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Before The Flood Myfatherremembersnothing.Orrather herememberswhereitusedtobe–See that building? When I was a kid there was nothing there. And next door, where the school is, nothing. Wewalkthroughhishometown,down astreetwithanIndiannamenoIndian livestotranslate.It means Dream River, hesays,or Rambling, Confused River, I used to know. Noonebelieves theirparentswerechildren.Thatis,you needmorethantheirword.Theyhaveto dosomething:stiflelaughter,cryinto theirhands,standtiptoe.Wealllook 24 youngerontiptoe.Myfatherpeers overafence,anothernewbuilding. This was all sand,hesays,for Bethlehem, Bethlehem Steel.Hisshoeisuntied. Hebendstolaceit,Ialmosthelp.Later Ireachforhishandatacrosswalk. Let’s go back,hesays.Tohow itwas? No, to the house; I need to lie down.Weturnandthetown surgesunderourfeet,comesoverus inawoodentide.Igetmyarmsunderhis, kickforbothofus.Hedoesn’ttry, doesn’tspeakwhenhishousegoesby. 25 ...

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