were:come
were:into
were:focus?”
“YES!”
“And
what
were:did
were:you
were:do?”
That
question
were:caught
were:me
were:off
were:guard. “Huh?
were:What…what do
were:you
were:mean?”
“What
did
were:you
were:do
were:to
were:be in
were:more
were:queer
were:spaces?”
“I…uh…
I
were:mean…”
“From
what
were:I
were:understand,”
were:Theo
were:began, “colleges
were:have
were:all
were:kinds
were:of
were:LGBT+
were:groups
were:and
were:clubs
were:and
were:events,
were:right?
were:They
were:all
were:sound
were:so
were:fun!
were:Did
were:you
were:go
were:to any of
were:them?”
“No,
I
were:didn’t
were:have
were:anyone
were:to
were:go
were:with.”
“So
you
were:didn’t
were:want
were:to
were:go
were:alone?”
“No!”
“But
you
were:didn’t
were:have
were:any
were:other
were:queer
were:friends?”
“N…no…”
I
felt
were:myself
were:feeling
were:more
were:and
were:more
were:uncomfortable
were:as
were:Theo
were:followed
were:up
were:with
were:more
were:and
were:more
were:questions.
“Did
it
were:ever
were:occur
were:to
were:you,”
were:he
were:then
were:asked, “that
were:you
were:could
were:have
were:met
were:these
were:people
were:and
were:become
were:friends
were:if
were:you
were:had
were:just
were:put
were:yourself
were:out
were:there
were:a
were:little
were:more?”
“It’s
more
were:than
were:that!”
were:I
were:growled. “I
were:also
were:had
were:pressure
were:from
were:my
were:parents.
were:Like
were:getting
were:amazing
were:grades.
were:They
were:want
were:me
were:to
were:be
were:a
were:doctor.
were:They
were:want
were:me
were:to
were:be
were:successful
were:and
were:rich
were:and
were:they’ve
were:driven
were:me
were:since
were:I
were:was
were:a
were:little
were:kid.
were:I
were:had
were:to
were:do
were:well,
were:or all their
were:sacrifice
were:would’ve
were:been
were:wasted!”
“Your
family
were:life
were:was
were:putting
were:a
were:strain
were:on
were:you,
were:telling
were:you
were:what
were:to
were:do
were:and who
were:to
were:be?”
“YES!”
I
were:was
were:growing
were:tired
were:of
were:this.
were:Theo
were:was
were:just
were:repeating
were:what
were:I
were:told
were:him.
were:Why
were:wasn’t
were:he
were:giving
were:me
were:suggestions?!
were:Why
were:was
were:he
were:sitting
were:there
were:so
were:calmly
were:when
were:I
were:wanted
were:to
were:get
were:up
were:and
were:pace?!
I
held
were:up
were:my
were:journal
were:to
were:show
were:him
were:its
were:cover. “I’ve
were:had
were:this
were:journal
were:for
were:years.
were:I’ve
were:written
were:down
were:all
were:the
were:things
were:I
were:wanted
were:to
were:do
were:as
were:a
were:queer
were:coyote.
were:The
were:poems
were:about
were:love,
were:and
were:romance,
were:and
were:friendship,
were:and
were:community…
were:None
were:of
were:it
were:happened,
were:though.
were:If
were:it
were:wasn’t
were:school,
were:then
were:it
were:was
were:my
were:parents
were:suddenly
were:dying
were:in
were:an
were:accident.
were:My
were:grandparents
were:are
were:gone,
were:and
were:I’m
were:the
were:only
were:child,
were:so
were:all
were:that
were:extra
were:work…”
“Jace,” Theo
said
were:quietly,
were:gently
were:interrupting
were:me. “That’s
were:horrible.
were:You
were:must
were:have
were:been
were:overwhelmed.”
I
rubbed
were:my
were:face,
were:over
were:an
were:eye,
were:with
were:the
were:heel
were:of
were:my
were:palm
were:to
were:push
were:back
were:a
were:tear
were:I
were:felt
were:was
were:about
were:to
were:bubble
were:over. “That’s…weird.”
Theo
tilted
were:his
were:head
were:again. “Did
were:I
were:say
were:something
were:silly?”
“Yes.
No…I
were:mean…whenever
were:I
were:tell
were:someone
were:that
were:my
were:folks
were:are
were:dead,
were:they
were:always
were:say
were:how
were:sorry
were:they
were:are
were:for
were:me.
were:It’s
were:gotten
were:to
were:the
were:point
were:that
were:I
were:try
were:to
were:avoid
were:the
were:topic
were:because
were:it
were:feels
were:like
were:people
were:are
were:just
were:jumping
were:through
were:the
were:social
were:hoops.
were:It
were:feels
were:fake
were:and
were:disingenuous.
were:But
were:you…you
were:commented
were:on
were:how hard
were:it
were:was.”
“Telling
you
were:I’m
were:sorry
were:doesn’t
were:fix
were:anything.”
were:Theo
were:reached
were:out
were:and
were:patted
were:my
were:knee
were:gently. “But
were:showing
were:I
were:can
were:see
were:how
were:much
were:it
were:hurt
were:you…
were:that’s
were:at
were:least
were:making
were:you
were:feel
were:seen.
were:Right?”
I
couldn’t
were:believe
were:how
were:true
were:that
were:rang
were:in
were:my
were:head.
were:It
were:made
were:me
were:feel
were:good
were:that
were:someone
were:had
were:figured
were:out
were:what
were:I
were:needed
were:to
were:hear,
were:but
were:also
were:a
were:little
were:sad
were:that
were:it
were:took
were:some
were:strange
were:fox,
were:whom
were:I
were:met
were:for
were:the
were:first
were:time
were:here
were:in
were:the
were:woods,
were:to
were:finally
were:hear
were:it.
