F n E E - donations nccepted.

FROM THE EDITOR'S DESK

Space and time, on a more mundane l e v e l , makes t h i s 7:07 a . m . , wi th a half-page t o cram t h e l a t e s t ac t - u a l news i n t o . P i c t u r e s being worth a thousand words. . .

Nancy Jennings came t o h e r f i r s t Board meeting a s D i rec to r s i n c e l a s t March. That was when t h e Ci ty allowed t h a t t h e s t a f f d i d n ' t have t o s u b j e c t t h e i r s e n s i t i v e noses t o t he psychic smel l emanating from t h e execut ive of t h e board then. A s employees of DEEDS, t h e same -- - have puc up a smokescreen of verb i - age t o scam, wi th ~ o u n c i 1 " s not- yet-voted approval , $70,000 of pub- l i c money. I f you've had any busi- nes s dea l ing wi th DEEDS, l e t me know.

News, news...oh yeah; t h e l o c a l Post Off i c e branch may close,^^^^ and Crabt ree Comer each w i l l g e t $200 f o r Christmas f e s t i v i t i e s and t h e k i t chen w i l l g e t an i n d u s t r i a l t o a s t e r - from t h e Assoc ia t ion -, $66,000 has been found t o put t r e e s

and l i g h t s ou t s ide , more s t a f f a r e be ing h i r e d , t h e Newslet ter now has a b-u-d-g-e- t (and an i n t e r n a t i o n a l readersh ip - H i Sue), Christmas i s coming (NEWS you say!) and w e ' l l have a y e a r of v i c t o r i e s t o ce le - b r a t e , i n s i d e renovat ions w i l l be p u b l i c a l l y formulated (he s a i d aga in wi th f i n g e r s & t o e s & eyes crossed) and v e r b a l d i a r r h e a i s no longe r running rampant i n Camepie!

PAULR TAYLOR

Dear members, M s . S h e i l a Baxter has

.-em. LF.J1511Gd -- - as a 3 i r ez to r on t h e Board, due t o a personal commitment t o having h e r grandson as a d a i l y joy.

The Cons t i t u t ion Com- m i t t e e w i l l meet t o s e t u p a f a i r p rocess f o r f i l l - i n g vacancies on t h e Bd. and t h i s w i l l t a k e p l ace (an e l e c t i o n ) a t t h e December Board meeting.

J o e i n Pigeon Park

Guiseppe (Old Joe , t h e ex-clerk) sits i n Pigeon Park s u b s t r a c t i n g mouthfuls from a hotdog, h i s hands cupped a g a i n s t t h e beady a r i t h m e t i c of eyes t a b u l a t i n g each crumb; b u t soon, one pigeon bows around h i s bunions, followed by s i s t e r s , b ro the r s , cous ins , a u n t s and unc les , grandparents , t h e whole damn f a m i l i a r l o t t h r o a t y wi th t h e same h i s t o r i e s and hard-luck s t o r i e s . He r i n g s up a f i n g e r swiped ac ros s h i s nose a t those , a t these , i n d e f a t i g a b l e expec tan ts , who Pursue him..from p lace t o p lace . . u n t i l , curs ing , he t e a r s o f f ano the r handout, ano the r ounce of f l e s h . J a n c i s M. Andrews

CHILD POVERTY ACTION COMMITTEE -

This p a r t i c u l a r o rganiza t ion a rose out of t h e Child Poverty Forum he ld a t Mount P leasan t School on Apr i l 3 , 1987. My own opinion w a s t h a t t h i s workshop would be u se l e s s un less w e con- t inued t o meet and t r y t o e r a se the hunger and s h e l t e r problems.

The Child Poverty Action Com- m i t t e e decided t h a t we have been going f o r s i x months and managed t o ge t some th ings accomplished - i t i s time t o apply f o r a g r a n t , I f you a r e looking f o r funding, < + ..-.-. * - I - - r c L u r r CQLC C p 211 your eIlergy.

I would l i k e t o say something t o a l l t h e p o l i t i c i a n s : We a r e respons ib le f o r every c h i l d , n o t j u s t our own. Society w i l l pay t h e p r i c e through the cou r t s and v io lence i f t he se ch i ld ren do n o t have e s s e n t i a l s e r v i c e s today.

