Page 18 - THE BOOK 11 12 2020 8 pm FINAL_Neat

We arrive at a place with tents, women, and children.
My brother is gone, my father is gone.

And the snow falls and falls.
SLEEP STORY II

I am part of a circle.
Laughter echoes off our huts.

My father stands in the middle telling stories to the children.

My brother and cousin stand outside the circle,

making jokes and whispering to each other.
Dave walks over and tells me it's time to go.

I ask for one more story but my father’s gone.

Now my mother tells me it’s time to go, but I ask for one more story.

Cows run by as fire spreads.
I am in the flying boat and the laughter begins again.

My mother tells me to run but I ask why.

Lual looks at me angrily and asks why I left them.

My mother looks up, saying to run.

And I am alone and the road stretches ahead of me.
On the sides of the road, dead trees stand like cold skeletons waiting to crumble.

For miles I walk on and on.

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