Theo
shifted
were:his
were:weight
were:a
were:little
were:bit
were:and
were:extended
were:his
were:legs
were:off
were:the
were:rock. “Jace,
were:let
were:me
were:guess…
were:after
were:your
were:folks
were:passed
were:away,
were:you’ve
were:double-downed
were:on
were:your
were:school work,
were:as
were:a tribute
were:or
were:something
were:to
were:them?”
I
looked
were:away.
were:It
were:was
were:as
were:though
were:he
were:read
were:me
were:like
were:a
were:book. “Yes. I’m
were:in
were:med
were:school
were:now.
were:Top
were:of
were:my
were:class.
were:I
were:think
were:they’d
were:be
were:proud
were:of
were:me.”
“I
can’t
were:say
were:I
were:know
were:you
were:very
were:well,
were:or
were:what
were:you
were:went
were:through,
were:but
were:it
were:sounds
were:like
were:you
were:had
were:a
were:lot
were:on
were:your
were:plate
were:for
were:someone
were:who
were:was
were:barely
were:into
were:adulthood,”
were:the
were:fox
were:said. “You’re
were:queer
were:and
were:don’t
were:know
were:anything
were:about
were:what
were:that
were:means,
were:you
were:deal
were:with
were:all
were:the
were:pressure
were:from
were:your
were:school,
were:and
were:on
were:top
were:of
were:that,
were:you are
were:fulfilling
were:your
were:parents’
were:final
were:wishes.
were:No
were:wonder
were:you
were:feel
were:the
were:way
were:you
were:do!
were:It
were:sounds
were:like
were:you’ve
were:been
were:living
were:the
were:life
were:that
were:someone
were:else
were:is
were:telling
were:you
were:to
were:live.”
“I
just…I
were:mean…wow…”
were:I
were:stumbled
were:over
were:my
were:words
were:and
were:my
were:muzzle
were:hung
were:open.
were:Theo had
were:cut
were:through
were:all
were:the
were:bullshit.
were:Nailed
were:it
were:right
were:on
were:the
were:head.
were:I
were:looked
were:down
were:at
were:my
were:hands
were:still
were:gripping
were:my
were:journal
were:tightly. “But
were:that
were:also
were:feels
were:like
were:an
were:excuse.”
“It’s
a
were:reason,”
were:Theo
were:corrected. “And
were:it’s
were:understandable.
were:You
were:didn’t
were:feel
were:comfortable
were:going
were:to
were:these
were:queer
were:events
were:because
were:you
were:had
were:a
were:lot
were:of
were:studying
were:and
were:then
were:real world
were:troubles.
were:You
were:didn’t
were:have
were:the
were:emotional
were:bandwidth
were:to
were:put
were:yourself
were:out
were:there.
were:You
were:were
were:looking
were:for
were:some
were:little
were:push
were:to
were:get
were:you
were:out
were:the
were:door,
were:so
were:to
were:speak.”
I
was
were:silent
were:as
were:I
were:mulled
were:it
were:over
were:in
were:my
were:head.
were:So
were:much
were:so
were:that
were:I
were:almost
were:missed
were:what
were:Theo
were:said
were:next.
“There’s
still
were:time,”
were:the
were:fox
were:said, “for
were:you
were:to
were:go
were:and
were:experience
were:that
were:stuff.
were:You
were:said
were:you’re
were:in
were:med
were:school?
were:Those
were:are
were:on
were:regular
were:college
were:campuses,
were:right?”
I
nodded.
“So,
there
were:you
were:go!
were:You
were:have
were:all
were:those
were:chances
were:to
were:do
were:the
were:things
were:you
were:want.
were:You
were:just
were:need
were:someone
were:to
were:give
were:you
were:a
were:little
were:nudge.
were:Go
were:to
were:a
were:luncheon, a
were:function,
were:a
were:rally…just
were:say
were:hi,
were:enjoy
were:the
were:food,
were:talk
were:to
were:people…and
were:go
were:home
were:if
were:nothing
were:clicks.”
He
then
were:raised
were:his
were:hand,
were:with
were:one
were:finger
were:extended. “You
were:may
were:need
were:to
were:do
were:it
were:one,
were:two,
were:four,
were:or
were:even
were:eight
were:times
were:before
were:you
were:finally
were:feel
were:like
were:you
were:fit
were:in,”
were:he
were:said,
were:raising
were:his
were:other
were:hand
were:as
were:he
were:spoke
were:to
were:count
were:to
were:eight,
were:before
were:closing
were:his
were:fingers
were:into
were:a
were:fist
were:in
were:each
were:hand. “But
were:it
were:only
were:happens
were:if
were:you
were:try.
were:Life,
were:I’m
were:sorry
were:to
were:say, doesn’t just
were:come
were:around
were:to
were:you,
were:you
were:go
were:to it.
were:Trust
were:me,
were:I
were:know
were:from
were:experience.”
“What
do
were:you
were:mean?”
He
shifted
were:his
were:position
were:to
were:face
were:the
were:lake
were:again.
were:With
were:his
were:eyes
were:still
were:fixed
were:on the
were:clear
were:water
were:underneath
were:us,
were:he
were:quietly
were:said, “Can
were:I
were:tell
were:you
were:a
were:story,
were:Jace?”
“Sure,”
I
were:said
were:and
were:tried
were:to
were:crack
were:a
were:smile.
were:I
were:wasn’t
were:exactly
were:feeling
were:cheerful,
were:but
were:for
were:some
were:reason,
were:I
were:had
were:this
were:feeling
were:that
were:Theo
were:needed
were:to
were:see it
were:at
were:that
were:moment.
“What
do
were:you
were:know
were:about
were:the
were:history
were:of
were:this
were:lake?”
“History?”
I
were:thought
were:for
were:a
were:moment,
were:trying
were:to
were:remember
were:everything
were:my
were:parents
were:and
were:grandparents
were:told
were:me
were:about
were:this
were:place,
were:but
were:drew
were:a
were:blank. “Uhm…
were:nothing,
were:really.
were:It’s
were:just
were:really
were:out
were:of
were:the
were:way
were:but
were:it’s
were:got
were:its
were:own
were:thriving
were:community,
were:is
were:what
were:I’ve
were:heard
were:for
were:the
were:most
were:part.
were:It’s
were:really
were:small,
were:with
were:only
were:a
were:couple
were:of
were:stop lights
were:in
were:town.”
