t a a c a t t a c k v o l . 5
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T h r o u g h o u t t h i s r e h e a r s a l p r o c e s s p e o p l eh a v e o f t e na s k e dme , “ S o . Wh a t ’ s A r c a d i aa b o u t ? ”My b r a i ni n s t a n t l ys t a r t s f r e a k i n go u t wh e ni t t r i e s t o p r o c e s s t h a t q u e s t i o ni n t ot woo r t h r e en e a t l i t t l e s e n t e n c e s . ( e v e nwr i t i n gt woo r t h r e en e a t l i t t l e p a r a g r a p h s f o r d i r e c t o r ’ s n o t e s h a s t a k e nmewe e k s a n ds e v e r a l d r a f t s ) T h es c r i p t o f A r c a d i ap o k e s a r o u n di nh i s t o r y , s c i e n c e , ma t h , l i t e r a t u r ea n dl e a r n i n ga s awh o l e . T o m S t o p p a r ds h o ws o f f h i s e v e r s h a r pi n t e l l e c t wi t h l o f t yc o n c e p t s o f a c a d e mi at oa na l mo s t o v e r wh e l mi n gd e g r e e . I f e e l l i k ee a c ht i mewer e a di t o r s a wa r e h e a r s a l wec o u l dd i s c o v e r a na l l n e w. . . s o me t h i n g ; an e wh i d d e nc o n n e c t i o no r p a r a l l e l , ab e t t e r g r a s po f t h emo r ee r u d i t ec o n c e p t s , o r e v e nmi s s e d o p p o r t u n i t i e s f o r h i s t o r i c a l r e v i s i o n i s m. “ I f o u n da n e wn u g g e t ! ”wa s c o mmo n l yp r o c l a i me dd u r i n gr e h e a r s a l s . E v e r ys i n g l ep e r s o ni n v o l v e di nt h i s s h o wh a s l e a r n e ds o me t h i n gn e w, wh e t h e r i t b et h el a ws o f t h e r mo d y n a mi c s , n e wt o n i a np h y s i c s , h o wt h e t h e o r yo f r e l a t i v i t yr e a l l ywo r k s , o r t h eu n d e r p i n n i n g s o f c h a o s t h e o r y . ( C a nI j u s t s a yh o wi n c r e d i b l e i t wa s t oh a v et woa we s o meh i s t o r i a n s / d r a ma t u r g s o nt h i s s h o wa l o n gwi t had i a l e c t c o a c hwh oi s a c t u a l l yB r i t i s h ! T h a t ma d emyl i f ee a s i e r . )
F o r me , t h o u g h , t h ev a l u eo f t h i s s h o wh a s n o t h i n g t od owi t ha n yo f t h o s es u r f a c et h i n g s , b u t i n s t e a d wh a t h a s ma d et h i s s h o wal o n g s t a n d i n gf a v o r i t e o f mi n ei s t h es i mp l el i n e : “ i t ’ s t h ewa n t i n gt o k n o wt h a t ma k e s u s ma t t e r ” . Wh i l ea l l t h a t s c h o l a r s h i pi s i n t e r e s t i n g , t h emo s t v a l u a b l ea n de n g a g i n gp a r t o f A r c a d i ai s t h ec h a r a c t e r s t h e ms e l v e s . Wh e t h e r i n2 0 1 2o r 1 8 1 2t h e i r d e s i r e s ( s p o k e na n d u n s p o k e n ) r e s o n a t ewi t hmea n d( f i n g e r s c r o s s e d ) , a l l o f u s . S owh a t i s A r c a d i aa b o u t ?We l l f o r mei t ’ s t h i s : N oma t t e r h o wmu c hwes e e kt ok n o w, i t wi l l b e f o r g o t t e n . N oma t t e r h o wmu c hwed e s i r et oh a v e , i t wi l l b et a k e n ; a n dn oma t t e r h o wmu c hwey e a r n t of e e l , o n ed a ya l l f e e l i n g s wi l l e n d . T h emi r a c l ei s , t h a t e v e na g a i n s t t h emo s t i mp o s s i b l eo f o d d s , wek e e pg o i n g . Wes t u d yt ol e a r na n d c h a l l e n g eo l di d e a s a g a i n s t n e wr e v e l a t i o n s . We s t r i v et oc o l l e c t a n dt r e a s u r et h o s et h i n gwh i c hwe , p e r s o n a l l y , d e e mb e a u t i f u l . Wed e f e n dt h er i g h t t o r e a c ho u t a n dl a yo u r h e a r t s b a r eb e f o r ee a c h o t h e r i nl o v e . N oma t t e r t h ef a c t t h ef a i l u r ei s f i n a l , wes t r u g g l eo n . A n di nt h a t s t r u g g l el i e s s o me t h i n gI d o n ’ t r e a l l y k n o wh o wt oe x p l a i n ; b u t i t h a s a l wa y s b e e n wi t h i nu s , a n da l wa y s wi l l b e , f r o mt i mei mme mo r i a l t ot i meu n i ma g i n a b l e . “ a n dI c a ns a ywi t ht h ep a i n t e r ‘ E t i nA r c a d i ae g o ’ ” B e n j a mi nT . I s ma i l
TAAC’ sDi gi talArtMagazi ne Weknowyoure ye sa r ebus y. The y’ r ebomba r de dwi t hi ma ge se ve r y s e c ondofe ve r yda y. I fyous pe ndal otoft i mei nf r ontofas c r e e n, f or wor korpl e a s ur e , l ot sofwha tyous e ei sc a r e f ul l yc r a f t e dt oma keyou buys ome t hi ngort hi nkac e r t a i nwa y. Wi t hTAACAt t a c k, wehopet ogi veyouabr e a kf r om t hee ve r yda y, t he a dve r t or i a l , t hes pi n. Tha t ’ snott os a yt ha tyou’ l lf i ndt hee qui va l e ntofa qui e t , s a ndybe a c hi nt he s epa ge s . Thea r ta ndwr i t i ngi nI s s ue5i sda r k a sof t e na si ti swhi ms i c a l , a spr ovoc a t i vea sof t e na si ti sf un. Andwedo s uppor tl oc a lbus i ne s s e sbyl e t t i ngyouknowwhot he ya r ea ndwhe r et o f i ndt he m. Thei mpor t a ntt hi ngi st ha tt hewor kyou’ l lf i ndhe r ei sa l wa ys t r ue , a ndi tc ome sf r om pe opl ec l os ebyt hea r t i s t si nyourc ommuni t y. Sot ur nt hepa gea ndope nt hedoort oapl a c ewhe r eyourhe a r tdoe st he s e e i ng, whe r e , t hr oughvi s ua la r t , poe ms , s hor ts t or i e sa ndi nt e r vi e ws , youmi ghtdi s c ove rne wa nds ur pr i s i ngi nt e r pr e t a t i onsoft hedr e a m we c a l ll i f e .
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l eWe i ne r Edi tor:Janel dBl ueGa r r i s on ArtDi rector:Davi T h eAl t e r n a t i v eAr t sCo l l e c t i v ep r o v i d e sap l a t f o r mt h a ts u p p o r t s ,p r o mo t e s ,a n de mp o we r sl o c a l v i s u a l a n dp e r f o r mi n ga r t i s t sa st h e yc o n t r i b u t et ot h ec u l t u r a l e n r i c h me n to ft h eSa c r a me n t or e g i o n .Asa na r t s h u b ,wee n c o u r a g ei n d i v i d u a l a n dc o l l a b o r a t i v ea r t i s t i ce x p r e s s i o nt h r o u g hu n l i mi t e dme d i u ms ,g i v i n gn e w a n dv e t e r a na r t i s t st h eo p p o r t u n i t yt oe x p l o r ea n dr e f i n et h e i rc r a f ti nan o n c o mp e t i t i v ee n v i r o n me n t .We i n v i t et h ec o mmu n i t yt oj o i nu si nr e i ma g i n i n go u rwo r l dt h r o u g ht h ep o we ro fa r t .
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I c a n n o t g r i pt h i s h a n d l e . T h e r ea r ew o r d s t h a t c a meb e f o r e , A n do u t o f w a r ma n dr i b b o n e d d a y s I ’ v eb u i l t y o u r wh i t ep a l a c e . T h i s o n es p e a k s o f t h el i v i n g … …o f a u b u r nh a i r a n dj a d ee y e s . E d g e dwi t hs a t i s f i e dk n o wl e d g e t h a t i t wi l l n e v e r b ec o mp l e t e . T h i s , myg r o wi n gb e a n s t a l k . Myp a s s a g et oI n d i a . O ni t s b a c kI r i d et h e t i g e r , s e t t omys h a d o ws . T h er a i n s o f wi n t e r c h a l l e n g e , T h o u g hr u t t e dr o a d s c a l l meo u t , Wa t e r p r o o f s k i no nt h ei n s i d e , R e p e l d o wnh e r wh i t eb a c k . H e r et h eg o d s a r er e mi n d e d T h a t l o v ei s n ’ t e v e r y d a y . A s I a m, u n d o u b t e d l y L e d a ’ s u n g u a r d e dmo me n t .
B e r g e nS t r e e t A n dt h ep r e t t yg i r l s a r ec h a t t i n g I nt h a t h u r r i e dt wi s t o f s t o r y t r y i n gt ob e a t t h et r a i n . T h e y ’ l l s e p a r a t ep e r h a p s , Wh e ni t d o e s a r r i v e , A n dt a k et h e i r s e p a r a t ew a y s . H o wo f t e nI h a v ew a i t e dh e r e F o r t h a t s a meo l ds p a s me dt r a i nt oc o me H o u r s s p e n t o nt h i s v e r yb e n c h … …h o met of o u r d i r e c t i o n s . B e r g e nS t r e e t w a s n ’ t a l w a y s s ob r i g h t . I t u s e dt oc a l l t h es h a d o ws n i g h t ma r e s o nmo v i es c r e e n s a n di nmyi ma g i n a t i o n . I t s t u n n e l p r o f f e r e d , l i p l i k e , s u g g e s t e do t h e r w o r l d s a n ds l u g g i s hd r e a ms a t mi d n i g h t . I t w a s d a n g e r o u s y o uw e r ee x p e c t e d … I nF o r t G r e e n , t h e yn e v e r e x p e c t e dy o u . I c o u l dh a n d l et h a t . N o wa l l s p a n ka n dl i g h t , ma r b l e da n dt r i mme d … I t d o e s n ’ t s e e ml i k eB e r g e nS t r e e t a n y mo r e . A n dt h ep r e t t yg i r l s , F u l l o f l i f ea n dl o v e , D on o t i n t e r e s t meh a l f a s mu c h .