The P r i n c i p a l s have been t o l d t o ignore t he Child Poverty Ac- t i o n Committee, hoping we w i l l go away. P r i n c i p a l s have asked t h e teachers t o have the ch i ldren t o hold up t h e i r hands i f they a r e hungry. This is the most uncomfortable p o s i t i q n t h e pr in- c i p a l s have ever been i n .

We must g e t away from t h e myth t h a t people on we l f a r e a r e s tup id . I n f a c t t he oppos i te is t r u e ;

. I rene Schmidt - -

they must be very c l e v e r t o sur- v ive under t he presen t system.

I f e e l a s i f I took p a r t i n a t r a v e l l i n g c i r c u s on October 26th. F i r s t I covered the Hungry Kids Committee meeting a t t he Vancou- v e r School Board, then i t was o f f t o C i ty Hal l f o r The Child Task Force headed by Carole Taylor.

Enclosed is a copy of the a c t u a l r ep ly Claude Richmond wrote t o Ken Denike of t h e Vancouver School Board.

Some srhonls have Shar icg Shelves and P r i n c i p a l s a c t u a l l y l ead ch i ld ren by t h e hand t o a sk i f they have e x t r a lunch f o r ch i ld ren who don ' t have any food.

The Hungry Kids Committee a t t h e Vancouver School Board t h iqk t h e Food Program i n Toronto is success fu l . I must d i s ag ree a s only 35% of t h e money goes f o r food; t he remainder is f o r s t a f f .

M r . Puberko is unbelievable. One of h i s famous quotes is:

"Poor f ami l i e s have enough pro- blems. They want t o keep t h e i r d ign i ty and you want t o f o r c e food down t h e i r t h roa t s . "

A woman phoned Pat Chauncey, who is one of our members saying,

"People on wel fa re don ' t know how t o cogk. I would be g lad t o teach them.

September 29, 1987 A letter from Claude Richmond M r . Ken Denike Chairman Vancouver School Board

Dear M r . Denike: I

I understand t h a t the Vancouver School Board w i l l soon be consider ing, once again, t he problem of hungry ch i ld ren i n schools . A s you may be looking a t op t ions t o dea l wi th t h e problem, I thought t h a t i t would be u se fu l f o r you t o know the p o s i t i o n and t h e philosophy of t h e Government on t h i s important top ic . W e recognize t h a t ch i ld ren a r e our most important resource. W e a r e very concerned when ch i ld ren a r e no t adequately fed because t h a t a f f e c t s no t only t h e i r a b i l i t y t o l e a r n i n school but a l s o t h e i r growth and develop- ment and gene ra l hea l th . We b e l i e v e t h a t t he b e s t way t o ensure t h a t ch i ld ren a r e wel l cared f o r is by suppor t ing t h e i r f ami l i e s s o t h a t paren ts can provide f o r t h e i r own ch i ldren . We want t o he lp people manage t h e i r own a f f a i r s without re ly- i ng on Government i n t e rven t ion except when abso lu t e ly necessary. A school meal program can remove p a r e n t a l r e s p o n s i b i l i t y f o r providing food and runs t he r i s k of c r e a t i n g an i nd i f f e r ence t o family responsi- b i l i t i e s . Our goal is t o he lp f ami l i e s t o independently provide the b e s t p o s s i b l e ca re f o r t h e i r ch i ldren . When f ami l i e s cannot provide t h e n e c e s s i t i e s of l i f e f o r family members, they can apply f o r Guaranteed Avai lable Income f o r Need (GAIN), t he prov- i n c i a l income a s s i s t a n c e f o r food, s h e l t e r and o t h e r n e c e s s i t i e s . This program w i l l provide a b a s i c allowance but when pa ren t s a r e unable t o provide food f o r t h e i r ch i ldren the Minis t ry w i l l provide f u r t h e r a s s i s - tance which may inc lude counse l l ing on budgeting and e f f e c t i v e shopping, r e f e r r a l t o app rop r i a t e s o c i a l s e r v i c e agencies o r Minis t ry administra- t i o n of GAIN b e n e f i t s f o r t h e few unable t o manage t h e i r f i n a n c i a l af- fzirs. !a!ben 2 fzzily docs c o t 52-;c mzsz-; f c r fad o r ak.dtex- t 2 q cziz be given a c r i s i s g ran t . GAIN r a t e s f o r f ami l i e s a r e supplemented by s eve ra l add i t i ons inc ludinp a school s t a r t -up gran t i n t h e f a l l , a ~ h r i s t m a s bonus, medical coverage and o t h e r exempted b e n e f i t s inc lud ing Family Allowance and t h e Child Tax Credi t .