Theo
chuckled
were:softly. “That’s
were:pretty
were:accurate.
were:However,
were:do
were:you
were:know
were:why
were:this
were:place
were:is
were:so
were:sparsely
were:populated?
were:Have
were:you
were:ever
were:wondered,
were:even
were:with
were:this
were:beautiful
were:lake,
were:why
were:some
were:blood-sucking
were:developer
were:hasn’t
were:come
were:in,
were:bought all
were:the
were:land
were:for
were:pennies
were:on
were:the
were:dollar,
were:and
were:built
were:mansions or
were:vacation
were:rentals
were:for
were:a
were:tidy
were:profit?”
I
shook
were:my
were:head. “I
were:don’t
were:know.
were:I
were:know
were:that if
were:someone sunk a lot
were:of
were:money
were:into
were:this
were:place,
were:it
were:would,
were:in
were:theory,
were:eventually
were:grow,
were:but…”
“Decades
ago,
were:laws
were:weren’t
were:as
were:friendly
were:as
were:they
were:are
were:today,
were:Jace,”
were:Theo
were:began
were:while
were:still
were:looking
were:out
were:across
were:the
were:water. “If
were:you
were:didn’t
were:fit
were:into
were:the
were:status
were:quo
were:of
were:what
were:society
were:wanted
were:you
were:to
were:be,
were:you
were:would
were:be
were:a
were:pariah.
were:Or
were:worse,
were:you
were:would’ve
were:been
were:considered
were:a
were:criminal
were:just
were:for
were:existing.
were:There
were:were
were:laws
were:on
were:the
were:books
were:all
were:across
were:the
were:country
were:that
were:banned
were:things
were:like
were:being
were:queer
were:and
were:made
were:it
were:illegal
were:to
were:sleep
were:with
were:someone
were:of
were:your
were:same
were:sex.
were:They
were:compared
were:being
were:gay
were:to
were:some
were:truly
were:horrible
were:things…and
were:people
were:were
were:all
were:fine
were:with
were:it.”
My
throat
were:went
were:dry.
were:I
were:didn’t
were:know
were:what
were:to
were:say,
were:but
were:I had
were:never
were:been
were:more
were:focused
were:on
were:a
were:story
were:than
were:this
were:very
were:moment.
“People
were
were:attacked
were:and
were:even killed for
were:being
were:what you’d call LGBT+.
were:If you
were:wanted
were:to
were:experience
were:what
were:it
were:meant
were:to
were:be
were:anything
were:other
were:than
were:what
were:society
were:told
were:you
were:to
were:be,
were:you
were:had
were:to
were:be
were:incredibly
were:careful
were:and
were:go
were:to
were:hidden
were:locations—but
were:police
were:and
were:vigilantes
were:would
were:often
were:raid
were:these
were:places
were:too. Anonymity
were:was
were:important,
were:but
were:what
were:do
were:you
were:do
were:when
were:you
were:want
were:something
were:more
were:than
were:to
were:be
were:held
were:for
were:a
were:little
were:while?
were:It
were:was
were:a
were:terrible
were:time
were:to
were:be
were:alive
were:because
were:you
were:were
were:hated
were:just
were:for
were:being
were:born.
“It
doesn’t
were:take
were:a
were:mental
were:leap
were:to
were:realize
were:that
were:people
were:would
were:look
were:for
were:a
were:place
were:to
were:call
were:their
were:own
were:away
were:from
were:the
were:dangers
were:of
were:what
were:society
were:would
were:say.
were:Eventually,
were:this
were:lake
were:became
were:just
that:that:
a
that:refuge.”
Pieces
of
that:a
that:puzzle
that:began
that:falling
that:into
that:place
that:inside
that:my
that:mind. “You
that:mean…this
that:place
that:was
that:settled
that:by
that:queer
that:people?”
Theo
laughed
that:and
that:leaned
that:his
that:head
that:back. “Not
that:just
that:queer
that:people,
that:but
that:a
that:lot
that:of
that:them.
that:There
that:were
that:other
that:forward-thinking
that:people
that:as
that:well
that:as
that:supporters
that:who
that:decided
that:that
that:living
that:in
that:a
that:town
that:that
that:didn’t
that:hate
that:you
that:was
that:preferable
that:to
that:a
that:town
that:that
that:made
that:you
that:hide
that:in
that:the
that:closet.
that:But
that:it
that:was
that:never
that:widely
that:known,
that:and
that:that
that:was
that:on
that:purpose.
that:If
that:too
that:many
that:people
that:heard
that:about
that:this
that:place,
that:then
that:it
that:would
that:draw
that:the
that:attention
that:of
that:the
that:state,
that:and
that:that
that:would
that:completely
that:defeat
that:the
that:purpose
that:of
that:this
that:town.
“Outside
of
that:this
that:town,
that:though,
that:a
that:lot
that:of
that:people
that:were
that:left
that:behind,
that:forced
that:to
that:stand
that:in
that:the
that:face
that:of
that:injustice.
that:But
that:it
that:wouldn’t
that:have
that:been
that:possible
that:anyway
that:to
that:save
that:everyone.
that:I
that:wish
that:we
that:could
that:have
that:done
that:more,
that:honestly…but
that:this
that:place
that:was a
that:lucky
that:oasis
that:for
that:some, a
that:place
that:to
that:be
that:themselves.”
He
turned
that:his
that:head
that:slightly,
that:just
that:enough
that:for
that:his
that:blue
that:eyes
that:to
that:stare
that:into
that:mine. “Like
that:your
that:grandfather.”