1 . ) The valley girl is speaking [janelle weiner] listen up y’all 2 . ) Who turned the lights on? The only sound’s a heartbeat, don’t turn them off a dropping drop When the song is over My verse turned a cartwheel the jelly is gone three times and stopped It leaped and opened windows, a giant yawp
3 . ) The rhythm carried through it I tried to explain But when you try to splain it comes out plain: A button keeps you buttoned rain makes it rain
4 . ) An inkspot means pause don’t stop too long A theme is too much bother it’s watching God Thinking it’s good, or bad, or been done-Light grinds out like a cigarette butt
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I tWASS nowI n g I k n e wt h a t w a s n ’ t r i g h t . I t n e v e r s n o ws w h e r ew eh a v eb e e n .
Wew e r ei nag r e a t b r i c kb u i l d i n g . B u t i t w a s c r u mb l i n g . U n d e r t h e w e i g h t o f t h es n o w . I k n e wy o uw e r et h e r eb u t I c o u l d n ’ t f i n d y o u . I w a s n ’ t r e a l l yl o o k i n gt h o u g h , b e c a u s eI k n e wy o uw e r e n ’ t t h e r e .
t h e r ew a s af o u n t a i no u t s i d et h eb u i l d i n g . T h ef o u n t a i ng a v ew a yt oa s e c r e t p o n d / r i v e r . I t h a df r o z e no v e r . T h e r ew e r eb o o ms i nt h es k y . B u t I w a s p a i n f u l l ya w a r et h e yw e r en o t b o mb s , o r p l a n ec r a s h e s , o r c o me t s . T h e s eb o o ms w e r et h es o u n d s o f s e x ma k i n g . A n dt h e yc a mef r o mt h es k y A n dI w a s t e r r i f i e d A n dj e a l o u s o f t h eb o o ms T h e r ew a s ah a g g a r dma nwi t hh i s a r ms f u l l o f k i t t e n s . H ep l e a d e dwi t hme“ y o umu s t s a v eo n e ” “ n o ” “ T a k ej u s t o n ewi t hy o u . P l e a s e . T h e yl i k e y o u . Y o umu s t t a k et h i s O n e . ” H eh e l du pas ma l l o r a n g ek i t t e nt h a t l o o k e dl i k ei t w a s a l r e a d y f u c k e du pe n o u g hb yt h es e xb o o ms i nt h e s k y , I k n e wh ew o u l d wi t h s t a n ds omu c hmo r e . “ n o ” I s a i d , n o t e v e nl o o k i n g . N o t as e c o n dt o l o o ko r h e l po r e a s et h e s u f f e r i n go f myr a g g e dn e i g h b o r . My p l e a d i n gk i t t e nb e g g a r ma n . I d o v et h r o u g ht h ei c ec r u s t e dp o n d / r i v e r t h i n ga n ds w a mi n s i d ef r i g i d w a t e r . Myb o d yt u r n e db l u e . G l o wi n gb l u e l i k el i g h t . T h eb l o o di nmy v e i n s h a r d e n e dwi t ht i n yi c ec r y s t a l s . S p a r k l yb l o o di c ec r y s t a l s s c r a t c h i n gt h r o u g hmyv e i n s .
T h ema c h i n ew a s d i f f i c u l t t oma n a g e , my s h a k i n gf r e e z i n gb o n ya r ms k e p t s l i p p i n ga n dmyh a n d s w e r ef r o z e n l i k ec h o p s t i c k s . Wec a met oa T h eo t h e r s i d ew h e r eI s u r f a c e dw a s h o t b r i d g ewi t hs o l d i e r s o ne i t h e r s i d e . a n dme l t i n g . B u i l d i n g s w e r e T h e yw e r ea t t r a c t i v ep o o r b o y s . B l o n d i e s . I f l a me s . I s a wo n ea c r o s s t h ew a y , ar i c h y - c a l l e dt h e mC h a r l y . Wi t h r i c hs o r t o f ma n s i o nl i k e n oc h o i c eb u t t os e r v et h es e xb o o ms i n b u i l d i n g . t h en i g h t . T h ed r u mmi n g I w a i t e du n t i l t h er i c hc o u p l ew e n t i n s i d e r e p e t i t i v ee x p l o s i o n s o v e r o u r h e a d s t oh a v es e xa n dI s n u c k e c h o e da n db o o me d . A n dt h e y i n t ot h eb u i l d i n gb e h i n dt h e m. d i d n ’ t a s kmef o r myI D . T h e yd i d n ’ t a s k T h e i r g a r a g ew a s f u l l o f o l dc a r s . B u t n o t mew h e r eI w a s t a k i n gmy j u s t r e s t o r e do l dc a r s , v e h i c l e . T h e yk n e w , I g u e s s . Wh a t I h a v ea l i k emu s t a n g s o r c o n v e r t i b l e s . T h e s ew e r e h a r dt i mee x p l a i n i n g . O n e o l dA R MYc a r s . A c c u mu l a t i o n b o yl o o k e du pa t meo nmyma c h i n e , h e o f a b o mi n a t i o n s f r o mh u n d r e d s o f w a r s . I d i d n ’ t s a y . I d i d n ’ t l o o kb a c k . c h o s et h eb i g g e s t o n e . J u s t r o d e . S o r r yC h a r l y . I c r a s h e dt h r o u g hb r i c kw a l l s a n db r o k e n c h a n d e l i e r s . T h a n kG O Dt h e s e T h eb r i d g ew a s r i c k e t y , l i k es o me t h i n go u t w e r e n ’ t “ d i s p l a yo n l y ”c a r s o nt h eb l a c k o f at h i r dw o r l d , t h e a n dw h i t ec h e c k e r e dt i l e s . H i ma l a y a s . R o p ea n dw o o d . A n dI wi t hmy T h ek i t t e nma nf o l l o w e dme . H et o o kh i s w a r ma c h i n er e a d yt ot r a v e r s e o wnc a r . T h ek i t t e n s w e r e ab r i d g ewi t hn oe n d . I d i d n ’ t c a r eI s c r e a mi n g . S o a k i n gw e t f u r a n dd i r t y c o u l d n ’ t s e et h eo t h e r s i d e . I c l o t h e s . Ab e a r dl i k ep u b i c h a i r . d i d n ’ t c a r ea b o u t t h ea b y s s t h a t w a s u n T h e yh u n go nt h e ml i k es k e l e t o n s . d e r n e a t ht h eb r i d g es u c k i n g I r o d emyma c h i n ed o wnt h es t r e e t s a n d b a r r e l e do v e r s o l d i e r s . I f e l t b a d . I r e a l l yd i d . B u t t h es e x b o o ms i nt h e s k yw o u l d n ’ t s h u t u p . S oI h a dt ok e e pc h a r g i n ga h e a d . T h es n o wma d emes h i v e r . B u t i t w a s n ’ t r e a l l yt h ec o l d . I t w a s t h e a d r e n a l i n e . A n di t w a s t h e j u mp i n gb a c ka n df o r t hb e t w e e ni c ec o l d w a t e r , f i r eb u i l d i n g s , a n d ma c h i n er i d i n g . I t ma d emewi s ht h a t I h a dw o r naj a c k e t t ob e di n s t e a do f j u s t myu n d e r w e a r .
I r o d et h ema c h i n ed o wnb r i c k e ds t r e e t s , i t b o u n c e da n dma d emy s e l f c o n s c i o u s p a r t s j i g g l e , a n dt h a t ma d e mewi s hI h a d n ’ t e a t e na t a l l y e s t e r d a y .
d o wna v a l a n c h e s o f s n o wi nq u i e t n e s s .I t h o u g h t I w a s l o o k i n ga t t h e s t a r s t wi n k l i n gu p s i d ed o wn , b u t i t w a s j u s t t h ef a l l i n gs n o wi nt h e v o i db e l o wt h eb r i d g e . T h ev o i dd i d n ’ t ma t t e r . I t w a s t h es e x b o o ms i nt h es k y . C a u s i n gs n o wa n da s ht of a l l t h a t s h o u l d n ’ t . C a u s i n gab o d yt on u mbt h a t I c o u l d n ’ t . C a u s i n gb o y s t ol o o ka t mewi t hs a dp l e a d i n ge y e s , a n dmen o t t oc a r e w h ot h e yw e r e , o n l yw a n t t of i xt h e m. C a u s i n go u r ma d d e n i n gl o n e l i n e s s , a n dt h e b u r n i n gb u i l d i n go f d e s i r et of i x . Y o uc o u l d n ’ t f i xt h es e x b o o ms i nt h es k y . Y o uc o u l d n ’ t ma k et h e ms o u n dr i g h t . S oI ’ l l t a k emyw a r ma c h i n e , a n db u r nu s a l l d o wn .
