Can’t find words to adequately describe the weather.
No need to write about the weather.
From a distance my aunt and uncle’s house looks like a refugee camp.
From a distance anything looks like a refugee camp.
Shoeless children playing basketball with a soccer ball.
No rest for the disenfranchised.
In the front yard: clothing lined up along the fence, half a dozen cars in the driveway spilling onto the lawn.
The point is not that something is out
of place. The image is fairly repre-
sentative
I’m not sure how I feel about the word repre-
sentative.
Go on.
I’m not sure it’s possible.
Go on.
Here the residents still consider themselves to be in the world.
No need to write about the world.
And of nature?
No need to write about nature.
There are things I know of nature: Child M and Child N bring the turtle home. (It was their fault. They were told no.)
Go on.
And Cousin L. Cousin L had her boyfriend over, a dinner date, she put a sign on the
curtains, I helped her put up the curtains, she taped a sign onto the curtains, the sign said LOVE IN PROGRESS: NO DISTURBING. Cousin L.
Cousin L?
Before or after I don’t remember–
–it doesn’t matter–
–Cousin L took a cucumber and said, this size.
Go on.
Degrade further.
And Cousin K. And Child S. And Mr. I. And I.
I?
Before or after I don’t remember–
–it doesn’t matter–
–Child W took a cucumber and said, can I have this?
Go on.
Mr. I didn’t like me very much.
Me?
And there was a storm, some nasty weather, he called the cops on us, Cousin Y and I–
–it doesn’t matter–
—and we ran away and we were in bed, Cous- in P and I.
Go on.
—and Cousin H’s ex-boyfriend was in the yard, he was sleeping on the hood of the van, Cous- in H only let him sleep on top of the van.
Devolve.
And the ex-husband, there was the ex-hus- band.
You write only of people once they are ex(ternal).
It doesn’t matter.
And?
I took a cucumber and said, can this kill me?
Go on.
I didn’t like me very much.
I?
And there was a storm, some nasty weather, I stayed under the blankets until it was over.
It’s just thunder.
Clamor 