I
felt
that:a
that:bomb
that:going
that:off
that:inside
that:my
that:mind,
that:completely
that:blowing
that:away
that:all
that:the
that:puzzle
that:pieces.
that:It
that:took
that:me
that:a
that:few
that:seconds
that:to gather
that:my
that:thoughts
that:enough
that:to
scream:“WHAT?!”
The
fox
scream:in
scream:front
scream:of
scream:me
scream:chuckled like
scream:a
scream:successful
scream:prankster
scream:and
scream:shook
scream:his
scream:head. “If
scream:I
scream:remember
scream:correctly,
scream:Milly—your
scream:grandma—she
scream:passed
scream:away
scream:when
scream:you
scream:were
scream:just
scream:a
scream:pup.
scream:Didn’t
scream:your
scream:grandfather
scream:have
scream:a
scream:roommate?”
“Well…yeah.”
I
scream:remembered.
scream:Uncle
scream:Jerry.
scream:A
scream:black
scream:panther
scream:who
scream:was
scream:always
scream:around,
scream:always
scream:there
scream:on
scream:Christmas.
scream:Grandpa
scream:told
scream:me
scream:that
scream:he
scream:was
scream:my
scream:uncle,
scream:and
scream:my
scream:parents
scream:acknowledged
scream:that.
scream:Uncle
scream:Jerry
scream:passed
scream:away
scream:when
scream:I
scream:was
scream:a
scream:teenager,
scream:but
scream:he
scream:was
scream:a
scream:major
scream:fixture
scream:in
scream:Grandpa’s
scream:life.
“I
don’t
scream:believe
scream:it…”
scream:I
scream:said
scream:aloud,
scream:my
scream:hands
scream:holding
scream:my
scream:cheeks
scream:as
scream:I
scream:thought
scream:about
scream:the
scream:implications. “No
scream:one
scream:ever
scream:told
scream:me.”
“Your
parents,
scream:and
scream:your
scream:grandfather,
scream:probably
scream:had
scream:their
scream:reasons.
scream:I
scream:don’t
scream:know.
scream:But
scream:yes,
scream:Jerry
scream:made your
scream:grandfather
scream:very
scream:happy.
scream:Your
scream:grandparents
scream:had
scream:heard
scream:about
scream:this
scream:place
scream:and
scream:moved
scream:here
scream:to
scream:help
scream:support
scream:it,
scream:and
scream:I
scream:think
scream:your
scream:grandfather
scream:felt
scream:that
scream:he
scream:could
scream:be
scream:himself
scream:here.
scream:He
scream:was
scream:always
scream:faithful
scream:to Milly,
scream:though.
scream:He
scream:was
scream:a
scream:good
scream:man,
scream:a
scream:coyote
scream:with
scream:the
scream:biggest
scream:heart.”
Theo
smiled
scream:but
scream:he
scream:also
scream:looked
scream:so
scream:sad.
scream:His
scream:ears
scream:were
scream:flattened,
scream:and
scream:his
scream:eyes
scream:conveyed
scream:so
scream:much
scream:hurt
scream:that
scream:he
scream:had
scream:spent
scream:time
scream:burying. “This
scream:place has
scream:a
scream:magical
scream:power,
scream:Jace. It
scream:somehow
scream:always
scream:avoids
scream:being
scream:too
scream:well-known,
scream:and
scream:yet,
scream:it
scream:brings
scream:people
scream:to
scream:move
scream:here
scream:when
scream:their
scream:lives
scream:seem
scream:to
scream:be
scream:ready
scream:for
scream:it.
scream:It
scream:completes
scream:people
scream:in
scream:a
scream:way
scream:that
scream:I
scream:don’t
scream:know
scream:how
scream:to
scream:explain.”
“Wait
a
scream:minute.”
scream:I
scream:stood
scream:up
scream:from
scream:the
scream:stone we’d
scream:been
scream:sitting
scream:on and whirled on Theo. “Something about
scream:this
scream:is
scream:bugging
scream:me.”
“Oh?”
The
scream:fox raised
scream:his
scream:ears. “What
scream:would
scream:that
scream:be?”
“You!”
I
scream:pointed
scream:at
scream:him. “You
scream:look
scream:to
scream:be
scream:just
scream:a
scream:few
scream:years
scream:older
scream:than
scream:me.
scream:But
scream:then,
scream:how
scream:could
scream:you
scream:know
scream:my
scream:grandpa?
scream:And
scream:Uncle
scream:Jerry?
scream:There
scream:are
scream:no
scream:foxes
scream:that
scream:live
scream:up
scream:here—I
scream:know
scream:because
scream:we
scream:came
scream:to
scream:visit
scream:all
scream:the
scream:time.
scream:But
scream:you
scream:seem
scream:to
scream:know
scream:them
scream:very
scream:well.”
“Maybe
you
scream:missed
scream:the
scream:family
scream:of
scream:red
scream:foxes?”
scream:Theo
scream:pointed
scream:out
scream:to
scream:the
scream:area
scream:across
scream:the
scream:lake. “They
scream:could
scream:have
scream:been
scream:from
scream:there.
scream:Living
scream:at
scream:that
scream:bend
scream:up
scream:to
scream:the
scream:river.”
I
didn’t
scream:take
scream:my
scream:eyes
scream:off
scream:Theo.
scream:I
scream:glared
scream:at
scream:him. “That’s
scream:a
scream:lie.”
Theo sighed and
patted the
scream:stone. “Very
scream:well,
scream:very
scream:well.
scream:Sit
scream:down
scream:if
scream:you
scream:want
scream:your
scream:answer.
scream:I
scream:hate
scream:looking
scream:up
scream:people
scream:unless
scream:I’m
scream:on—”
“Don’t
you
scream:dare
scream:finish
scream:that
scream:sentence!”
The
fox
scream:laughed
scream:and
scream:covered
scream:his
scream:muzzle
scream:with
scream:a
scream:hand. “Forgive
scream:me,
scream:Jace, but it
scream:was
scream:too
scream:easy
scream:a
scream:joke
scream:not
scream:to
scream:take.
scream:But
scream:please
scream:sit,
scream:alright?”