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o r c e di n t os e x s l a v e r ya n da l l t h ep a i na n dd a r k K a y l aR o s ei s as we e t a n ds a s s yg i r l f r o mS a c r a me n t o . A t f e c r e t s t h a t wa s l o c k e da wa yi n s i d et h e i r h e a r t s . I t t we n t yy e a r s o l ds h ei s ad r i v e n , p r o f e s s i o n a l , a n de n t h u s i -s s av e r ye mo t i o n a l p r o c e s s c r e a t i n gt h i s c o l l e c a s t i c y o u n gwo ma nwi t hah e a r t f o r e n r i c h i n gc h i l d r e n ’ s wa i o na n dt h e i r f e a t u r e l e s s f a c e s h a u n t e dmyd r e a ms l i v e s wi t ha r t a n di ma g i n a t i o n . S h eh a s b e e np a i n t i n ga l l h e rt o r ma n yn i g h t s b u t i t h e l p e dmet ok n o wt h a t I wa s l i f ei na l l me d i a s a n dh a s l e a r n e dmo s t o f wh a t s h ek n o ws f e l p i n gr a i s ea wa r e n e s s a b o u t t h ea t r o c i t yo f s e x f r o mh e r t wog r a n d p a r e n t s wh oa r ea r t i s t s a s we l l . Mo r e h r a f f i c k i n ga n dh e l p i n gr a i s emo n e yt or e s c u et h e s e r e c e n t l ys h eh a s b e e ne x p e r i me n t i n gwi t ht h r e ed i me n s i o n -t o o r g i r l s f r o ms u c ht e r r i b l ef a t e s . a l i t e ms i nn e we x p e r i me n t a l wa y s i no r d e r t ob r i n gh e r p p a i n t i n g s t ol i f e . K a y l a ' s i n s p i r a t i o nc o me s f r o mav a r i e t yo f s o u r c e s , mo s t l yf r o mh e r o wnd r e a ms a n da s p i r a t i o n s b u t a l s of r o mh e r d e s i r et oh e l po t h e r y o u n gwo me nl i k eh e r s e l f t or e a c ht h e i r o wnd r e a ms a n da mb i t i o n s . I nS p r i n go f 2 0 1 1K a y l ama d et h ed e c i s i o nt od os o me t h i n ga b o u t t h i s d e s i r et oh e l po t h e r s a n ds h ec o mmi t t e df i f t yp e r c e n t o f a l l p r o c e e d s f r o mh e r a r t s a l e s t ot h ec a u s eo f r e s c u i n gwo me n a n dc h i l d r e nf r o ms e x t r a f f i c k i n g . S i n c ed o i n gt h i s , h e r b u s i n e s s h a s c o mp l e t e l ye x p l o d e db e y o n dh e r wi l d e s t e x p e c t a t i o n s . Wh e nd i dy o uf i r s t d i s c o v e r y o u r c r e a t i v et a l e n t s ? I h a v ea l wa y s b e e nt h ec r e a t i v et y p eb u t i t wa s n ' t t i l l l a t e h i g hs c h o o l t h a t I r e a l i z e dI h a dau n i q u es t y l ea n ds o me t h i n g me a n i n g f u l t os a yt h r o u g hmya r t . C o u l dy o ut e l l u s a b o u t s o meo f y o u r wo r k ? O v e r t h ep a s t y e a r I h a v ed o n es e v e r a l c o l l e c t i o n s e a c hf o c u s e do nap a r t i c u l a r t h e me . T h eo n eI a mp r o b a b l ymo s t p r o u do f i s myc o l l e c t i o ne n t i t l e d" C h i l d r e no f S h a me " . E a c h p i e c ewa s af a c e l e s s g i r l wi t hak e yo v e r t h e i r h e a r t . T h e s e i ma g e s s y mb o l i z e dt h ey o u n gwo me na r o u n dt h ewo r l d
Wh a t i n s p i r e s y o ut ok e e pg o i n ga n dh o wd oy o uk e e p y o u r s e l f mo t i v a t e d ? A r t I Swh a t k e e p s meg o i n g . Wi t h o u t a r t I wo u l db ea t e r r i b l yu n h a p p y , u n mo t i v a t e dp e r s o n . H o wwi l l y o ud e s c r i b ey o u r s t y l e ? I wo u l dd e s c r i b emys t y l ea s i ma g i n a t i v ea n dp l a y f u l . Wh a t i s y o u r a p p r o a c ht od e s i g n ? Mya p p r o a c hi s t oe n j o yt h ep r o c e s s , t on o t wo r r ya b o u t p e r f e c t i o n , b u t t oc r e a t eap i e c et h a t d i s p l a y s t h ej o yI e x p e r i e n c ewh i l eI a mc r e a t i n gi t . A n yi n f l u e n c e s o r a n y o n ey o ul o o ku pt owh e ni t c o me s t oy o u r wo r k ? MyG r a n d p ah a s a l wa y s i n s p i r e dmewh e ni t c o me s t o a r t , h eh a s a l wa y s t o l dmet op a i n t wh a t I wa n t t op a i n t t h ewa ywa n t t op a i n t i t , a n dt h a t s wh a t I d o .
S h a r ewi t hu s s o me t h i n gf u n n yt h a t h a s h a p p e n e dt o y o ur e c e n t l y . R e c e n t l y , I s h o we du pt omyb e s t f r i e n d s s u r p r i s e b i r t h d a yp a r t y , b a l l o o n s i nh a n d . . . . awe e ke a r l y . " S u u u u u r r r r p r i s e ! . . . . . J u u u s t K i d d i n g . . ? "L u c k i l yi s wa s n ' t a t h e r h o u s e , b u t I s u r ewa s e mb a r r a s s e dt ob e s t a n d i n gt h e r ewi t has n a c kt r a yi nh a n da n dr e a l i z e n oo n ee l s ewa s t h e r e . H o wd oy o ub r i d g et h eg a po f t h eb u s i n e s s s i d eo f y o u r c r e a t i v i t y ? I a mn o t a b o u t t h ep r o f i t , I k e e pmyp r i c e s l o wb e c a u s eI b e l i e v ei np e o p l eh a v i n gR E A La r t i nt h e i r h o me s , r e a l a r t t h a t t h e yl i k e , t h a t me a n s s o me t h i n g t ot h e m, a n n n dt h a t t h e yd i d n ' t h a v et op a ya na r m a n dal e gf o r .
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T A A CF u n d r a i s e r a t M O S S( 6–1 0p . m. ) F r i d a yn i g h t a t T h eT e mp( 6–1 0p . m. ) S e s s i o n s a t M O S S ( 7–1 0p . m. ) O p e n i n go f B i gI d e aT h e a t r e ’ s A r c a d i a( 8p . m. )
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T A A CF u n d r a i s e r a t M O S S ( 5–1 0p . m. ) S e c o n dS a t u r d a yr e c e p t i o na t T h eT e mp( 6–8p . m. ) A r c a d i aa t B i gI d e aT h e a t r e( 8p . m. )
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Cha mber ma i d I'll not be your chambermaid I'll not be your whore this game of cat and mouse we play will only go so far to think you want for reasons to think you want for lust tenfold times I've told you how I want not of your touch you'll ne'er become my lover you'll ne'er become my lord perchance you lay a hand on me your blood shalt mar this earth draw me to the corner pin me to the wall these fantasies of yours shalt ne'er exceed their fragile bonds Š2011 Christa Quinn
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BLAK ETHO MAS B o r na n dr a i s e di n S a c r a me n t o , a n dc u r r e n t l y l i v i n gi nP o r t l a n d , s t u d y i n g A r c h i t e c t u r ea tP o r t l a n d S t a t eU n i v e r s i t y . B l a k eh a s a l wa y sb e e n“ a r t s y ”a st h e y s a ya n db e g a ne x p e r i me n t i n gwi t hd i f f e r e n ta r t me d i u msa tay o u n ga g e .
Wh e nd i dy o uf i r s t d i s c o v e r y o u r c r e a t i v e t a l e n t s ? I wo u l ds a yI f i r s t p l a y e dwi t hmyc r e a t i v et a l e n t s i nmi d d l es c h o o l ; ay o u n gb o yb o r e dwh o wo u l ds t a r eo u t t h ewi n d o wi nc l a s s a n dd o o d l e t h et r e e s . I n e v e r p a i da n ya t t e n t i o nt oi t u n t i l I wa s 1 7a n dr e a l i z e dI h a dak n a c kf o r a r t , f r o m t h e no ni t h a db e e na ne v e r s og r a d u a l e x p e r i me n t . C o u l dy o ut e l l u s a b o u t s o meo f y o u r wo r k ? Wa r h o l i n s p i r e dmye a r l i e r wo r k s ; t h e ywe r e s i mp l eb l a c ka n dwh i t ep o pa r t p a i n t i n g s wi t h s o mef l a r eo f c o l o r a d d e d , f a i r l ys i mp l et op r o d u c eb u t s a t i s f y i n gt os e eap r o d u c t . Myr e c e n t wo r kh a s b e e nmo r ea b o u t e x p e r i me n t i n gwi t h me d i u ms a n dc o l o r . I h a v eb e c o mef a i r l yp a s s i o n a t ea b o u t s t u d y i n gt h eh u ma nb o d ya n d v i e wi n gi t d i f f e r e n t l y . Wh a t i n s p i r e s y o ut ok e e pg o i n ga n dh o wd o y o uk e e py o u r s e l f mo t i v a t e d ? T h a t i s a c t u a l l yap r o b l e mI f a c eal o t , b u t I f i n d t h a t I d omyb e s t wo r kwh e nI d o n ’ t h a v et h e t i met o . I f I a mb u s ywi t h“ l i f e ”I wi l l u s ea r t a s a ne s c a p e . H o wwi l l y o ud e s c r i b ey o u r s t y l e ? I wo u l ds a ya b s t r a c t a n de x p e r i me n t a l , y o u n g e v e n . Wh a t i s y o u r a p p r o a c ht od e s i g n ? C o f f e e , a n dl a t en i g h t t h o u g h t s . Mo s t o f my i d e a s c o met omer i g h t b e f o r eI g ot ob e d , s oI a l wa y s h a v ean o t e b o o kt os k e t c ho u t ar o u g h d r a f t .
Kaylen Wade
I wr o t e" T h eVi e wf r o mmyAp a r t me n t "i n2 0 0 6wh e nI wa ss t u d y i n ga b r o a di nA t h e n s , Gr e e c e . I twa st h ef i r s tt i mei n myl i f et h a tI h a da b s o l u t ef r e e d o m, s ot h a twa smo me n t o u si ni t s e l f . Ofc o u r s e , t h e r e ' sa l s ot h a tc l i c h ea b o u td i s c o v e r i n g t h ewo r l di sab i g g e rp l a c et h a ny o u ' dt h o u g h t . T h a twa sb i gf o rme . T h emo r eI ' v et r a v e l e dt h o u g h , t h emo r eI ' v eb e e n s h o c k e dt od i s c o v e rn o tt h ed i f f e r e n c e sb e t we e nc u l t u r e s , b u tt h es i mi l a r i t i e s . T h ec o u p l eo nt h eb a l c o n yc o u l db ef r o m a n y wh e r e , a n di t ' st h a tu n i v e r s a l h u ma ns t r u g g l et h a ti n t r i g u e sme . I l i k et oh o l dama g n i f y i n gg l a s su pt ot h e s eq u i e t mo me n t st ol o o ka th o wc i r c u ms t a n c e sa n de n v i r o n me n ti mp a c tt h eh u ma nc o n d i t i o n . Wh e nI r e r e a dt h ep i e c eb e f o r es u b mi t t i n gi tt oT A A C , I wa ss u r p r i s e dt of i n dt h a ti twa s n ' tn e a r l ya sg o o da sI r e me mb e r e di t , wh i c hi sar e a l l yi n c o n v e n i e n tr e a l i z a t i o nf o rawr i t e r . I t sb e e ni n t e r e s t i n gc o mp a r i n gt h et e c h n i c a l a s p e c t so fmy wr i t i n gi n2 0 0 6t on o w; I l i k et ot h i n kI ' v ei mp r o v e dq u i t eab i ts i n c et h e n . Ho we v e r , c o n c e p t u a l l yI h a v e n ' tc h a n g e d mu c h . I p l a nt owi nt h el o t t e r ys o o n , a n dwh e nt h a th a p p e n s , I wi l l t r a v e l t h ewo r l dwr i t i n gt h e s el i t t l ev i g n e t t e sa b o u t o v e r c a s td a y si nA t h e n s , b e a c hu mb r e l l a si nT h a i l a n d , a n dl a t e n i g h tp u b si nDu b l i n . Mo s to fa l l t h o u g h , I wi l l wr i t ea b o u t t h ep e o p l e . A n dma y b eb u yaF e r r a r i . . .