GAIN r a t e s f o r f ami l i e s were increased i n June of t h i s year and another i nc rease f o r f ami l i e s has been announced f o r December. The b idge t t h i s year f o r b a s i c income a s s i s t a n c e is est imated a t approximately $800million. Sometimes a fami ly ' s f a i l u r e t o provide f o r t h e well-being of t h e i r ch i ld ren is not r e l a t e d t o t h e i r economic circumstances. The Minis t ry of Soc i a l Serv ices and Housing has a r e s p o n s i b i l i t y t o ensure t h e s a f e t y and well-being of our ch i ldren and employs more than 800 s o c i a l workers t o provide s e r v i c e s t o f ami l i e s t o a s s i s t them i n car ry ing out t h e i r parent- a l r e s p o n s i b i l i t i e s .

I would urge you t o encourage a l l of your s t a f f t o r e f e r f ami l i e s t o t h e Minis t ry i f ch i ld ren appear t o be a t r i s k . I know t h a t your board is very concerned about t h e problem of hungry ch i ld ren i n school and t h a t you may develop school-based programs t o d e a l with t h e i s sue . I wish you the b e s t i n your endeavors and can as- s u r e you t h a t I w i l l cont inue t o devote my b e s t e f f o r t s towards t h e development of programs t o ensure t h a t paren ts can feed and ca re f o r t h e i r own ch i ldren .

Yours t r u l y , Claude Plchmond, ~ i n i s t e r ( S ~ & H )

You can see the mountains glowing from your h o t e l window & t h e s t r e e t s a r e almost q u i e t , only t h e t a x i s a r e ou t y e t & you th ink "maybe I ' l l walk myself down t o Siwash rock" Q: Down by t h e Marina t he boa t s are s t i l l and the water's calm Only a jogger o r two running down t h e seawall sidewalk & A l l t h e trees i n t h e park a r e s t i l l covered up i n shadow & you t u r n t o t he e a s t , where t he sun is growing s t ronge r

Now's t h e t i m e t o be a l i v e When the sun comes up through your window Now's t he time t o be yourse l f & l ove t he th ings you know

On t h e f a r s i d e of t h e i n l e t t h e r e a r e heaps of yellow su lphur &the br idge is studded wi th morning t r a f f l c jams A l l t h e s i g n s of a world you l e f t years ago -

People s t i l l s e l l i n g t h e i r own freedom j u s t t o su rv ive

Behind you t h e r e ' s an eag l e a t t h e top of an o l d jack p ine Agafnst a sky unbelievably b lue H e spreads h i s b lack wings & d r i f t s i n t o t h e f o r e s t & you brea the again, while your h e a r t is growing s t ronge r

Now's t h e time t o be a l i v e \ When the sun comes up through your window \

ow's t h e time t o be yourse l f I

l ove t h e th ings you know

Ea r l e Peach

Current Hour&om - 5pm

Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday

lpm - 9pm: Thursday, Fri,day

NEWS FROM THC WOMEN'S CENTRE

Laure l Kimbley is no l o n g e r work- i n g a t t h e Downtown E a s t s i d e Women's Centre , a t 217 Main S t r e e t . She d i d a wonderful j o b as co-ordinator f o r t h e p a s t 3 y e a r s . From almost no- t h i n g , L a u r e l b u i l t up t h e omen's Centre t o become a very busy p l a c e and s h e i n i t i a t e d a number o f pro- j e c t s . There was t h e E r i c a P r o j e c t , a s tudy t o set up a s m a l l b u s i n e s s , t h e Bakery, numerous workshops and s t u d i e s and luncheons e t c .

She o rgan ized a group of women f o r t h e Housing Committee, and t h e ~ a v i s / ~ c ~ u l l e n r e s i d e n c e w i l l open i n t h e new year . Laure l is s t i l l involved i n t h e housing committee. I'

! . A l o t o f n e g o t i a t i n g h a s been going on t h i s y e a r wi th Ci ty H a l l q, i f " / -1 and w i t h t h e h e l p o f Anne Kloppen-

S o c i a l Planning ,- t h e ill be moving i n t o Cordova S t . a f t e r

Thank you Laure l f o r your work, your d e d i c a t i o n and your @ighting

a s t s i d e Women's I s h g :or z nes

a t o r . W e need someone who r i e n c e i n f u n d r a i s i n g , o u n s e l l i n g , and who is w i t h t h e bowntown Eas t s i d e

i c k up Job d e s c r i p t i o n a t n ' s Centre. Closing d a t e

f o r resumes is Nov. 20, 1987 and starts Jan. 4, 1988.