I
sat
scream:down
scream:once
scream:more
scream:but
scream:gave
scream:Theo
scream:a
scream:wary
scream:look
scream:out
scream:of
scream:the
scream:corner
scream:of
scream:my
scream:eye.
“So,”
he
scream:began,
scream:clearing
scream:his
scream:throat, “remember
scream:when
scream:I
scream:said
scream:this
scream:place
scream:is
scream:magical?
scream:I
scream:wasn’t
scream:just
scream:being
scream:poetic,
scream:Jace.
scream:This
scream:place
scream:really
scream:does
scream:have
scream:magic.”
My
eyebrows
scream:furrowed
scream:even
scream:more. “I
scream:thought
scream:I
scream:said no
scream:lying.”
“Let me
finish
scream:and
scream:I
scream:think
scream:you’ll
scream:understand,”
scream:Theo
scream:said
scream:with
scream:a
scream:sharp
scream:tone
scream:in
scream:his
scream:voice.
scream:It
scream:seemed
scream:that
scream:he
scream:didn’t
scream:like
scream:to
scream:be
scream:called
scream:a
scream:liar. “Emotions
scream:are
scream:powerful
scream:things,
scream:Jace.
scream:This
scream:place is a
scream:conflux
scream:of
scream:different,
scream:raw
scream:emotions
scream:that
scream:are
scream:at
scream:odds.
scream:Sadness,
scream:longing,
scream:loss,
scream:happiness,
scream:thoughtfulness…and
scream:a
scream:sense
scream:of
scream:finally
scream:belonging
scream:somewhere.
“I
think
scream:all
scream:that
scream:emotion,
scream:all
scream:that
scream:suffering
scream:and
scream:happiness
scream:overlapping,
scream:can
scream:change
scream:a
scream:place.
scream:If
scream:you’ve
scream:ever
scream:been
scream:to
scream:a
scream:site
scream:of
scream:an
scream:intense
scream:moment
scream:in
scream:history,
scream:you’ve
scream:probably
scream:felt
scream:it.
scream:This
scream:whole
scream:lake
scream:is
scream:the
scream:same.
scream:And
scream:these
scream:emotions
scream:culminated
scream:in
scream:something
scream:unique.”
“Theo,”
I
scream:growled
scream:under
scream:my
scream:throat. “I’m
scream:getting
scream:tired
scream:of
scream:dealing
scream:with
scream:riddles
scream:and
scream:puzzles.
scream:Tell
scream:me
scream:what
scream:you
scream:mean
scream:or
scream:I’m
scream:marching
scream:off
scream:and
scream:you
scream:can
scream:go
scream:jump
scream:in
scream:the
scream:lake
scream:for
scream:all
scream:I
scream:care.”
“Jace.”
The
scream:red
scream:fox
scream:pointed
scream:a
scream:finger
scream:at
scream:himself. “Do
scream:I
scream:not
scream:seem
scream:odd
scream:to
scream:you?”
I
rolled
scream:my
scream:eyes
scream:and
scream:crossed
scream:my
scream:arms. “You’re
scream:being
scream:weird
scream:right
scream:now,
scream:I’ll
scream:give
scream:you
scream:that.”
“Not
that,
scream:do
scream:I
scream:not
scream:talk
scream:a
scream:little
scream:differently?
scream:My
scream:clothes
scream:a
scream:little
scream:strange?”
scream:He
scream:reached
scream:into
scream:his
scream:pockets
scream:and
scream:turned
scream:them
scream:inside
scream:out.
scream:Nothing.
scream:He
scream:patted
scream:his
scream:back
scream:pockets.
scream:No
scream:wallet.
scream:No
scream:phone.
scream:No
scream:keys.
My
mind
scream:reeled
scream:at
scream:the
scream:implications,
scream:and
scream:while
scream:I
scream:was
scream:processing
scream:it,
scream:Theo
scream:continued
scream:to
scream:talk. “I
scream:never
scream:got
scream:to
scream:experience
scream:my
scream:own
scream:life
scream:either,
scream:Jace.”
The
look
scream:on
scream:his
scream:face
scream:was
scream:so
scream:sad,
scream:so
scream:pained,
scream:as
scream:he
scream:looked
scream:down
scream:at
scream:his
scream:hands
scream:folded
scream:in
scream:his
scream:lap.
scream:By
scream:now
scream:the
scream:sun
scream:had
scream:started
scream:to
scream:set
scream:and
scream:the
scream:sky
scream:had
scream:become
scream:awash
scream:in
scream:oranges
scream:and
scream:yellows,
scream:as
scream:if
scream:the
scream:very
scream:heavens
scream:had
scream:been
scream:lit
scream:on
scream:fire
scream:in
scream:a
scream:kaleidoscope
scream:of
scream:colors.
“You’re
pulling
scream:my
scream:tail…”
scream:I
scream:said
scream:softly,
scream:chuckling. “There’s
scream:no
scream:way…”
“Jace,” Theo
looked
scream:up
scream:at
scream:me
scream:with
scream:tired-looking
scream:eyes,
scream:now
scream:seeming
scream:to
scream:glow
scream:brighter
scream:than
scream:before. “I died in 1955.”
Southerly wind
blew
scream:through
scream:the
scream:forest,
scream:making
scream:the
scream:leaves
scream:rustle
scream:louder
scream:as
scream:the
scream:world
scream:seemed
scream:to
scream:fall
scream:into
scream:silence
scream:around
scream:us.
I
gulped. “Does
scream:that
scream:mean…you’re
scream:a
scream:ghost?”