TheVi ew From MyApartment Kaylen W ade J uly.Athens,Greece
E v e r ymo r n i n g , a f t e r t h eb r a z e nc h u r c hb e l l s a wa k e nme , I s t a n d o nmyt i n yb a l c o n ya n dg a z ed o wna t t h es c r u f f ys q u a r eb e l o w. I t ’ s n o t mu c ht ol o o ka t ; t h et r a s ho nt h eg r o u n di s p l e n t i f u l , a n d e v e r y t h i n ga r o u n d —b u i l d i n g s a n ds k yi n c l u d e d —me l t i n t oo n e g r e y , i n d i s t i n g u i s h a b l ema s s . T h e r ei s at h i nb l a c kc a t wh of i n d s g r e a t j o yi ns i t t i n gu p o nas t u r d yc e me n t d i v i d e r , p r e t e n d i n gh ei s d e a f t ot h ei n c e s s a n t b a r k s o f t h ed i r t yl i t t l ed o gg r o wl i n gu pa t h i m. O c c a s i o n a l l y , I a ms t a r t l e db yt h en e a r b yb a t l i k ef l a p p i n go f ap i g e o n , b u t f o r t h emo s t p a r t , t h eb i r d s s e e mc o n t e n t t os i t u p o n o u r p o r c hr a i l i n g s g l a n c i n gs t u p i d l ya t o n ea n o t h e r . I s e ea l l t h i s a n dwo n d e r wh a t k e e p s d r a wi n gmet owa k eu pe a r l ya n ds t a n d o nmyg r u b b yl i t t l ep o r c h , l o o k i n g . J u s t a c r o s s t h ewa y , t h e r ei s a n o t h e r wa l l o f b a l c o n i e s . E v e r ymo r n i n ga na g i n gG r e e kwo ma n , s t i l l h o l d i n go n t oh e r f a d i n gb l o n dh a i r , o p e n s h e r s h u t t e r s a n ds t e p s o u t o n t ot h ef i v e b y t e ns q u a r et h a t i s h e r b a c k y a r d . N o t l o n ga f t e r , we a r i n go n l yap a i r o f t h i nC a p r i p a n t s ( a n dc e r t a i n l yn o t a s h a me do f t h ee x p o s e da n db l o a t e db u l g et h a t i s h i s b e l l y ) , h e r h u s b a n df o l l o ws . T h e yn e v e r s a yawo r dt oe a c h o t h e r , j u s t q u i e t l ys t a n da n ds t a r eo u t a t t h ep o l l u t e dv i e wb e l o w. I t i s at r a d i t i o nt h e yh a v ef o l l o we df o r y e a r s .
A t f i r s t , I c a n ' t h e l pb u t f e e l t h e yo n l ya p p e a r o u t o f h a b i t e a c hmo r n i n g , b u t a f t e r af e wd a y s , I d e c i d ei t i s mo r et h a nt h a t . H ei s a l wa y s t h ef i r s t t og ob a c ki n s i d e , wh i l es h el i n g e r s o ni nh e r t u r q u o i s e n i g h t d r e s s . P e r h a p s s h ei s t h i n k i n go f t h ec h i l d r e nt h a t h a v eo u t g r o wnh e r , t h el a r g eh o u s ei nt h ec o u n t r y s i d et h a t b e c a met o omu c h t oh a n d l e , t h ey o u t ht h a t ' s e s c a p e dt h e m. N o w, t h i s t i n ya p a r t me n t i s a l l s h eh a s , a n di t ' s n o t mu c h . R e g r e t f u l l y , s h et u r n s t og oi n s i d e , b u t a l wa y s a p p e a r s a t l e a s t ah a l f d o z e nt i me s mo r e , l e a n i n go nt h er a i l i n g , p e e r i n gd o wna t s o me t h i n g n o n e x i s t e n t . Ma y b es o me t h i n gwi l l h a p p e nt o d a y , s h et h i n k s . E v e n t u a l l y , s h eg o e s i n s i d ea n dc l o s e s t h es h u t t e r s —b u t o n l yh a l f wa y , a s i f s h ec a n ' t b e a r t ok e e po u t a n yl i g h t t o d a y ' s o v e r c a s t s k y h a s t oo f f e r . S h es t a n d s , l o s t i nh e r o wnl i v i n gr o o m, u n t i l f i n a l l y , wi t hg r e a t d e c i s i o n , s h es t o o p s t os t r a i g h t e ns o mema g a z i n e s o nt h e t a b l e .
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M R .T R U M A N ’ SH A N D YL I T T L EC I T Y C h r i s t o p h e rD eV o r e
Mr . T r u ma nc e r t a i n l ywa s n ’ t wh a t y o u ’ dc a l l ame a nma n ,O h , y e s , wewe r ewa l k i n gar a z o r ’ s e d g e , Mr . T r u ma na n d o r , a s myG r a n d a dwo u l ds a y , ame a nc u s s ; h ea l wa y s h a da me , a n dI ’ dl i k et ot h i n ki t b r o u g h t u s c l o s e r t o g e t h e r . T r u t h s o r t o f o f f h a n de a s i n e s s t h a t I k n e wwa s n a t i v ei nh i m, t ot e l l , ma n yP r e s i d e n t s h a v eh a dt h es a mes e c r e t r e l a t i o n s o r t o f l i k et h es o f t n e s s o f t h eK a n s a s wi n d s o f myy o u t h ,s h i pwi t ht h e i r c o o k s , l i k es o r t o f b e i n gi nc a h o o t s a n dh a n l e i s u r e l ywi n d s wi t hn o t h i n gmu c ht og e t i nt h e i r wa y …a td l i n gp r e c i o u s c o n t r a b a n d : s o mec o n t r a b a n df r i e dc h i c k e n l e a s t , h ewa s a l wa y s t h a t wa ywi t hme . B u t ma y b et h a t wa sh e r e , a ne x t r as l i c eo f c o n t r a b a n db l u e b e r r yp i et h e r e .A n d j u s t b e c a u s eI wa s f r o mK a n s a s .I t h i n ki t wa s t h i s q u i e t c l o s e n e s s , d o wni nt h ed e e p s o f t h e H e , b e i n gf r o mt h e‘ S h o wMe ’ S t a t e , mu s t ’ v ef e l t n e i g h - Wh i t eH o u s e , t h a t g o t h i mt ot a l k i n gt h ewa yh ed i dt h a t o n e b o r l yt ome , a n d , t r u t ht ot e l l , I t h i n kh el i k e dt oh e a r t h e n i g h t . t o n g u ea s i t wa s s p o k eo u t o u r wa yb a c kh o me , y o uk n o w, H eh a dj u s t s t a r t e di no nt h ec r u s t o f h i s f i r s t g o l d e nt r i t h a t r e g i o n a l f l a v o r , a n ds o …h e ’ dc o med o wnt ot h eWh i t e a n g l e( Mr . T r u ma nl i k e dh i s Mo n t eC r i s t o s t ob ec u t t wi c e , H o u s ek i t c h e nl a t ea t n i g h t a n dwe ’ dj u s t t a l kwh i l eI r u s t l e d l i k ey o u r C l u bs a n d wi c h , f o u r l i t t l et r i a n g l e s wi t hf o u r t h i n u po n eo f h i s b e l o v e dMo n t eC r i s t os a n d wi c h e s .s l i c e s o f s we e t p i c k l el i k eas o r t o f c r o s s s e p a r a t i n gt h e mi n T h a t ma na d o r e dh i maMo n t eC r i s t os a n d wi c h, a n dh e ’ d t h emi d d l e ) , a n dh ewa s s e t t l i n gd o wnt oi t , a l l c o mf yi nh i s p a r t a k eo f t h ewh o l eme a l a s ak i n do f ar i t u a l , ma k i n g r o b ewi t ht h es e a l a n da l l , a n dt h e nh es t o p p e damo me n t , s h o r t wo r ko f t h ec r u s t s a n dt h e nmo v i n gi no nt h emi d d l e s .j u s t k i n do f g a z i n gd o wna t t h es a n d wi c h …a n dt h e n , h e N o wt h i s wa s s ma r t , f o r h ek n e wb ye a t i n gt h ec o o l e r e d g e sl o o k e du pa t mea s i f h ewa s s o mes t a r t l e d , g u i l t yt h i n g . f i r s t h ec o u l dwo r kh i s wa ys l o wl yb u t s u r e l yi n wa r da n d I wa s , o f c o u r s e , c o n c e r n e d , a n dI i mme d i a t e l yt h o u g h t n e v e r b u r nh i s t o n g u e . T h i s wa s wi s d o m. t h a t s o me h o wI h a dme s s e du po nt h ed e e p f r y . MyMo n t e B u t , o t h e r t h a nt h i s , we ’ dmo s t l yj u s t t a l k , h ea n dI , a n d C r i s t o s we r et h et o p s wi t ht h eP r e s i d e n t b e c a u s eI d i d n ’ t g o n o wa n dt h e nwe ’ dl i s t e nq u i e t l yamo me n t t oh e a r i f Mr s .t o oh e a v yo nt h ed e e p f r y ; s a t u r a t et h e mt o omu c hi nt h e T r u ma nc o u l db ec o mi n gd o wnt h eh a l l , b e c a u s ewea l l k n e w o i l s oi t g e t s t h e ma l l d o u g h ya n dh e a v y . Me , I f a v o r t h eJ a p –a n dI h a db e e ng i v e nt h es t r i c t e s t wa r n i n g , i nwr i t i n g– s t y l eo f d e e p f r y , wh a t t h e yc a l l ‘ t e mp u r a ’ . T h e mJ a p s f r y t h a t Mr . T r u ma nwa s n o t , u n d e r a n yc i r c u ms t a n c e s , t ob e a l l s o r t s o f s t u f f , e