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
Speaker:


You’re

Speaker:

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

Speaker:

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

fear:

Solomon

fear:

Harries,

fear:

Cuddly

fear:

Badger

fear:

Dad.

Please

fear:

enjoy

“Jumping

fear:

to

fear:

Conclusions”

fear:

by

fear:

TiberiusRings &

fear:

Fruitz.

The

fear:

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

fear:

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

fear:

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

fear:

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,

fear:

that

fear:

Lantern

fear:

Thing,

fear:

right?”
I

fear:

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

fear:

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

fear:

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

fear:

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

fear:

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

fear:

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,

fear:

it

fear:

was

fear:

my

fear:

home

fear:

now.
I

fear:

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

fear:

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

were:

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

were:

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

were:

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

were:

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

were:

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

were:

deep

were:

in

were:

thought

were:

was

were:

I,

were:

that

were:

I

were:

didn’t

were:

notice

were:

someone

were:

approaching.
"Oh,

were:

hello

were:

there!"
I

were:

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

were:

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

were:

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

were:

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

were:

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

were:

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

were:

not

were:

my

were:

rock

were:

or

were:

my

were:

forest,"

were:

I

were:

replied. "Go

were:

ahead."
"Delightful,"

were:

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,"

were:

I

were:

replied.
He

were:

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

were:

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

were:

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,"

were:

I

were:

said,

were:

surprised

were:

by

were:

how

were:

right

were:

that

were:

felt.
Theo

were:

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

were:

chuckled. "Just

were:

a journal.

were:

Thoughts.

were:

Stuff

were:

I

were:

don’t

were:

really

were:

say

were:

out

were:

loud."
"Mysterious,"

were:

Theo

were:

said

were:

with

were:

a

were:

grin. "I

were:

like

were:

it."
There

were:

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

were:

you…

were:

from

were:

around

were:

here?"

were:

I

were:

asked.
"Oh

were:

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,"

were:

I

were:

said,

were:

raising

were:

a

were:

brow. "Where

were:

exactly

were:

do

were:

you

were:

live?"
"Other

were:

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

were:

walk

were:

just

were:

to

were:

sit

were:

on

were:

a

were:

rock,"

were:

I

were:

teased.
"Well,

were:

I

were:

like

were:

rocks,"

were:

he

were:

said

were:

matter-of-factly. "They

were:

don’t

were:

talk

were:

back.

were:

Usually."
I

were:

laughed.

were:

He

were:

smiled

were:

at

were:

that.
"I’d

were:

need

were:

GPS

were:

to

were:

find

were:

my

were:

way

were:

home

were:

from

were:

here,"

were:

I

were:

added.
"GPS?"

were:

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

were:

know—Google

were:

Maps?

were:

Apple?"
"Ah!

were:

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

were:

not

were:

that

were:

old

were:

a term,"

were:

I

were:

said with a smirk.
Theo leaned in

were:

and

were:

whispered conspiratorially, "Maybe

were:

I'm

were:

just

were:

weird

were:

then."
I

were:

gave

were:

him

were:

a

were:

look.
He

were:

just

were:

grinned.
Something

were:

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

were:

I

were:

didn’t

were:

quite

were:

know

were:

why.
“Ah

were:

that

were:

explains

were:

it;

were:

I’m

were:

pretty

were:

dense

were:

sometimes.”
The

were:

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,”

were:

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

were:

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

were:

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

were:

could

were:

feel

were:

a

were:

lump

were:

forming

were:

in

were:

my

were:

throat. “Um,

were:

kinder

were:

to

were:

myself?”
Theo

were:

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

were:

I

were:

just

were:

met

were:

you.”
“Yes,

were:

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

were:

is

were:

weird,”

were:

I

were:

laughed

were:

nervously. “What

were:

are

were:

you,

were:

my

were:

counselor?”
“If

were:

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

were:

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

were:

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

were:

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

were:

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

were:

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

were:

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

were:

bracelet,”

were:

he

were:

said

were:

before

were:

I

were:

could

were:

ask

were:

anything. “It’s a

were:

rainbow.”
My

were:

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

were:

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

were:

then

were:

what

were:

happened?”
“Nothing!”

were:

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

were:

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

were:

what

were:

did

were:

you

were:

do?”
That

were:

question

were:

caught

were:

me

were:

off

were:

guard. “Huh?

were:

What…what do

were:

you

were:

mean?”
“What

were:

did

were:

you

were:

do

were:

to

were:

be in

were:

more

were:

queer

were:

spaces?”
“I…uh…

were:

I

were:

mean…”
“From

were:

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,

were:

I

were:

didn’t

were:

have

were:

anyone

were:

to

were:

go

were:

with.”
“So

were:

you

were:

didn’t

were:

want

were:

to

were:

go

were:

alone?”
“No!”
“But

were:

you

were:

didn’t

were:

have

were:

any

were:

other

were:

queer

were:

friends?”
“N…no…”
I

were:

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

were:

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

were:

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

were:

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!”

were:

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

were:

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

were:

said

were:

quietly,

were:

gently

were:

interrupting

were:

me. “That’s

were:

horrible.