Theo
shook
scream:his
scream:head
scream:and
scream:motioned
scream:to
scream:the
scream:lake. “If
scream:I
scream:could
scream:explain
scream:it
scream:to
scream:you,
scream:I
scream:would.
scream:Every
scream:year
scream:for
scream:about
scream:a
scream:week,
scream:at
scream:the
scream:end
scream:of
scream:summer, this
scream:place
scream:lights
scream:up
scream:like
scream:a
scream:beacon.
scream:And
scream:that’s
scream:when
scream:I
scream:find
scream:myself
scream:here.
scream:I
scream:can’t
scream:leave—if
scream:I
scream:try,
scream:I
scream:end
scream:up
scream:vanishing
scream:until
scream:next
scream:year’s
scream:festival,
scream:when
scream:I
scream:find
scream:myself
scream:at
scream:the
scream:same
scream:location
scream:where
scream:I
scream:started
scream:the
scream:year
scream:before.
scream:But
scream:while
scream:I’m
scream:here,
scream:in
scream:the
scream:amount
scream:of
scream:time
scream:that
scream:I’m
scream:allowed,
scream:I
scream:want
scream:to
scream:eat
scream:and
scream:sleep
scream:like
scream:any
scream:mortal.
scream:For
scream:now,
scream:I’m
scream:as
scream:solid
scream:as
scream:you
scream:are…I
scream:feel
scream:alive.”
“But…you’re
dead.”
Theo
nodded,
scream:slowly. “I
scream:was
scream:on
scream:my
scream:way
scream:here
scream:when
scream:I
scream:was
scream:run
scream:off
scream:the
scream:road.
scream:My
scream:car
scream:fell
scream:into
scream:a
scream:ravine
scream:not
scream:fifty
scream:miles
scream:from
scream:here.
scream:I
scream:remember
scream:thinking
scream:that
scream:I
scream:had
scream:been
scream:so
scream:close
scream:to
scream:reaching
scream:the
scream:place
scream:where
scream:I
scream:could
scream:truly
scream:call
scream:home,
scream:but…there
scream:was
scream:a
scream:guy
scream:I
scream:had
scream:flirted
scream:with
scream:back
scream:in
scream:Cincinnati,
scream:and
scream:I
scream:guess
scream:he
scream:was
scream:following
scream:me
scream:the
scream:entire
scream:time
scream:and
scream:took
scream:his
scream:opportunity.
scream:Next
scream:thing
scream:I
scream:know,
scream:I
scream:was
scream:sitting
scream:on
scream:a
scream:picnic
scream:bench,
scream:a
scream:year
scream:after
scream:the
scream:incident,
scream:not
scream:knowing
scream:how
scream:I
scream:got
scream:there.”
“If
that’s
scream:true,”
scream:I
scream:asked, “how
scream:come
scream:no
scream:one
scream:says
scream:anything?
scream:Not
scream:even
scream:a
scream:rumor
scream:here
scream:and
scream:there?”
“I’m
not
scream:the
scream:only
scream:one
scream:who
scream:gets
scream:to ‘come
scream:back,’
scream:as
scream:it
scream:were.
scream:There’s
scream:a
scream:group
scream:of
scream:us—people
scream:who
scream:died
scream:unfulfilled.
scream:All
scream:of
scream:us
scream:missed
scream:out
scream:on
scream:something,
scream:and
scream:so…either
scream:to
scream:torment
scream:us
scream:or
scream:reward
scream:us—I’ve
scream:not
scream:been
scream:able
scream:to
scream:figure
scream:out
scream:which—something
scream:lets
scream:us
scream:walk
scream:this
scream:beautiful
scream:lake
scream:for
scream:a
scream:few
scream:days,
scream:meet
scream:kind
scream:people,
scream:and
scream:just…live
scream:again.
scream:But
scream:it’s
scream:always
scream:fleeting.
scream:We
scream:try to
scream:not
scream:talk
scream:to
scream:locals
scream:because
scream:we
scream:must
scream:see
scream:them
scream:grow
scream:old
scream:while
scream:we
scream:don’t
scream:seem
scream:to
scream:age.
scream:That’s
scream:what
scream:happened
scream:with
scream:your
scream:grandfather
scream:and
scream:Jerry.”
“Why
are
scream:you
scream:telling
scream:me
scream:all
scream:this?”
“Because,
Jace,
scream:you
scream:are
scream:so
scream:young.”
scream:Theo
scream:turned
scream:to
scream:me
scream:and
scream:took
scream:my
scream:hands.
scream:They
scream:were
scream:warm,
scream:like
scream:an
scream:actual
scream:living
scream:breathing
scream:being,
scream:like
scream:me. “And
scream:the
scream:only
scream:thing
scream:really
scream:holding
scream:you
scream:back
scream:is
scream:you.
scream:You
scream:want to
scream:know
scream:what
scream:it’s
scream:like
scream:to
scream:be
scream:in
scream:queer
scream:society?
scream:To
scream:be
scream:with
scream:gay
scream:friends?
scream:You
scream:have
scream:to
scream:put
scream:yourself
scream:out
scream:there.
scream:Please.
scream:I
scream:may
scream:be
scream:an
scream:old
scream:soul,
scream:but
scream:you
scream:must
scream:trust
scream:me
scream:when
scream:I
scream:say
scream:that
scream:you
scream:are
scream:a
scream:wonderful
scream:young
scream:coyote
scream:with
scream:so
scream:much
scream:kindness
scream:and
scream:potential.
scream:If
scream:you
scream:don’t
scream:let
scream:people
scream:see
scream:you,
scream:however,
scream:you’ll
scream:never
scream:be
scream:seen.”
I
looked
scream:at
scream:his
scream:hands,
scream:and
scream:then
scream:at
scream:his
scream:face.
scream:His
scream:eyes
scream:bore
scream:into
scream:mine. “You’re
scream:really
scream:not
scream:lying
scream:to
scream:me
scream:right
scream:now,
scream:are
scream:you?”