v e nv e g e t a b l e s , a n dt h e ya l wa y s c o me p e r mi t t e dt oh a v eh i maMo n t eC r i s t o .o u t s ol i g h t a n dc r i s p , b u t n o t a t a l l d r y , wh i c hi s t h es e c r e t I d i dh a v ea na n s we r f o r h e r , t h o u g h , s h o u l dt h ed a y t oy o u r Mo n t eC r i s t o . e v e r a r i s ewh e ns h es h o u l dc a t c hu s o u t , a n dt h a t wa s ,B u t , i t wa s n ’ t t h es a n d wi c ht h a t wa s g n a wi n ga t h i mt h a t “ We l l , Ma ’ a m, I ’ ma b j e c t l ys o r r y , b u t t h ema ni s t h eP r e s i -n i g h t .F u n n yo n e , ‘ t h es a n d wi c hg n a wi n ga t h i m’ .B u t , n o , d e n t . ”I t h i n ks h emi g h t h a v es e e nt h el o g i c i nt h a t , e s p e -o n c ea g a i nh i s b r a i nh a db e e nwo r k i n go v e r t i mea l l d a ya n d c i a l l ywi t ht h a t wo r d‘ a b j e c t l y ’ t h r o wni nt h e r ef o r g o o d h el o o k e dj u s t p l a i nb u s h e d . T h e nh es mi l e ds h e e p i s h l y me a s u r e …n o t t h a t I d i d n ’ t k n o wh e ’ dh a v et of i r emet h e n .d o wna t t h eMo n t eC r i s t oa n dc u t o f f ah u n ko f c r u s t , s i g h i n g S o meo r d e r s c a n ’ t n e v e r b ec o u n t e r ma n d e d , e s p e c i a l l y r e a l d e e pa n ds a y i n gmyn a met h r e et i me s : wh e nt h ewe l f a r eo f t h eP r e s i d e n t i s a t s t a k e , a n dI k n e w “ Wa l t e r C h r i s t ma s , Wa l t e r C h r i s t ma s , Wa l t e r C h r i s t a l mo s t b e t t e r t h a na n y o n e–e x c e p t p e r h a p s h i s mi s s u s - ma s …” , s o r t o f l i k eh ewa s c a s t i n gs o mek i n do f as p e l l ; a t h a t a s mu c ha s Mr . T r u ma nl o v e dh i s Mo n t eC r i s t o s , t h e y ‘ p r e s i d e n t i a l ’ s p e l l .B u t t h e nh es a i d , a l mo s t a s i f h ewa s d i d n ’ t e x a c t l ya g r e ewi t hh i ma n dwe r ek i n do f‘ v o c a l ’t a l k i n gt oh i ms e l f : a b o u t i t , i f y o uk n o wwh a t I me a n . “ I t ’ s a l wa y s C h r i s t ma s wh e nt h e r e ’ s o n eo f Wa l t e r ’ s Mo n t eC r i s t o s a r o u n d . ”
A n dh ep o p p e dt h ec r u s t i n t oh i s mo u t h , t h o u g h t f u l l yc h e wi n g . T h e n , a f t e r h eh a ds wa l l o we d , b e c a u s eMr . T r u ma n n e v e r t a l k e dwi t hh i s mo u t hf u l l , h el o o k e do v e r a t me , a n d i t wa s s t r a n g e , b u t h ewa s l o o k i n ga t mel i k ei t wa s t h e v e r yf i r s t t i meh e ’ de v e r l a i de y e s o nme . T h e nh ec u t o f f a n o t h e r b i t o f c r u s t , a n ds a i d : “ Wa l t e r …i f y o uc o u l dt a k eo u t ac i t y …a n yc i t yo f f t h e ma p , I me a nr i g h t o f f t h ef a c eo f t h ee a r t h , wh i c ho n ewo u l d i t b e ? ” “ P h i l a d e l p h i aj u mp s t omi n d , ”I s a i dwi t has mi l e . “ I s p e n t as u mme r t h e r eo n c ewi t hmyA u n t L o ua n dI n e a r l y d i d n ’ t ma k ei t o u t . ” H eg r i n n e da t t h a t a n dn o d d e d . “ I t a i n ’ t t h eh e a t , Wa l t e r , m’ b o y , i t ’ s t h eh u mi d i t y . ” “ T h a t , a n dt h es k e e t e r s , t h eo r n e r yp e s t s . Y o uc o u l d l e a v eP h i l a d e l p h i ao nt h ema p , Mr . T r u ma n , s i r , j u s t t a k e o u t a l l t h es k e e t e r s a n dI ’ l l b eh a p p y . ” H ec h u c k l e da n dp u t t h en e x t b i t ei nh i s mo u t h , c h e wi n g a s I wa t c h e d , n o d d i n gh i s h e a dwi t ht h o s ec u r t l i t t l ed u c k s o f a p p r e c i a t i o nt h a t a l wa y s wa r me dt h i s o l dc o o k ’ s h e a r t , I c a nt e l l y o u . “ Wa l t e r , ”h ec o n t i n u e d , c u t t i n gi n t oh i s s e c o n dt r i a n g l e c r u s t , “ s u p p o s ey o uwa n t e dt oma k ea …we l l , l e t ’ s j u s t c a l l i t … amo d e s t s t a t e me n t ? ” “ Amo d e s t s t a t e me n t , Mr . P r e s i d e n t ?We l l , a l r i g h t . A n d j u s t wh oa mI ma k i n gt h i s mo d e s t s t a t e me n t t o ? ” H el i f t e dh i s n e x t b i t et oh i s mo u t h , a n db e f o r ep o p p i n gi t i n , h es mi l e dk i n do f s l y l ya n ds a i d : “ T ot h ewo r l d , Wa l t e r C h r i s t ma s . T ot h ewh o l ewi d e wo r l d . ” “ H u mp h , i s t h a t a l l ? ”I s a i dwi t hac a r e l e s s s h r u g , b e c a u s eI s t i l l d i d n ’ t q u i t ec a t c ho nt h a t h ewa s b e i n gs e r i o u s . “ T h a t ’ s a b o u t i t , p a r t n e r , ”h es a i ds i mp l y , t h i s t i mewi t h h i s mo u t hf u l l , t h o u g hh i s n a p k i nwa s h e l du pb e f o r eh i s l i p s . “ A n dj u s t wh a t i s i t I ’ ms a y i n gt ot h ewh o l ewi d ewo r l d , s i r , i f y o ud o n ’ t mi n dmea s k i n g ? ” A n dh i s e y e s p i n n e dme , s h i n i n gt h r o u g hh i s g l a s s e s , a n d h et o o kas i po f mi l k . I s h o u l dh a v eme n t i o n e db e f o r et h a t Mr . T r u ma na l wa y s h a dan i c eb i gg l a s s o f c h i l l e dmi l k a l o n g s i d eh i s Mo n t eC r i s t o . H el i k e dh i s mi l ka wf u l l yc o l d , s oc o l dh i s f i n g e r s ma d ei c yl i t t l ep r i n t s o nt h eg l a s s . D a b b i n ga t h i s l i p s h es mi l e da n ds a i d : .
“ I d o n ’ t mi n dy o u r a s k i n ga t a l l , Wa l t e r . Wh a t y o u ’ r e s a y i n gt ot h ewh o l ewi d ewo r l di s …t h a t t h eg a meh a s c h a n g e d . Y o u ’ r es a y i n gt h a t p e o p l eb e t t e r s t a r t a c t i n gc i v i l a g a i na r o u n dh e r e , a n dr e a l s o o n , o r t h i n g s a r eg o i n gt og e t v e r yme s s y . ” “ T o u g ht a l k , e h , s i r ? ” “ A f t e r af a s h i o n …”a n ds o me t h i n gi nh i mf a l t e r e d , “ …a f t e r af a s h i o n …” T h e nh es t a r t e di no nh i s t h i r dt r i a n g l e c r u s t a n d , h i s s mi l ef a d i n g , h ep r e s s e dj u s t al i t t l et o oh a r dwi t ht h ef o r k a n di t ma d ead e c i d e d‘ c l i n k ’ t h a t e c h o e dt h r o u g ht h er o o m a n dd o wnt h eh a l l . Web o t hf r o z ei nt h a t i n s t a n t , q u i e t a s t h eg r a v e , a s my G r a n d a dwo u l ds a y , s t r a i n i n go u r e a r s f o r t h es l i g h t e s t s o u n do f Mr s . T r u ma n ’ s a n g r ya p p r o a c h ; b u t o n l yal o n ga n d v a s t s i l e n c es t r e t c h e db a c ka wa yf r o mt h es o u n d , a s i f t h e wh o l ewo r l dwa s a s l e e pa n dh a do n l yr o l l e do v e r f o r a s e c o n da n dwa s n o ws e t t l e dd o wno n c emo r e . Wes mi l e d a n dr e l a x e dab i t . “ O r ma y b e , ”h es a i d , h i s v o i c el o w, “…ma y b eI c o u l dd o i t a n o t h e r wa y . ” “ A n dwh a t mi g h t t h a t b e , Mr . P r e s i d e n t , s i r ? ” “ I d o n ’ t r i g h t l yk n o w, Wa l t e r . B u t …ma y b es o me t h i n g a l o n gt h el i n e s o f …ma y b e… ad e mo n s t r a t i o n . As o r t o f e d u c a t i o n a l f i e l d r u n . ” A n dt h e nh en o d d e da g a i n , s t a r t i n go nh i s f o u r t ht r i a n g l e c r u s t , c u t t i n gi t s o f t e r n o w. “ S a y , ”h es a i d , “ t h a t wef i n do u r s e l v e s a ni s l a n d …ad e s e r t e do n e , a b o u tt h es i z eo f , s a y , N e wY o r ko r C h i c a g o …ma y b ee v e na s b i ga s y o u r P h i l a d e l p h i a . T h e y ’ r e a l l b i g , s p r a wl i n gme t r o p o l i s e s a r e n ’ t t h e y ? ” “ T h e ya r ei n d e e d , s i r , ”I a g r e e d . “ S o , wef i n do u r s e l v e s as u i t a b l yb i gi s l a n d , n o t as o u l o n i t , a n dwes e n dt h eC . B . ’ s o v e r t h e r e , s a yt h o u s a n d s o f t h e m, a n dwh a t t h e yd oi s b u i l dac i t y . ” “ We l l , s i r , I ’ l l b e t t h o s eC . B . ’ s a r eu pt oi t , I g u e s s . I s a wa ‘ Mo v i e T o n e ’ o nt h e mj u s t t h eo t h e r n i g h t , a n dt h e y ’ s we l l u pt ob u i l d i n gac i t y , wh a t wi t ht h e i r b i gp l a n e s a n db u l l d o z e r s a n dt r u c k s a n da l l . ” “ Y o ub e t . A n dt h a t ’ s j u s t wh a t t h e yd o . T h e yb u i l dac i t y . Ab i go n e , o v e r t h ee n t i r el e n g t ha n db r e a d t ho f t h a t i s l a n d , e v e r ye v e r l o v i n gi n c h ; h o u s e s , s t o r e s , o f f i c eb u i l d i n g s , s c h o o l s , p a r k s e v e n . A n do n c et h e y ’ r et h r o u g h , we ’ l l p u t p e o p l ei nt h o s eh o u s e s a n ds t o r e s a n ds c h o o l s . ”
