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John Lee Clark 272 Long Goodbyes I miss all of the long goodbyes of my parents’ guests taking their leave by not leaving when it was time to go. Someone would sign Better go home we but hours would pass around our round table— the bowls of our hands offering confession after confession assuring us that we are we— before anyone stands up. Then others, sighing, will stand up slowly and slowly walk through our house, pausing where the walls offer stories, reasons to stay longer and touch more things with our hands. I remember how long, how wonderfully they stood unwilling to open the front door, signing away with warm faces and hugging goodbye again before going gently into the night. My family would huddle to watch their cars’ headlights roll away John Lee Clark 273 but pause to flash in the Deaf way, waving goodbye to our house. How we children dashed inside to light switches for our house to wave back goodbye, light to light bright in the night! Now that I am grown and have my own family, do come for a visit but do not leave when it is time to go. Sign, do sign Better go home we and our hands will make time go suddenly slow. ...

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