Personnel Commit tee, Downtown E a s t s i d e women's Centre

... . 217 Main S t r e e t , Vancouver, B.C. V6A 2S7

681-8480 ,

I _ _ __-_-_,__-^_ _ _ During i t s fabu lous and e t e r n a l

r e i g n o v e r u s , Cap i ta l i sm h a s made & compounded j u s t about every s e r i o u s mis take any p o l i - t i c a l sys tem cou ld . . . and y e t i t con t inues t o t h r i v e & grow & make i n r o a d s i n t o every p o s s i b l e a r e a of i t s c i t i z e n s ' l i v e s . Year by y e a r i t i n c r e a s e s t h e c o s t of l i v i n g , c o r r u p t s & r e s t r i c t s p e r s o n a l freedom & competes con- s c i o u s l y w i t h p a r e n t s f o r t h e l o v e and a l l i e g a n c e of t h e i r c h i l d r e n . ... a v i c i o u s t h i n g t o do, when you t h i n k about i t - but taken f o r g r a n t e d every day.

The v e r y s l i m m a j o r i t y who keep vcting extreme c e p i t e l ~ s cn I n t c p o s i t i o n s of power from which they shape o u r s o c i e t y , a r e no t responding h o n e s t l y o r i n t e l l i - g e n t l y t o t h e t r u t h of t h e m a t t e r .

H i s t o r i c a l l y , Cap i ta l i sm h a s c r e a t e d f a r more problems (and more s e r i o u s ones) than i t has e v e r so lved . The Ear th & t h e human r a c e have d e f i n i t e l y d e l i n e d m i s - e r a b l y under t h i s system, and y e t i t c o n t i n u e s t o c o n t r o l us. . .why? Because i t h a s worked o u t t h e clev- e r e s t & most r u t h l e s s l y e f f i c i e n t c o n t r o l system i n t h e world and made everyone s u b j e c t t o it. .money.

You need money. . I need money. , everyone needs t h i s " c r e d i t c e r t i - f i c a t e " p r i n t e d by t h e government. Why? - w e l l , of o c u r s e t h e answer is obvious. You might s u r v i v e o u t o f garbage cans f o r a few y e a r s , b u t you die without money, you know. It buys your food, s h e l t e r , medi- c i n e , h e a l t h ca re . . every th ing . Your ve ry e x i s t e n c e depends on money.

And who c o n t r o l s money? A govern- ment composed of r i c h businessmen, e l e c t e d f o r t h a t purpose. ( h e l l , everyone knows c a p i t a l i s t s a r e good money-managers . . . they inven ted t h e game i n t h e f i r s t p l a c e , r i g h t ? - and t h e s e ' e x p e r t s ' a r e vo ted i n by those who know t h a t money buys l i f e & luxury a t t h e corner s t o r e . . s o , i t ' s t h e most important t h i n g i n t h e world - i s n ' t i t ?

C r e a t i v i t y , p e r s o n a l freedom, r e l i g i o n , f r e e speech, assembly, freedom of t h e prWess, educa t ion t o a l t e r n a t i v e s . . . a l l t h o s e t h i n g s t h a t onced ranked h i g h e r i n ou t thoughts & s o c i e t y than money.. . have now f a l l e n o r been pushed by c a p i t a l i s t s t o t h e l e v e l o f th rea - t e n i n g a c t i v i t i e s , a lmost "sub- ve rs ion" a g a i n s t t h e sys tem t h a t c o n t r o l s o u r l i v e s through money.. $!h>r, the o n n i t a 1 i o t o v . r h n v r m t k n

-u~Lcus-Ycu V".." L U L . L L I L

P o r t Corporat ion even considered a formal complaint by a handicapped person a g a i n s t d i s c r i m i n a t i o n t o be a " t h r e a t e n i n g a c t i v i t y " worthy o f i n v e s t i g a t i o n by t h e P o r t Corpora t ion ' s own p r i v a t e i n t e l l - igence agency.

