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Evensong
- Wayne State University Press
- Chapter
- Additional Information
78 Evensong TommyKent,alwayssureaboutfixing anyengine.“Givemeaday;I’llhaveit backandrunning.”BenCane,whohit thehigh,hardone,hislonelystrength inpickupgames.We’dtrytopitchhim lowandaway.He’dwait.Drawawalk orsliceadoubledowntheline.Days, that’swhattherewere:bordered,filled, spreadlikeamapwithonlytheback roadsmarked.Ifitrained,theworld wasaporch,anatticifitsnowed. Schoolwasalieinsistingtherewere thingsmoreseriousthandeath. CarolLawson,amazingatmath, didcalculuswhileweweresputtering inthedustofalgebra.Herbreasts werethefirsttocometoclass, thefirsttofallawaybeforeshefollowed. Everymorning,Ifeedthedogs,carry abucketintothegardentodeadhead. Overnight,somebloomshavebrowned orwilted,lyingacrossthestemsthatheld. Ibreakthemoffbutamneversure aboutthosethathavefadedandfolded inonthemselves.Theircentersdonot show,buttheundersidestakeinthemorning light.Andtheirnames—cosmos,pansy, cleome—feelhappyonmytongue,never staythewayTommy,Ben,andCaroldo. ...