“ U h h u h , ”I s a i d , al i t t l eu n c l e a r wh a t h ewa s d r i v i n ga t , “ a n dwh omi g h t t h e yb e ? ” “ O h , n o t ‘ r e a l ’ p e o p l e , Wa l t e r . J u s t ma n n e q u i n s , l i k ey o u s e ei nd e p a r t me n t s t o r ewi n d o ws . ” “ B u t , wh yma n n e q u i n s , Mr . T r u ma n , s i r ? ! ” “ T or e p r e s e n t p e o p l e . T os t a n df o r t h er e a l r e s i d e n t s o f a r e a l c i t yr i g h t d o wnt ot h el a s t d e t a i l , wh i c hwo u l di n c l u d e i t s ‘ i n h a b i t a n t s ’ , r i g h t ? ” “ Y o u ’ r et h eb o s s , I g u e s s , ”I s a i d . “ A n dy o uj u s t h a dt or e mi n dme , ”h es a i dwi t hs o me t h i n g b e t we e nas mi l ea n dag r i ma c eo nh i s f a c e . “ B u t s t a ywi t h me , Wa l t e r , b e c a u s ei t ’ s r e a l l ys o me t h i n gt ot h i n ka b o u t . N o w, a s I s a i d , web u i l do u r c i t y . Web u i l di t r i g h t , a n dma d e t os t a n d ; t ol a s t , a s a n ys e l f r e s p e c t i n gc i t ywo r t hi t s s a n d wo u l dwi s ht od o . Wet h e np o p u l a t ei t wi t ho u r ma n n e q u i n s wh o , f o r a l l i n t e n t s a n dp u r p o s e s , a r eg o i n ga b o u t t h e i r d a y a s a n yo t h e r c i t i z e nd o e s i na n yo t h e r c i t yi nt h ewo r l d . A n d t h e n …wei n v i t eo u r ‘ f r i e n d ’ H i r o h i t o , a n do u r o t h e r ‘ a c q u a i n t a n c e ’ , H e r r S c h i c k l e g r u b e r , a n dwet h r o wi no l d C o u s i nWi n s t o n , a n dU n c l eJ o s e f S . , a n dwea l l t a k et h e mf o r an i c ec o z yb o a t r i d et oap l a c ej u s t i ns i g h t o f t h e i s l a n d …o n l y , n o t t o oc l o s e . ” “ N o t t o oc l o s e ? ”I a s k e d , b e c a u s es o me t h i n ga b o u t t h e wa yh es mi l e dwh e nh es a i dt h i s ma d emet h i n kt h a t h e d i d n ’ t r e a l l yf i n dwh a t h ewa s s a y i n gs of u n n y . U s u a l l y t h o s eg r a ye y e s we r emi l da n d , f o r a l l t h es h r e wd n e s s , a l i t t l ed r e a my ; b u t n o wt h e r ewa s s o me t h i n gs t e e l yi nt h e m, a na l mo s t s i c k l yt i n g e , l i k ewh e nad o gi s c o mi n go ns i c k , a n di s al i t t l es k i t t i s h , a n dwa n t s t of i g h t i t b u t d o n ’ t k n o w h o w. “ O h , n o , wec e r t a i n l yd o n ’ t wa n t t og e t t o oc l o s e . B u t we ’ l l p r o v i d eo u r g u e s t s wi t hg o o dp o we r f u l b i n o c u l a r s f o r t h ed e mo n s t r a t i o n . ” “ O h , y e a h , ”I s a i d . “ I n e a r l yf o r g o t a b o u t t h ed e mo n s t r a t i o n . ” “ We l l , i t ’ s c o mi n gu p , Wa l t e r , s op a ya t t e n t i o n . ” “ Y e s , s i r . ” “ N o w, o n c eo u r g u e s t s a r ea l l r e a d y , t h e i r h i g h p o we r e d b i n o c u l a r st r a i n e do nt h ei s l a n d c i t y , I ma k emymo d e s t s t a t e me n t , j u s t l i k et h ewa yI t o l dy o u : ‘ G e n t l e me n , t h e g a meh a s c h a n g e d . I t ’ s t i met h a t p e o p l eg e t b a c kt ob e i n g c i v i l , t os u c ki t u pa n dl e a r nt og e t a l o n go nt h i s g o d f o r s a k e ne a r t h , o r t h i n g s a r eg o i n gt og e t p l e n t yme s s y . ’ ”
H ewa s n o wd o n ewi t hh i s f o u r t ha n dl a s t t r i a n g l e c r u s t , a n dn o wI k n e w, a f t e r aa n o t h e r l i t t l ed r i n ko f mi l k , t h a t h e ’ ds t a r t wo r k i n gh i s wa yi nt ot h eh e a r t o f t h e s a n d wi c h …b u t , t omys u r p r i s e , t h i s h ed i dn o t d o . O h , h e d r a n kt h emi l k , a l r i g h t , b u t a f t e r ab r i e f s i ph ep u t d o wnh i s f o r k , a n d , f o r t h eo n l yt i mei nh i s l i f e , a n do f t h i s I a ma b s o l u t e l yc e r t a i n , h ep u s h e daMo n t eC r i s t os a n d wi c ha wa yn o t e v e nt h r e e q u a r t e r s f i n i s h e d ! “ A n dt h e n …”h ec o n t i n u e d , h i s v o i c es i n k i n gd o wni n t o awh i s p e r s os o f t y o umi g h t h a v et h o u g h t t h a t Mr s . T r u ma n wa s l i s t e n i n gj u s t o u t s i d et h ek i t c h e nd o o r , ar o l l i n g p i ni n h a n d . . “ A n dt h e n …I g i v et h eo r d e r . ” “ T h e… ‘ o r d e r ’ , s i r ? ”I s a i di nawh i s p e r my s e l f . “ T h ep r e a r r a n g e do r d e r t os o meo f o u r b r a v eb o y s ma n n i n gap l a n e ; ap l a n ec a r r y i n gs o mev e r yi mp o r t a n t c a r g o . T h i s p l a n en o wf l i e s o v e r o u r l i t t l ei s l a n d c i t y , s ol i k eN e w Y o r k, o r C h i c a g o , o r , y e s , P h i l a d e l p h i a . I nf a c t , l e t ’ s c a l l i t ‘ P h i l a d e l p h i a ’ i nh o n o r o f y o ua n dy o u r A u n t L o u . ” “ T h a n k s , “ I t r i e dt os mi l e , t h o u g hI wa s c o n f u s e d , “ …I g u e s s . ” “ Y o uma ywe l l mi g h t wa n t t oc h e c kt h a t t h o u g h t , my g o o dMr . C h r i s t ma s , f o r o u r g u e s t s a r ewa t c h i n gt h r o u g h t h e i r b i n o c u l a r s , a n dI h a v eg i v e nt h eo r d e r . T h ep l a n ewi t h t h ei mp o r t a n t c a r g oi s f l y i n go v e r o u r i s l a n d‘ P h i l a d e l p h i a ’ . A n dn o w, i t i s d r o p p i n gi t s i mp o r t a n t c a r g o …a n dn o wi t i s f l y i n ga wa ya s f a s t a s i t c a ng o , i t s e n g i n e s c a nb eh e a r d s t r a i n i n ge v e na s f a r a wa ya s t h eb o a t ; o t h e r t h a n t h a t …o n l yab r i e f mo me n t o f s i l e n c e …a n d t h e n …K A B O O M! ” N o wt h i s wa s n ’ t s a i da l l t h a t l o u d , b u t a f t e r a l l t h ewh i s p e r i n g , i t wa s e n o u g ht oj e r kmeb a c ka n dI a l mo s t f e l l o f f mys t o o l , b u t Mr . T r u ma n ’ s h a n ds h o t r i g h t o u t a n dh er i g h t e dme ; a n di nawa yi t wa s k i n do f q u e e r , b e c a u s eh e a l mo s t l o o k e da s i f h eh a db e e ne x p e c t i n gi t a n dwa s r e a d y t ol e n dt h a t h a n dwh e ni t h a p p e n e d . “ J i mi n e yC h r i s t ma s ! ”I g a s p e d .“ Mr . T r u ma n , s i r ?Y o u me a na ? ! ” “ A n dt h e n , ”h es a i d , a s i f I h a d n ’ t s a i dawo r d , “ t h e na b r i g h t f l a s ho f l i g h t e r u p t s f r o mo u r ‘ P h i l a d e l p h i a ’ , b l i n d i n g a l l o u r g u e s t s f o r amo me n t , b u t , …wh e nt h e i r s i g h t c l e a r s t h e ywi l l s e et h a t ‘ P h i l a d e l p h i a ’ i s g o n e , a n dI me a na l l g o n e . A n da l l t h a t r e ma i n s t h e r e …i s ah u g ec l o u d , r i s i n g u pf r o mwh e r ei t wa s o n l ymo me n t s , s e c o n d s , b e f o r e . ”