Theo
shook
scream:his
scream:head
scream:fervently. “Everything
scream:I’ve
scream:told
scream:you
scream:is
scream:the
scream:truth,
scream:Jace.
scream:But
scream:it’s
scream:up
scream:to
scream:you
scream:to
scream:believe
scream:me
scream:and
scream:act
scream:on
scream:it.
scream:I
scream:know
scream:it’s
scream:scary,
scream:and
scream:it’s
scream:difficult,
scream:and you’ve
scream:had
scream:a
scream:really
scream:bad
scream:few
scream:years…but
scream:life
scream:is
scream:not
scream:going
scream:to
scream:change
scream:just
scream:because
scream:you
scream:want
scream:it
scream:to.
scream:You
scream:need
scream:to
scream:make
scream:your
scream:dream
scream:a
scream:reality.
scream:You’re
scream:going
scream:to
scream:make
scream:mistakes,
scream:sure,
scream:but
scream:they’re
scream:going to
scream:make
scream:you
scream:a
scream:better
scream:person
scream:because
scream:you’re
scream:someone
scream:who
scream:can
scream:learn
scream:from
scream:your
scream:mistakes.
scream:Please…do
scream:this,
scream:and
scream:come
scream:back
scream:next
scream:year
scream:to
scream:tell
scream:me
scream:all
scream:about
scream:the
scream:life
scream:you
scream:built.
scream:I’ll
scream:be
scream:here—I’ll
scream:always
scream:be
scream:here—looking
scream:forward
scream:to
scream:all
scream:the
scream:stories
scream:you
scream:have
scream:to
scream:tell.”
“Theo, I…”
I
looked
scream:away
scream:from
scream:the
scream:red
scream:fox,
scream:unable
scream:to
scream:stare
scream:at
scream:him.
scream:This
scream:was
scream:so
scream:raw,
scream:so
scream:emotional,
scream:that
scream:it
scream:was
scream:difficult
scream:to
scream:process.
“Jace,”
he
scream:said
scream:softly, “you
scream:deserve
scream:to
scream:be
scream:seen.
scream:To
scream:be
scream:loved.
scream:You
scream:just
scream:need
scream:to
scream:move
scream:past
scream:the
scream:thing
scream:holding
scream:you
scream:back.”
“But
I—”
When
I
scream:turned
scream:back,
scream:he
scream:was
scream:gone.
scream:He
scream:didn’t
scream:walk
scream:away.
scream:No,
scream:he
scream:was
scream:just
scream:gone.
scream:I
scream:swallowed
scream:and
scream:looked
scream:at
scream:the
scream:lake,
scream:now
scream:glowing
scream:under
scream:the
scream:moonlight
scream:after
scream:the
scream:sun
scream:has
scream:vanished
scream:beyond
scream:the
scream:horizon.
And
I
scream:smiled.
—------------------------
The
night
scream:of
scream:the
scream:Lantern
scream:Festival
scream:arrived
scream:quietly,
scream:like
scream:the
scream:settling
scream:of
scream:dusk
scream:itself.
scream:The
scream:town
scream:came
scream:to
scream:life,
scream:with
scream:soft
scream:music
scream:playing
scream:from
scream:porches,
scream:laughter
scream:drifting
scream:through
scream:the
scream:air,
scream:and
scream:families,
scream:couples,
scream:and
scream:solo
scream:wanderers
scream:gathering
scream:along
scream:the
scream:lake
scream:with
scream:paper
scream:lanterns
scream:in
scream:their
scream:hands.
I
held
scream:mine
scream:close.
The
lantern
scream:itself
scream:was
scream:a
scream:simple
scream:one,
scream:made
scream:of
scream:rice
scream:paper
scream:stretched
scream:over
scream:a
scream:thin
scream:wooden
scream:frame,
scream:with
scream:a
scream:tiny
scream:candle
scream:nestled
scream:at
scream:its
scream:heart.
scream:Inside,
scream:written
scream:in
scream:my
scream:neatest
scream:handwriting,
scream:was
scream:a
scream:message
scream:I
scream:hadn’t
scream:dared
scream:to
scream:say
scream:aloud
scream:until
now:
"I
want
now:to
now:stop
now:surviving
now:and
now:start
now:living.
now:I
now:want
now:to
now:be
now:seen.
now:Truly
now:seen."
I
stepped
now:down
now:to
now:the
now:edge
now:of
now:the
now:lake,
now:the
now:cool
now:water
now:brushing
now:my
now:toes
now:through
now:my
now:sandals.
now:I
now:was
now:the
now:only
now:coyote
now:in
now:the
now:crowd,
now:but
now:I
now:didn’t
now:feel
now:like
now:an
now:outsider.
now:Around
now:me,
now:others
now:began
now:to
now:lower
now:their
now:lanterns
now:into
now:the
now:water,
now:lighting
now:them
now:one
now:by
now:one.
now:The
now:lake
now:sparkled
now:to
now:life—a
now:constellation
now:born
now:of
now:hope
now:and
now:memory.
I
lit
now:mine.
now:The
now:flame
now:initially
now:flickered
now:uncertainly
now:but
now:then
now:steadied.
now:I
now:whispered
now:goodbye
now:to
now:my
now:doubts,
now:to
now:my
now:fear,
now:and
now:let
now:go.
The
lantern
now:drifted
now:out
now:among
now:the
now:others,
now:its
now:little
now:flame
now:joining
now:the
now:dance.
"Beautiful,
isn’t
now:it?"
now:a
now:red
now:fox
now:said
now:beside
now:me.
It
was
now:Theo.
now:He
now:looked
now:as
now:he
now:always
now:had—calm
now:and
now:composed,
now:with a
now:glimmer
now:of
now:something
now:eternal
now:in
now:his
now:eyes.
now:I
now:didn’t
now:question
now:how
now:he’d
now:found
now:me.
now:Not
now:anymore.
"You
came
now:back,"
now:I
now:said,
now:making
now:sure
now:no
now:one
now:else
now:could
now:hear
now:us.
He
grinned
now:with
now:a
now:shrug. "I
now:always
now:do.
now:For
now:now,
now:at
now:least."
