Themes
Future Things #1
Things to know about the future. #1: It doesn’t have to look any particular way, but around here, if it doesn’t, a lot of people will never speak to you again
Gap
The only thing that separates me from the animals is a lot of words, so when I’m not talking much, the gap closes really quick.
Garage Sale
After she had that last big garage sale she floated off into the sky & I heard her say there was nothing keeping her here anymore & I was much more cautious about the stuff I got rid of after that.
General Confusion
I used to be pretty clear on what was real & what I made up, but with everything going on in the world, none of that seems to matter, so I just decided to talk less & smile to myself more, so as not to add to the general confusion
Funny World
He told me about Jesus & Arizona & the best way to make beer & I said you’re a funny kind of preacher & he said it’s a funny kind of world & I still remember his eyes clear as a desert morning.
Future Lives
Anybody can make up past lives, she said. The real trick is to make up future lives & not forget you did it.
Free Food
Do you know all these people? she whispered to me & I said no, they’re just here for the free food & she said, But it’s only a dream & I said, I know. That’s why I can afford to do it.
Free Time
King of Hearts idly playing a game of people
Free Will
That’s the thing about free will, he told us. You can drag me along, but there’s no way in hell you can make me have fun.
Front Porch
My grandpa used to tell us about a man who had 3 heads who lived in his town & he was always in the kitchen frying something or other & even though it smelled like chicken it was really the bones of children. He was awake every time I saw him, my grandpa said, even late at night & we decided maybe he had 3 or 4 jobs but that’s what you need with so many mouths to feed & then my grandma would make us come in & watch educational television for our own good.
Full Day
I think I’m having a heart attack, she said, but it’s dragging on for hours. I told her not to worry. That’s how most people who work a full day feel, I said.
Full Effort
I’m going to get as far away from you as possible, she said, & there’s nothing you can do to stop me.
So, I shrugged & turned & started to walk away.
That’s not fair, she said, you’re not even trying.
Fundamentals
How’d it go at soccer? I said & he said we worked on fundamentals & I said like why you were even chasing around after a ball in the first place? & from the way he looked at me I figured out that was probably too fundamental.
Forgetful
I don’t really have any secrets, she told me once. I just forget a lot of stuff.
Forgotten Promises
she sang like snowflakes on my tongue, bright & sharp with the forgotten promises of spring
Formless
A lot of people think he’s kind of formless but it’s only because they keep hoping he’ll look like something they recognize before they get too anxious
Fortune Teller
Every summer we had a circus & I always got to be the fortune teller. All the girls wanted to know if they’d have babies & all the boys wanted to find out about the Cubs. We had one neighbor who’d been in the hospital who asked me if I could tell her when she was going to die & I didn’t know what to say so I told her not before her time & then she grabbed my arm & said I was a good boy but that’s not what the doctors said & there I was looking in the crystal ball wishing I had more Gypsy and less Norwegian.
Four Things
4 things I have learned about soccer that you may find useful. No. 1 If you run too much your lungs burn to tiny little cinders & all you’re good for after that is a low-key desk job for the rest of your life. No. 2 A soccer ball is softer than a rock, but not much. No. 3 If you have a good goalie, you can look around more & see what some of the other teams are up to. No. 4 People on the sidelines yell at you because they know exactly what they would do if they had the ball & were 3 feet taller than the biggest kid on the other team.
Free Country (aka Confusing World)
Why is the world so confusing? he said & I said it’s only confusing if you believe it has to make sense & he looked at me & shook his head.
I can’t believe they let just anyone have children, he said.
Forever
How old do you have to be to die? he said & I said I didn’t think anybody was ever old enough & that made sense to him since he was still new to the world & remembered how forever had been.