“ T h a t wo u l db eo n eh e l l o f as h o w, Mr . T r u ma n , s i r . I f y o u c o u l dma k eawh o l ec i t yd i s a p p e a r i nap u f f o f s mo k e , n o o n ewo u l dt a l ka b o u t H o u d i n i n omo r e . ” “ We l l , y e s , Wa l t e r , b u t I d i d n ’ t ma k e‘ P h i l a d e l p h i a ’ d i s a p p e a r . I o b l i t e r a t e di t ; e x p l o d e di t i n t ot i n yl i t t l ep i e c e s . T h a t ’ s wh a t t h ec l o u di s , Wa l t e r , i t ’ s c o u n t l e s s t i n yp i e c e s o f t h i n g s t h a t u s e dt ob es t o r e s a n dh o u s e s , a n ds c h o o l s a n d , we l l , p e o p l e …a l l b l o wnt ob i t s i nt h eb l i n ko f a ne y e . ” “ T h a t ’ s s t i l l ag o o dt r i c k . I me a n , i t s u r ewo u l dg e t y o u r g u e s t s a t t e n t i o n , wh i c hI g u e s s wa s y o u r p o i n t . A mI r i g h t , s i r ? ” “ Y o ua r e , Wa l t e r . B u t , y o uh a v et or e me mb e r t h a t o u r i s l a n d‘ P h i l a d e l p h i a ’ wa s o n l yaC . B . b u i l t c i t y . T h es t o r e s n e v e r s o l das i n g l ei t e m, t h es c h o o l s , t h o u g hwe l l a t t e n d e d b y‘ ma n n e q u i n ’ c h i l d r e n , n e v e r t a u g h t s omu c ha s a t wo p l u s t wo …t h ep a r k s n e v e r h e a r dl a u g h t e r , o r t h e c h a t t e r o f b i r do r s q u i r r e l …a n dt h es t r e e t s o n l ye v e r p l a y e dh o s t t of r o z e n , p a p e r ma c h i e rp e o p l e . N ol i f e , wi t h t h ee x c e p t i o no f t h eC . B . ’ s , wh oa r en o ws a f e l yt u c k e do u t o f h a r m’ s wa y , e v e r f l o u r i s h e dt h e r e ; n oc u l t u r ef l o we r e d a n dg r e w, n on a t i o n a l i d e n t i t ywa s f o r me d , f o r g o o do r i l l , t oma k ei t s mo d e s t ma r ku p o nt h ewo r l d . “ B u t …i f y o uh a dt od e s t r o yac i t yt oma k eamo d e s t s t a t e me n t , y o uc o u l dh a r d l yd ob e t t e r t h a no u r h a n d y , l i t t l e c i t y . Wh y , o u r i s l a n d‘ P h i l a d e l p h i a ’ c o u l dh o l di t s h e a du p h i g ha n dg od o wni ng l o r yk n o wi n gt h a t i t n e v e r r e a l l ywa s , b u t t h a t i t c a meb r i e f l yi n t ob e i n gp r e c i s e l yt oc o met on o t h i n g ; t ob ed e s t r o y e d , s ot h a t a n o t h e r c i t ywi t hr e a l s t r e e t s a n dh o u s e s a n ds c h o o l s , wi t hr e a l p e o p l ei nt h e m, mi g h t n o t b e . Wo u l d n ’ t t h a t b eah a n d yl i t t l ec i t y , i n d e e d ! ” A n dI a g r e e dwi t ht h ema n . H ewa s t h eP r e s i d e n t , y e s , b u t Mr . T r u ma n ’ s h a n d y , l i t t l ec i t ys e e me dl i k eap o we r f u l i d e a , a n dI t o l dh i ms o . “ Wh y , ama nwh oc o u l dj u s t wi p eac i t yo f f ama pl i k e t h a t wo u l db eama nt ob er e c k o n e dwi t h ! Ama ny o u wo u l d n ’ t wa n t t oc r o s s ! Ama n ! ” B u t , I s u d d e n l ys t o p p e d , b e c a u s eI g o t j u s t t h eb a r e s t h i n t o f wh a t I n o wk n o wi ni t s t e r r i b l ee n t i r e t y ; b u t i t g e t s wo r s e , f o r Mr . T r u ma nl o o k e da t mewi t he y e s s owe t wi t h p a i na n dl o n e l i n e s s , t h a t I k n e wh ewa s a l l a l o n e , e v e na s h es a t n o t af o o t a wa yf r o ma n o t h e r l i v i n g , b r e a t h i n g h u ma n . T h a t ’ s wh e nI r e a l l yb e g a nt od i ml ys e ewh a t i t c o u l da l l me a n , a n dt h a t ’ s wh e nh es a i dt h el a s t o f i t , t h e p a r t t h a t I c a nr e a l l yr e me mb e r wo r df o r wo r d .
“ B u t t h e ywo n ’ t l e t meh a v emy‘ h a n d y , l i t t l ec i t y ’ , Wa l t e r . T h e ys a ya s ad e mo n s t r a t i o ni t ’ s f i n e , b u t a s a s t a t e me n t …i t ’ s j u s t al i t t l et o omo d e s t . I t i s , a s I ’ v es a i d , a ‘ l i f e l e s s ’ c i t y , wh i c hI t h o u g h t t ob ead e f i n i t ep l u s …Y e s , a d e f i n i t ep l u s …B u t t h a t , i t s e e ms , i s i t s b i gd r a wb a c k . I ’ m t o l dt h e d e mo n s t r a t i o n , …i f i t ’ s t oh a v et e e t h , i s g o i n gt oh a v et o , we l l …h a v et e e t h . A n di t h a s t oh a v et e e t h , Wa l t e r , b e c a u s eo f a n o t h e r ‘ i s l a n dc i t y ’ al i t t l ec l o s e r t oh o me . I t r u s t y o uk n o wt h a t t h a t c i t ywa s n ’ t q u i t ewi p e do f f t h ema p , b u t i t s e e ms t h a t a n o t h e r ‘ l i t t l e ’ r e q u i r e me n t i nt h i s l i t t l es i t u a t i o ni s t o‘ u pt h ea n t e ’ . S o …o u r ‘ P h i l a d e l p h i a ’ wi l l n e v e r s e et h el i g h t o f d a y . I t …i t j u s t s e e ms as h a mei s a l l . ” A n dt h e nh es c o o c h e db a c kh i s s t o o l , r e t i e dh i s r o b e , a n d s t o o dwi t has h o r t g r u n t . H el i f t e dt h eg l a s s o f mi l ka n d d r a n ki t f u l l o f f , a n dt h e nr e p l a c e di t n e x t t ot h ep l a t e , o n e o f t h es ma l l , y e l l o ws a n d wi c h p l a t e s wi t ht h eP r e s i d e n t i a l s e a l o nt h e m, wh e r et h emo s t l yu n e a t e nMo n t eC r i s t os a t , g o n eq u i t ec o l dn o w, a n dl o o k i n gmo r et h a nj u s t al i t t l ef o r l o r n . “ G o o d n i g h t , g o o ds i r , ”h es a i ds o f t l y . “ I f e a r I ’ v et a k e n a d v a n t a g eo f ar a t h e r l i b e r a l i n d u l g e n c ea t y o u r e x p e n s e . I s h o u l d n ’ t h a v ed o n ei t , b u t , a s y o umu s t k n o w, I j u s t n e v e r c o u l dr e s i s t o n eo f Wa l t e r C h r i s t ma s ’ s Mo n t eC r i s t o s . ” A n dh ewa s o f f b a c ku p s t a i r s , a n di t ma yr e l i e v ey o ut o k n o w, o n c ea g a i nwi t h o u t Mr s . T r u ma na n yt h ewi s e r . A n dI c a ns t i l l r e c a l l l o o k i n gd o wna t t h a t s i l l yl i t t l ep l a t e ,o n eo f t h ey e l l o wo n e s , a n dI d o n ’ t k n o wwh y , b u t I k n e wt h a t h e ’ d n e v e r c o med o wnt ot h ek i t c h e nl i k et h i s l a t ea t n i g h t e v e r a g a i n . A n dh ed i d n ’ t . A n d , s t r a n g e , b u t I a l s ok n e w, a g a i n n o t k n o wi n gh o w, t h a t Mr . T r u ma nwo u l dn e v e r h a v eh i m a n o t h e r Mo n t eC r i s t os a n d wi c he v e r i nh i s l i f e . I k n o w, l e a s t wi s e , t h a t h en e v e r h a da n o t h e r f r o mme . Mr . T r u ma nn e v e r g o t t ob u i l dh i s ‘ h a n d y , l i t t l ec i t y ’ , a n d I ’ mg u e s s i n gy o uk n o wt h a t t h a t h o n o r we n t t ot woa c t u a l ‘ i s l a n d c i t i e s ’ i nac o u n t r ywh e r et h e yk n o wh o wt od e e p f r y t h i n g s a t l e a s t . A f t e r t h eb i gf l o o f l a h , a n dt h a t mu s h r o o mc l o u da l l o v e r ‘ T h eMo v i e T o n eN e ws ’ , t h i n g s g o t k i n do f ‘ r u s h y ’ a t t h eWh i t eH o u s e , a n dt h e nI k ewa s i n , s ot h a t wa s o n ef o r K a n s a s ; a n dt h e nt h eF i f t i e s we r ei n , o f c o u r s e , a n d t h a t wa s o n ef o r E l v i s ; a n di t s e e me dl i k en oo n ei nt h e U n i t e dS t a t e s o f A me r i c awa n t e dt of e e l l i k ea n y t h i n go t h e r t h a nawi n n e r , a n dt h e yd i d n ’ t h a v et o . T woJ a pc i t i e s a n da b u n k e r i nB e r l i nh a dp r o v e dt h a t o n c ea n df o r a l l , t oa l mo s t e v e r y b o d y ’ s s a t i s f a c t i o n .