P o l i c e i n v e s t i g a t i o n s & s u r v e i l - l a n c e a g a i n s t groups & i n d i v i d u a l s a r e c a r r i e d o u t by s e c r e t p o l i c e every day.

How one human being wishes t o l i v e , h i s o r h e r l i f e t i m e on t h i s p l a n e t i s a m a t t e r of p e r s o n a l cho ice , i s n ' t i t ?

Even i f i t goes a g a i n s t t he g ra in of h i s t o r y - the dogmatic . ' and popular b e l i e f s of t he major i ty - i s n ' t i t a mat te r of freedom of choice? ... not when you must need money o r d i e !

No real & u l t ima te freedom of i nd iv idua l choice e x i s t s i n a soc- i e t y where only money can keep you a l i v e . A l l w e have u l t ima te ly is t h e freedom t o f i l l i n t h e govern- ment's forms a s t h e government ex- p e c t s them t o be f i l l e d i n . ... t h a t ' s freedom - bottom l i n e . Then you g e t h t e money, no t be- fo re . And i f you don ' t f i l l them icy cr szy samcthinz ~~4erstslv ' t r u t h f u l f o r a change - something '

o t h e r than what c a p i t a l i s t designed & manufactured &operated computers a r e programmed t o accept - wel l , s o r r y , bu t you ' re dead meat, buddy. I n a f r e e soc i e ty , you ' re t r a s h , & you'd b e t t e r crawl on your subver- s i v e b e l l y out of here t o t he near- e s t Smi th r i t e , man - scrounge those beer cans . . shuf f le t h a t sandwich l i n e , ay?

Under Capitalism t h i s i s what your government th inks of your sub- v e r s i v e d e s i r e f o r personal f ree- dom, pa l .

On t h e o t h e r hand, i f y o u ' l l ge t your t e e t h f i xed & wear a s u i t & smile f o r t he boss - any boss - wel l , maybe w e could s e t you up f o r s laughter . You d i d n ' t want those r a d i c a l personal freedoms & a l t e r n a t i v e l i f e s t y l e s anyway, r i g h t ? ... now t h a t you've go t money!

1

Dear Paul , 01 Pa l ,

You were n o t i n So what a time f o r i n s e r t i o n J u s t need fou r l i n e s Under p o s i t ion vacant o r Needed (despera te ly) . . . Single man of s i n g l e mind Seeks lady ( i f I eve r f i n d one I s h a l l be q u i t e bashfu l ) Long t i m e member of Carnegie Attended over one hundred AA me Unemployed but a b l e Cal l me up, I l i k e t o dance I guarantee I ' m human.

Don Hodgson 251-2613 # 1 4 - 4 ~ 3 Powell Marr Hotel

Dear M s . Be l l ,

J u s t because somebody's only 2% f e e t t a l l is no reason t o look down on him. I o f t e n run i n t o s t r ange l a d i e s who t ake one look a t me, scream & run away. I t does- n ' t bo ther me a s much a s i t used t o . . i n f a c t , t h a t n igh t behind t h e Regent, I thought I was ha l luc i - na t ing . . . she looked l i k e a very t a l l duck t o me.

Anyway, p l ea se s t o p spreading rumours about a missing duck. I l i v e next door - and ducks have f e e l i n g s too, you know.

Respec t fu l ly yours ,

Down town Duck

Fences between Native and non- mi les . The cour t case , and t h e Native people i n B.C. were br idged concurrent p l ay , a r e a t tempts t o and i n many cases , vanquished, a t b r i n g down some of the l e g a l and t h e opening n i g h t of NO' WYA' (Our s o c i a l fences d iv id ing Native Foo tp r in t s ) i n Vancouver. The p l ay and non-Native i n t e r e s t s today. w i th a tongue-twisting t i t l e ( i t ' s Headlines Theatre A r t i s t i c D i r - pronounced 'nuuh gha ' ) i s designed e c t o r , David Diamond, spen t over t o untangle misconceptions surroun- two months i n Hazelton t h i s y e a r d ing t h e Native land claims i s s u e . r e sea rch ing and w r i t i n g NO' XYA' Judging by the response from t h e i n consu l t a t i on wi th Native e l - packed, premiere-night audience - de r s and Skeena r e s i d e n t s . Dia- t h e Headl ines Theatre and Gitksan- mond exp la ins Headlines, and h i s ~ e t ' s u w e t ' e n T r i b a l Council co- r o l e , i n t h e s e k inds of p r o j e c t s . p roduct ion is succeeding i n doing This t h e a t r e t h a t stems from j u s t t h a t . community concerns. But t h e r e ' s

