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Nice
- Wesleyan University Press
- Chapter
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14 NICE Icanbenice.Icanputmybody flat,downstraight,andpull sleepfromsomewheredeep inthebrain,thatno-weather thing,thatblankpageafter -pagething.Icanbe niceenoughandsaynothing,drift tothecoolroomunder ablanket,underallthethings Ihavetodo.Countthem.Count forwardorbackward:glue brokenthings,fillthefeeder, workforaliving,makesupper,go anxiousuntoguiltyunto anxious,fullcircle.Icanlove humankind.Icandothat. Icanclosemyeyesonthebright windowsmyneighborshave framingtheirbigTVs.Icanunderstand. Icanbenicewhenothersdecide,steeling myself,butnotaswellasmytiny grandmotherdid,thetallestperson intheroomforamoment.Ican,mostly, drivepastBurgerKing,itsGoodLuck Staci(oh,Stacywithani!)WeMiss You! onwhateverthemarquee’s callednow,betouchedandsweetened 15 orniceenoughnottonotice.Andbite mytongue.Gooddoggy.Benicenow,be nice.Icansacrificemuscle andbonetositlonger,showing interest(showinterest,mymotherwarned aswewalkedthroughanyreallylarge setofdoors).IknowGermanhas aword,nett,fornice.Icanputmyself inthatnet,dropdownsoclose towhatisunderwater thatthefishknowmeassmall, silent,assleekandshinyas theyhappentobe.Andso weightlessthere,blue beyondthought.Onewouldhardly guesshowniceitis,thosefish suspendednexttome,theirmouths openingandclosing. ...