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Felt
There
is a world where the adults can show a child what her future will be.
They
use a felt board; the same kind used to tell Sunday School stories.
A
woman with plastic-wrap hair holds shapes with her witch
fingers.
She
says, “Here is the boy who will break your heart.”
The
little figure is tow-headed and dimpled.
“You’ll
run in so many circles, it will take you years to untangle all the
curves.
But
you’ll be grateful for having fallen in love.”
The
woman is sitting in a toddler-sized chair. It scrapes on the
linoleum as she scoots forward.
She
says, “These two blurry shapes are your parents.
Gods
and demons.
They
are warm. Cold. Massive.
Someday
they will diminish, even as they come into focus.
Their
pain will be as clear to you as the red triangle you see here.
They
will become so small you could fit them in your pocket.
That’s
when you remember to carry them at all times.”
The
woman promises you a butterscotch if you remember your lessons.
She
scatters flannel confetti all over the blue sky felt board of your
life.
“These
are the friends you will want because you like the same music.
But
these bricks off to the side? They are the ones who would lend
you their bones.”
She
shows you oceans and skyscrapers; all of your adventures.
"There
is the whale who will fail to swallow you.
There
is the Egypt you’ll be too afraid to leave."
You
think it’s strange that she knows your favorite trees to look at
from a window,
and
the paint drip bumps on a school wall that will fascinate your
fingers when you do the important thinking.
These
lessons are comprehensive.
Love this! Read your other two after and love them too!
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