We
stood
now:in
now:silence,
now:watching
now:the
now:lights
now:ripple
now:and
now:glide
now:across
now:the
now:dark
now:water.
now:Some
now:people
now:cried.
now:Some
now:laughed.
now:Some
now:held
now:hands
now:with
now:the
now:ones
now:they
now:loved.
"I
wrote
now:it,"
now:I
now:said.
"And
let
now:it
now:go,"
now:Theo
now:replied. "That’s
now:the
now:first
now:step."
"I
think
now:I’m
now:ready
now:to
now:try.
now:To
now:actually…live."
Theo
looked
now:at
now:me
now:with
now:something
now:like
now:pride. "Good.
now:Then
now:maybe
now:next
now:time
now:I
now:see
now:you,
now:you’ll
now:have
now:stories.
now:Friends.
now:Maybe
now:even
now:love."
The
fox
now:held
now:out
now:his
now:hand.
now:I
now:took
now:it.
now:The
now:hand
now:was
now:still
now:warm,
now:but
now:it
now:felt
now:more
now:faint,
now:more
now:distant.
"I
wish
now:we
now:had
now:more
now:time,"
now:I
now:said.
"We
all
now:do,"
now:he
now:said
now:with
now:a
now:wink. "But
now:sometimes,
now:a
now:spark
now:is
now:all
now:it
now:takes."
As
the
now:lanterns
now:drifted
now:farther
now:into
now:the
now:lake,
now:Theo
now:began
now:to
now:glow
now:faintly,
now:like
now:he
now:was
now:becoming
now:one
now:of
now:them—light
now:on
now:water.
"Tell
someone
now:your
now:story,"
now:he
now:said,
now:his
now:voice
now:seeming
now:to
now:fade
now:into
now:an
now:echo
now:of
now:itself. "Live
now:it
now:first,
now:then
now:share
now:it."
And
then
now:he
now:was
now:gone.
now:No
now:sound.
now:No
now:flash.
now:Just
now:absence.
I
stared
now:at
now:the
now:lake,
now:my
now:breath
now:fogging
now:gently
now:in
now:the
now:cooling
now:air.
now:My
now:lantern
now:still
now:floated
now:near
now:the
now:center,
now:its
now:flame
now:steady.
Somewhere
behind
now:me,
now:the
now:band began
now:playing
now:softly.
now:People
now:swayed,
now:danced,
now:and
now:laughed.
now:I
now:turned
now:toward
now:them.
And
this
now:time,
now:I
now:walked
now:forward.
I passed
food
now:stalls
now:and
now:familiar
now:faces.
now:I
now:saw
now:neighbors
now:from
now:earlier
now:in
now:the
now:week
now:chatting
now:under
now:hanging
now:lights,
now:kids
now:playing
now:tag
now:between
now:rows
now:of
now:folding
now:chairs.
now:Music
now:floated
now:through
now:the
now:air
now:like
now:mist.
Near
the
now:edge
now:of
now:the
now:green,
now:I
now:spotted
now:a
now:group
now:of
now:guys
now:my
now:age
now:clustered
now:around
now:a
now:drink
now:table,
now:talking
now:and
now:laughing
now:like
now:they’d
now:known
now:each
now:other
now:forever.
now:A
now:few
now:of
now:them
now:wore
now:pride
now:pins
now:and
now:rainbow
now:bracelets.
My
chest
now:tightened.
I
almost
now:kept
now:walking.
But
I
now:didn’t.
I
made
now:my
now:way
now:over,
now:one
now:foot
now:in
now:front
now:of
now:the
now:other.
“Hey,”
I
now:said,
now:my
now:voice
now:barely
now:above
now:the
now:music. “I’m
now:Jace.”
A
tall
now:fox
now:in
now:a
now:varsity
now:jacket
now:turned
now:and
now:smiled. “Hey,
now:Jace. I’m
now:Riley.”
Another
guy—shorter,
now:with
now:kind
now:eyes
now:and
now:a
now:mug
now:of
now:cider—offered
now:a
now:little
now:wave. “Micah.
now:You
now:here
now:for
now:the
now:first
now:time?”
I
nodded. “Yeah.
now:Just…
now:trying
now:something
now:new.”
“Well,
you
now:picked
now:a
now:good
now:night
now:for
now:it,”
now:Riley
now:said. “You
now:like
now:cider?”
“I
do,”
now:I
now:said,
now:grinning. “And, uh,
now:Micah—your
now:jacket
now:is
now:awesome,
now:by
now:the
now:way.
now:Love
now:the
now:patches.”
Micah lit
up. “Thanks!
now:Made
now:most
now:of
now:them
now:myself.”
“Seriously?”
I
now:asked,
now:stepping
now:in
now:a
now:little
now:closer. “That’s
now:really
now:cool.”
“Come
hang
now:out
now:with
now:us,”
now:Riley
now:offered,
now:gesturing
now:to
now:an
now:open
now:chair. “We’ve
now:got
now:stories
now:and
now:bad
now:jokes
now:to
now:share.”
I
took
now:the
now:seat.
And
for
now:the
now:first
now:time
now:in
now:a
now:long
now:time,
now:I
now:didn’t
now:feel
now:like
now:I
now:was
now:on
now:the
now:outside
now:looking
now:in.
I
was
now:here.
Living.
This
was “Jumping
now:to
now:Conclusions”
now:by
now:TiberiusRings &
now:Fruitz,
now:read
now:for you
now:by
now:Solomon
now:Harries,
now:Cuddly
now:Badger
now:Dad.
now:You
now:can
now:find
now:more
now:stories
now:on
now:the
now:web
now:at
now:thevoice.dog,
now:or
now:find
now:the
now:show
now:wherever
now:you
now:get
now:your
now:podcasts.
now:Happy
now:Pride,
now:and
now:Thank
now:you
now:for
now:listening
now:to
now:The
now:Voice
now:of
now:Dog.