ROSE i. MilwaukeeAvenue,2006, andtheloneroseinsists: Red!Rose-Red! Butthelittlegirl onthetrikeplows past—she’sallaboutDisney: SnowWhite,SleepingBeauty. Thegirlishalf-watched bythreeteendads whocouldbebrothers. Soontherosewilldraw itsshades,afailedenterprise, anditsbeewillbuzz intothesky.Thethree dadswillstormGaribaldi’s, flashingforgedIDs. Thegirl’sdaddrinks paleale.Whenhesings he’sembarrassing. Noone’searcocks, andthenoiselevel rises—notjustsports chatter,notTV, butadeeproarpouring likesewageunderthestreet. Itkeepsoverflowing intoLakeMichigan, untilthebayclouds 9 andgullsfalter.Thedad bobs.Hewavers.He’stoodrunk toholdhisvoiceclose, soitgoes.MouthingJohnnyCash itupsandleaves, catchingandlodging withalltheempty plasticbagsinthetrees. ii. Iwentdown,down,down inaburningringoffire, downtothesewer wherethegoldfishgleam: theyarenotpets.Theirspines flexlikelittlemermaids, likecreaturesinasleeping girl’sdream.Therosehaslearned itslesson:hush.Don’tdeepen, don’tredden,keepstill likeabeadofwater inanenchanted statewithouthills. 10 ...