I d i d n ’ t s t a yo nu n d e r I k e , u s b e i n gf e l l o wK a n s a n s a s i d e . Awh i t ewo ma ng o t t h ej o ba f t e r me ; t h ef i r s t wo ma n i nt h ej o b , c a ny o ub e a t i t ?B u t , s o me h o wI c a nn e v e r r e me mb e r h e r n a me . I g o t my s e l f at i d y , l i t t l ej o bc o o k i n gf o r t h er a i l r o a do n t h eA t c h i s o n , T o p e k a , S a n t aF el i n e , wh e nt h e ys t i l l h a d d i n i n g c a r s wi t ht a b l e c l o t h s a n dr e a l s i l v e r . T h eS u p e r C h i e f t h e yc a l l e di t . T h ef a mi l ya l l s a i dt h a t I c o u l d ’ v ed o n eb e t t e r , h a v i n gc o o k e df o r aP r e s i d e n t a n da l l , b u t I d i d n ’ t wa n t t o ‘ d ob e t t e r ’ , wh a t e v e r t h a t wa s . Wh a t ’ s b e t t e r t h a nt h eb e s t , a n y wa y ?I c o o k e dg o o dd e c e n t , f l a v o r f u l f o o df o r f o l k s f o r f i f t e e ny e a r s , u n t i l t h e yp h a s e do u t d i n i n ge x c e l l e n c eo n t r a i n s , a n dt u r n e di t o v e r t ot h es n a c k b a r s . S o me t i me s I t h i n kI mi s s i t . B u t wh a t I d os o r e l ymi s s a r et h o s el a t en i g h t s wi t hMr . T r u ma nd o wni nt h eWh i t eH o u s ek i t c h e n , j u s t u s t a l k i n gl o w a n de a t i n g , a n dk e e p i n ga ne a r o u t f o r Mr s . T r u ma n . B e c a u s eI ’ l l t e l l y o u , mo s t p e o p l ed r e a mo f t h e i r b r u s h wi t hg r e a t n e s s , y o uk n o w, wh e nt h e y ’ l l a c t u a l l yc o mei n c o n t a c t wi t hs o me o n ewh ot r u l yme r i t s t h ewo r d‘ g r e a t ’ ; I ’ m p r o u dt os a yt h a t I d i das i g h t mo r et h a nb r u s ha g a i n s t g r e a t n e s s : I c o o k e df o r i t a s we l l . N o wa n dt h e nI g e t wh a t t h ewi f ec a l l s ‘ c o n f l i c t e d ’ , f e e l i n gh a p p ya n dp r o u dt h a t Mr . T r u ma nl o v e dmyMo n t eC r i s t o s , b u t a l s of e e l i n gs o r t o f s a d , y o uk n o w, wi s t f u l , t h a t t h e l a s t Mo n t eC r i s t oI e v e r ma d et h a t ma nwa s l e f t u n t o u c h e d …e x c e p t f o r t h ec r u s t s . T h o u g hI ’ ms u r eMr s . T r u ma nwo u l d ’ v ea p p r o v e d .
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the L e g e n ds a y s i t e r u p t e df r o mav o l c a n o , t h e e a r t hp u s h i n gt h ec a s t l es p i r e s u p wa r da n d o u t o f t h eg r o u n d , p l u n g i n gi n t ot h ev a c a n t s k y . V o l c a n i c a s hc o v e r e dt h ema n yr o o ms o f t h ec a s t l e . Mi n e r a l s a n do r g a n i c p o wd e r ma d e u pt h i s d u s t yc o n c o c t i o n . A n df r o mi t r o s et h e v e r yf i r s t s u b j e c t s o f A mo r y . O h , b u t wh a t o f b e g i n n i n g s ? I t d o e s n o t ma t t e r h o wma g i c s t a r t s , b u t wh e r ei t ' s h e a d e da n dwh a t i t t o u c h e s . T o d a yi nA mo r y , t h e r ei s af a c a d eo f p e a c e a c r o s s t h el a n d . Ab l a n k e t o f wh i t ei n a c t i v i t y l i e s o v e r p e o p l e , t h es t a b l e s , t h et o wns q u a r e a n de v e nt h eg r e a t c a s t l e . T h ek i n g d o mf r o m a f a r wo u l dl o o ka b a n d o n e d , p a l e , d e a d , a n d f r o z e ni nt i me . E v e nc l o s e r e x a mi n a t i o nwo u l d h a r d l ye x p o s et h ep e o p l ep l o wi n gi nt h e i r p a s t u r e s t h ed e a de x p r e s s i o n s o nt h e i r f a c e s , n of e e l i n gi nt h e i r e y e s . Wa l ka l o n gt h e wi n d i n gr o a d s o f A mo r y , wi t hi t s v a s t a r c h i t e c t u r e , t h es p i r e s o f t h ec a s t l e , t h ep u b s a n d l i t t l eh o me s a l l s t a c k e dt o g e t h e r , a n dy o uwi l l s e ec i t i z e n s mo v i n ga b o u t , b u t wi t hl i t t l el i f e a n ds c a r c emo t i v a t i o n . N or e a l e x i s t e n c e , j u s t g r e yp e o p l e wa n d e r i n gt h es t r e e t s .
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S h ewa l k s t oh e r l a r g eb e d , t r a i l i n gf r a i l a n dt a t t e r e ds t r a n d s o f h e r n i g h t g o wna s s h emo v e s . S h ef a l l s f o r wa r da n db u r i e s h e r f a c ei nt h ep i l l o ws a n dv i s u a l i z e s wh a t s h emu s t l o o kl i k ef r o ma b o v e a l a r g eb l a c kb i r dwi t hwi n g s s p r e a do u t , t h i na n do l d , wi t hama t o f l a r g er e dc u r l s t o pi t s h e a d . I a mb u t a no l dd y i n gb i r d . T h eQ u e e no f A mo r yr e ma i n s i nh e r b e d r o o m, h i g h a a b o v et h es t r e e t s a n dl o o k s o u t a t h e r s t i l l k i n g d o m. h er o l l s o v e r a n ds t a r e s a t t h eh i g hc e i l T h r o u g ht h et h i nwh i t ef o gs h ec a ns e es h a d o w- S n g . L a r g es t o n ea r c h e s a b o v eh e r h e a d f i g u r e s mo v ea b o u t . Mo s t o f h e r s u b j e c t s s t a yi n i e e pt h ec e i l i n gf r o mc r u s h i n gh e r . Wo u l d t h e i r b e d s u n t i l t h e ymo v eo nf r o mt h i s l i f e . E v e r y k t b es ot e r r i b l ei f i t d i d ?I f as h i f t o f t h e d a ys h es t a n d s b e f o r et h i s g r e a t wi n d o wa n dc o n - i a r t hb e l o ws e n d s ar i p p l eo f s t r e s s u p j u r e s u pt h ep a s t , t h ewa yh e r K i n g d o mu s e dt ob e . e h r o u g ht h ef o u n d a t i o n , i n t ot h ewa l l s S h et r i e s t or e me mb e r t h es o u n do f v o i c e s , b u t t h e y t n dc r a c k s h e r h i g hs t o n ec e i l i n g s , s e e ma s d i s t a n t t oh e r a s t h emo a t o f mo u n t a i n s a e n d i n gh e r t h ewa yo f s oma n yb e f o r e t h a t e n c i r c l eA mo r y . E v e nt h es o u n do f h e r o wn s h e r ? v o i c eh a s s l i p p e da wa yf r o mh e r . A n di f t h a t i s n ' t e n o u g ht os e n dy o up a c k i n g , y o uf i n a l l yr e a l i z e , s t a n d i n ga mo n g s t t h eo v e r wh e l mi n g s t a s i s , t h e r ei s s i l e n c e . I t c r a wl s i n t oy o u r e a r s a n d f i l l s y o u r wh o l eb o d ywi t ht h ev i o l e n t b u z z i n go f n o t h i n g n e s s . F o r f i f t e e ny e a r s t h eg r e a t K i n g d o mo f A mo r yh a s b e e nl i k et h i s .
S h et u r n s a n dl o o k s i n t ov a s t r o o mo f ma r b l e , t h e f l o o r c o v e r e di nv a r y i n gc a r p e t s , f u r s a n dr u g s . T h e wa l l s h a n g i n gwi t hl a r g ep a i n t i n g s o f o l ds t o r i e s a n dmy t h s t h ep e o p l eo f A mo r yo n c es p o k eo f . D r a g o n s , wi z a r d s a n dh e r o i c k n i g h t s . T h el a r g e s t p a i n t i n g ,av o l c a n oe r u p t i n gt h eA mo r yc a s t l e . T h e y a r ea l l t h i c kwi t hd u s t n o w, t h ec o l o r s o f t h ep a i n t i n g s p a l ea n ds e e mi n g l yt r a n s p a r e n t . I s h o u l dh a v e t h e md u s t e d , t h i n k s t h eq u e e n . T h e r e af l i c k e r o f l i g h t wi t h i nh e r , a s i f s o me o n ei s t r y i n gt os t a r t a f i r ewi t hf l i n t . S c r a p i n g , s c r a p i n g . T h ei d e ao f d o i n g s o me t h i n g , g o i n gt oo n eo f t h es e r v a n t s a n da s k i n g f o r a s s i s t a n c ea n dd u s t i n gt h ep a i n t i n g s . B u t , t h e l i g h t d i e s , a n ds h ek n o ws s h ewo n ' t d oi t .
L e t t i n go u t as l o wd e e ps i g h , s h et h i n k s a b o u t wh a t h a p p e n e dt h o s ef i f t e e ny e a r s a g owh e ns h eb a n i s h e da l l t h ee v i l f r o m A mo r yo n c ea n df o r a l l . F o r a l l , s h e t h o u g h t . We l l , t h i s i s mya l l a n di t i s my p r i s o n .
F o u n d e db yDa v i dGa r r i s o n( l i s t e da so n eo f Sa c r a me n t o ’ s2 5mo s tc r e a t i v ep e o p l eb yt h e Sa c r a me n t oNe ws&Re v i e w)i n2 009 ,T AAC h a sb e c o meo n eo ft h emo s tc u t t i n g e d g ea r t s o r g a n i z a t i o n si nt h er e g i o n ,g i v i n gn e wa n d v e t e r a na c t o r st h eo p p o r t u n i t yt of l e xt h e i ra r C l a s s i c s t i s t i cmu s c l e st h r o u g hwo r k s h o p p i n gf u l l l e n g t h o n t e mp o r a r y p l a y sa n dp a r t i c i p a t i n gi ne v e r ya s p e c to fs h o wC p r o d u c t i o n . Wo r k s h o p s
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Be s i d e sb r i n g i n gt ot h es t a g es u c hc h a l l e n g i n g r i g i n a lWo r k s p l a y sa sS u b u r b i a ,An ge l si nAme r i c a , O E qu u s ,ap o s t a p o c a l y p t i c ,g e n d e r b e n d i n g v e r s i o no f Ha ml e t ,a n da no r i g i n a l i n t e r p r e t a t i o no fS pr i n g’ sAwa k e n i n g,T AACh o s t s “ Co mmu n i t yPo o l ”e v e n t si nwh i c hl o c a l a c t o r s , p a i n t e r s ,wr i t e r s ,p h o t o g r a p h e r s ,d a n c e r s , s c u l p t o r s ,a n dmu s i c i a n sc o met o g e t h e rt o s h a r et h e i rwo r k . “ T h i si sa ne x t r e me l ywe l l d o n e c o mmu n i t yp r o d u c t i o n ,wo r t h yo f t h es h o r td r i v eu pI n t e r s t a t e8 0. ” “ . . t h e o u n g , s i c k r i o r W l t e r , “ . . t h ey y o u n g , s i c kP P r i o r Wa a l t e r , p l a y e d o e r f e c t i o n y a v i d p l a y e dt t op p e r f e c t i o nb b yD D a v i d G r r i s o n . . . ” Ga a r r i s o n . . . ”
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