A Gitksan h e r e d i t a r y c h i e f , Hal a b i g d i f f e r e n c e between doing B. Blackwater, p l ays t h e p a r t of something f o r people, and doing Gyat - a proud man f r u s t r a t e d by i t wi th them. The d i f f e rdnce is t h e l a c k of understanding non- i n power, i n being conected t o Nat ives show f o r h i s c u l t u r e . As t he r o o t of t h e i s s u e . I r e a l l y Gyat s ays t o a s e t t l e r i n NO' XYA', f e e l , i n t h i s p r o j e c t , I became "I t h i n k t h a t i s no t a fence. It t h e pen t h e community could push is a t r a p ." around.

These a r e words echoed i n r e a l The drama cont inues i n r e a l i t y , l i f e . As Elder Mary Johnson fol lowing each performance of (Aqu i l i l b ix ) t e s t i f i e d a t t he NO' XYA', a s community audiences opening of t h e ~ i t k s a n - w e t 'suwetl- a r e encouraged t o a sk ques t ions ,

"-2 ..,.:.-.- bL-2.- ..-------- en 1111.1 ~lzizl~~ f~ Mz:~, "TJe den'+_ - . x u vu,,, ,,is,, ,utt,c,ita, ii, d t t

l i k e be ing fenced i n l i k e animals." open forum l e d by a T r i b a l Council The Native r e s i d e n t s of B .C. 's r ep re sen ta t ive . I t ' s an e x e r c i s e

Skeena reg ion have been r e l e g a t e d t h a t appears t o be opening eyes a t o t a l of f o r t y - f i v e square mi l e s on a l l s i d e s . As Gitksan e l d e r of government-reserve land. They Mary Wilson commented, "We s h a r e a r e claiming a n c e s t r a l r i g h t s t o ou r se lves , and n e t some thin^ back

A P L A Y A B O U T NO'XYA' A N C E S T R A L L A N D

The Play w a s w e l l p resen ted , bu t i t was w e l l guarded by people s tan- d ing a t t h e back. No cameras o r t ape r eco rde r s . Halfway through t h e show, I t r i e d t o go t o t h e washroom when a hand landed on my shoulder ( j u s t l i k e a cop) and I w a s asked where I w a s going. I s a i d , "The washroom. Where i s i t ? He t o l d me. I had t h e f e e l i n g we were forced t o l i s t e n t o ev- e r y word. Af t e r t h e p lay was over , they had a d i s cus s ion f o r an hour and a h a l f hefore they would feed us. I was s t a r t i n g t o g e t s i c k a s I d id n o t have supper .

James Roadknight

Kids a r e grea t . .Kids a r e a pa in . Both of t h e s e i d e a s a r e expressed by t h e v o l u n t e e r s who work a s r e c e p t i o n i s t s on t he second f l o o r . The problem i s k i d s who g e t behind t h e desk and s t a r t p lay ing wi th b a l l s and t h e o t h e r s t u f f t he re . This i s hard on t h e person who has t o keep o r d e r back t h e r e dur ing t h e i r s h i f t . P l ea se p a r e n t s , i f your c h i l d can walk/run/zoom - l e t them know t h a t back behind t h e desk is o f f l i m i t s . They have t o ask Tor s t u f f and n o t j u s t s t a r t rumaging through t h e cupboard. Okay?

T H E S O N QF A W A I T R E S S I a prose poem

: k p l . e t e d v i t a l i t y h a s c r e a t e d a n i n t o l e r a n c e "Nu o n e h a s t i l e r i s h t t o t o u c h I u r s t i m u l a t i o n . S u b j e c t p r e f ~ , r s t o L ive i n t h e e x n c r i e n c e s o f a ~ . o t h e r . " ul i d e a l w o r l d , w h e r e t h i n g s a rc2 more n e a r l y I:, h e l s h e w o u l d l i k e them t o b e . L u s c h e r C o l u r 'Test

- . ,ohn Ca::c

This i s no t a poem about a lov ing son.

