Jack Cady lives in Port Townsend. Author of five published novels and two short story collections, his most recent book is The Man Who Could Make Things Vanish, Arbor House, 1984. Dennis Cunningham is an artist living in Portland. Fatigue comes crawling around nine p.m. I could use a little of my student Gerald’s snizwit. The class is over at ten. Class members head for a nearby restaurant where there will be more talk and a beer. Time to close up shop. A sign by the light switch asks that the lights be turned off when the room is not in use. Fat chance. There have been rapes and other assaults on this campus. Leave the lights burning and head for Tacoma. The rain makes the freeway bright. YMCA bed. Go to sleep thinking of relativity. I teach at Olympic College on Wednes- Iday, attend the department meeting at Pacific Lutheran on Thursday, and that evening teach the science class at The University of Washington. The ferry across Puget Sound leaves at 11:15. I arrive home at 1:30 Friday morning. In the week’s mail is the Associated Writing Programs job list. Part timers are wanted at Southern Connecticut State, Loyola University of Chicago, Tufts, and Pace University of New York. One university uses the term ‘adjunct faculty.’ At 1:30 a.m. the thought is not altogether funny, but it is not altogether solemn, either. Kate would priake a joke. “ I could make more money,” I said to her, when we last met, “ if I sold cheeseburgers at McDonald’s. And this is being called the "information age.’ It seems unlikely that it will come to much if people cannot read and understand the information which they can so readily transmit. “ But that means you probably couldn’t stand to eat at McDonald’s. Then where would you be?” “This much rain rpeans that a new ice age is arriving.” “ We will be buried beside the perturbed spirit of James Whitcomb Riley.” We were having a quiet celebration, and we were uttering maledictions. If we complain loudly enough, all gods and witches and warlocks will stay away. We will not be robbed of a victory. On the table between us lies one of the most godawful but beautiful pieces of writing either of us will ever see. Darrell has broken through. He is still trapped in language, but he is no longer completely trapped. “ Like this,” I tell Kate. “We held an in class writing exercise. This was the assignment. ‘You are a giraffe. Tell me about your life.’ ” “ I’ ll use that. That forces them to story telling.” We swap class plans, as English teachers have done for centuries. “ Darrell was straining so hard he got red,” I tell her. “ He was blinking back tears.” Around him class members were busy being giraffes, telling how neat it is to perform in a circus, how lovely it is to live in a zoo. Nothing has been easy for Darrell. He does nbt even know that he is allowed to play it easy. Instead, on this first time out, he is trying to write out the whole history of his world; its pain, its frustration. Finally, he holds up the pencil, looks at it. “ Hey, hey,” he chokes, “ hey, hey. I can make this mother run.” His paper reads: “ jraff lifes in Africa, Loks for rain. Wok all round with got long legs but black things lay all round all over. Smell bad no rain, use to be black thing walk round like me. Ded now thees black things all ded. Jraff dont get mad on account jraff dont understan” And here it is, only November. LOCATED IN HIS TORIC WALLINGFORD CENTER Specia liz ing in Carribean/Latin American Clothing • Jewelry • Folk Art • Fashion Accessor ies • Handicrafts SEASONAL SPECIAL ‘ NEW ’ Colorful Line of Tropical Style Earrings 1815 N 45th PLENTY OF FREE PARKING REASONABLE PRICES 547-8871 WRIGHT BROS CYCLE WORKS COOPERATIVE WORK SPACE AVAILABLE “Wright Bros, is one of the best shops in town for people as well as bikes. They talk to you, listen to you and are the most helpful all-around shop I’ve found.” —Jeremy Sappington Training Specialist and Bicycle Tour Leader for Group Health Co-op. Ask About Our Membership &All-Year Classes 633-5132 219 North 36th (In Fremont) SEATTLE, WA 9 8 1 0 3 Seattle Women’s Health Center Now Offering General Medicine 1827 12th Ave. neiir Dennv Way 323-9388 (for appointment) DROP-IN PREGNANCY TESTING 26 Clinton St. Quarterly Repair &Tool Specialists Closed Mondays M fllEAH IBH iM 509 15th East HOURS Monday-Friday from 11 AM Saturday & Sunday from 9 AM Delicatessen - Restaurant TELEPHONE — 324-MAMA ☆ on Capitol Hill Your complete source for Graphic, Drafting Architectural & Fine Art supplies 1816-8th Ave. Seattle 98101 (206) 625-0711 [800] 732-1129 toH free in WA MEW FROM NANCY'S 3 HEW LOWEAT YOGURT FLAVORS Essence o f Lemon, Vanilla, and Maple. Watch for them! ALSO AVAILABLE N ancy 's P la in Low fat Y ogu r t in h and y 8 o z . s iz e .
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