were:

You

were:

must

were:

have

were:

been

were:

overwhelmed.”
I

were:

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

were:

tilted

were:

his

were:

head

were:

again. “Did

were:

I

were:

say

were:

something

were:

silly?”
“Yes.

were:

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

were:

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

were:

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

were:

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

were:

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

were:

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

were:

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

were:

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

were:

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

were:

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

were:

nodded.
“So,

were:

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

were:

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

were:

do

were:

you

were:

mean?”
He

were:

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,”

were:

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

were:

do

were:

you

were:

know

were:

about

were:

the

were:

history

were:

of

were:

this

were:

lake?”
“History?”

were:

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

were:

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

were:

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

were:

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

were:

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

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

were:

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

that:

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

that:

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

that:

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

that:

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

that:

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

scream:

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.”

scream:

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

scream:

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

scream:

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

scream:

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

scream:

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?”

scream:

The

scream:

fox raised

scream:

his

scream:

ears. “What

scream:

would

scream:

that

scream:

be?”
“You!”

scream:

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

scream:

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

scream:

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

scream:

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

scream:

you

scream:

dare

scream:

finish

scream:

that

scream:

sentence!”
The

scream:

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

scream:

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,”

scream:

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

scream:

eyebrows

scream:

furrowed

scream:

even

scream:

more. “I

scream:

thought

scream:

I

scream:

said no

scream:

lying.”
“Let me

scream:

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

scream:

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,”

scream:

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.”

scream:

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

scream:

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

scream:

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

scream:

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

scream:

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

scream:

pulling

scream:

my

scream:

tail…”

scream:

I

scream:

said

scream:

softly,

scream:

chuckling. “There’s

scream:

no

scream:

way…”
“Jace,” Theo

scream:

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

scream:

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

scream:

gulped. “Does

scream:

that

scream:

mean…you’re

scream:

a

scream:

ghost?”
Theo

scream:

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

scream:

dead.”
Theo

scream:

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

scream:

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

scream:

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

scream:

are

scream:

you

scream:

telling

scream:

me

scream:

all

scream:

this?”
“Because,

scream:

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

scream:

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

scream:

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

scream:

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,”

scream:

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

scream:

I—”
When

scream:

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

scream:

I

scream:

smiled.
—------------------------
The

scream:

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

scream:

held

scream:

mine

scream:

close.
The

scream:

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

now:

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

now:

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

now:

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

now:

lantern

now:

drifted

now:

out

now:

among

now:

the

now:

others,

now:

its

now:

little

now:

flame

now:

joining

now:

the

now:

dance.
"Beautiful,

now:

isn’t

now:

it?"

now:

a

now:

red

now:

fox

now:

said

now:

beside

now:

me.
It

now:

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

now:

came

now:

back,"

now:

I

now:

said,

now:

making

now:

sure

now:

no

now:

one

now:

else

now:

could

now:

hear

now:

us.
He

now:

grinned

now:

with

now:

a

now:

shrug. "I

now:

always

now:

do.

now:

For

now:

now,

now:

at

now:

least."
We

now:

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

now:

wrote

now:

it,"

now:

I

now:

said.
"And

now:

let

now:

it

now:

go,"

now:

Theo

now:

replied. "That’s

now:

the

now:

first

now:

step."
"I

now:

think

now:

I’m

now:

ready

now:

to

now:

try.

now:

To

now:

actually…live."
Theo

now:

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

now:

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

now:

wish

now:

we

now:

had

now:

more

now:

time,"

now:

I

now:

said.
"We

now:

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

now:

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

now:

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

now:

then

now:

he

now:

was

now:

gone.

now:

No

now:

sound.

now:

No

now:

flash.

now:

Just

now:

absence.
I

now:

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

now:

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

now:

this

now:

time,

now:

I

now:

walked

now:

forward.
I passed

now:

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

now:

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

now:

chest

now:

tightened.
I

now:

almost

now:

kept

now:

walking.
But

now:

I

now:

didn’t.
I

now:

made

now:

my

now:

way

now:

over,

now:

one

now:

foot

now:

in

now:

front

now:

of

now:

the

now:

other.
“Hey,”

now:

I

now:

said,

now:

my

now:

voice

now:

barely

now:

above

now:

the

now:

music. “I’m

now:

Jace.”
A

now:

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

now:

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

now:

nodded. “Yeah.

now:

Just…

now:

trying

now:

something

now:

new.”
“Well,

now:

you

now:

picked

now:

a

now:

good

now:

night

now:

for

now:

it,”

now:

Riley

now:

said. “You

now:

like

now:

cider?”
“I

now:

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

now:

up. “Thanks!

now:

Made

now:

most

now:

of

now:

them

now:

myself.”
“Seriously?”

now:

I

now:

asked,

now:

stepping

now:

in

now:

a

now:

little

now:

closer. “That’s

now:

really

now:

cool.”
“Come

now:

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

now:

took

now:

the

now:

seat.
And

now:

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

now:

was

now:

here.
Living.




This

now:

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.

Next Episode All Episodes Previous Episode

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.

Listen for free

About your host

Profile picture for Khaki

Khaki