With a grade n i n e mind and t r a i n i n g f o r a nun, t h e r e weren ' t many op t ions i n 1961, f o r a t h i r t y -one y e a r o l d widow wi th f o u r k i d s t o r a i s e .

She'd known be fo re they 'd wed t h a t he 'd n o t long t o l i v e . He'd made s u r e of h e r h e a r t be fo re breaking t h e s ad news. She'd spen t t h e i r f i r s t months t oge the r naked i n t h e house; and when she t o l d t h i s it was i n o r d e r t o exp la in where s h e ' s picked t h e h a b i t up. There a r e many ways t o mourn.

Now why a woman g r i e v e s ove r a walking corpse a f t e r h e ' s made i t o f f i c i a l can only be expla ined i f she l e t s t h e weight of days convince h e r t h a t a man wi th h a l f a working kidney i s not a toy of whim. (Maybe seven yea r s of days, p l u s t h e t h r e e they cour ted , i s j u s t weight enough.) She was almost r i g h t t o t r u s t - my f a t h e r d i ed about t h e t i m e d i a l y s i s came i n . (The f a c t t h a t t h e i r t i m e t oge the r r eads l i k e a grade ' B ' manuscript is no t germaine.) And a s s h e passed away from t h e cemetery g a t e , n e c e s s i t y was a l r eady wisper ing - and t h i s vo i ce of t h e p a t r i a r c h y needs no o t h e r tone - of i t s demand t o t r u s t t h e weight of days aga in ,

h e r g r i e f ' f o r t o smother, s lowly, slowly ove r t h e joys they had j u s t rushed p a s t . And i t comforts me sometimes, when i t doesn ' t make me c r inge , t h a t whi le t h i s w a s s i nk ing i n on h e r way home from t h e grave, h e r mind must needs somehow f i n a l l y focus f o r a wh i l e on t h e c h i l d p e s t e r i n g h e r f o r a bag of ch ips . . .

A s t o why she had us - w e l l ex-nuns-to-be a r e touchy on t h a t score . I never saw h e r happier , though, than t h e day s h e rushed i n t o t h e house waving ' t h e p i l l ' l i k e v i c t o r y . "I got them. I got them ..." Suddenly we were P r o t e s t a n t s . (When t h e bra-burners made t h e news my mother l e f t my s i s t e r s and I i n no doubt a s t o what "thing" was miss ing from f e m i n i s t s ' l i v e s . ( I f s h e i s s t i l l a l i v e , I hope she is w i s e r now.)) Necess i ty would have i t s say , however, on t h i s h e r one avenue of f l i r t a t i o n wi th t h e t a s t e of joy , f o r i t happens t o be a f a c t as immutable a s dea th t h a t people wi th grade minds don ' t fo l low d i r e c t i o n s w e l l .

Now t o raise f o u r k i d s on a w a i t r e s s ' s a l a r y i s a s t a r k i m p o s s i b i l i t y , even i f s h e can l e t t he d a i r y b i l l s l i d e f o r awhile because t h e milk t r u c k occas iona l ly s t o p s a h a l f hour o r s o o u t s i d e t h e window whi le f i n g e r s a r e be ing s t r a t e g i c a l l y employed, ou t of p i t y . ( I f shame i s read i n t h i s i t wasn ' t i n my mother when she answered a daughter ' s c u r i o s i t y - except about t h e p i t y ; s h e g loa t ed of h e r "catch" and never knew s h a t I found out help-

] i n g on t h e milk-run when t h e r e g u l a r boy w a s s i c k - s o i t must be i n t h e r eade r . ) To pay o f f a food-credi t b i l l of f i f t e e n hundred once t h e grocer c a l l s i t i n - a l o t of po t a toes ; no hunger , b u t a l o t of po t a toes - our one day a s a family (and n o t more o r less a s f i v e people l i v i n g i n shared accommodation, f o u r o f whom happen by coincidence t o have come from t h e womb of t he f i f t h ) , was t h e day t h e deb t reached zero - wel l , t o do t h a t as we l l . . . one day t h e Nobel P r i z e i n Economics w i l l be awarded t o a s i n g l e mother r a i s i n g k i d s on t h e minimum wage and symbolic j u s t i c e w i l l have been done and due r ecogn i t i on awarded t h i s most common & obscure of western mi rac l e s , t o s ay no th ing of t h e t h i r d world, a t which t h e wes te rn mind can only ba lk . . .

- She only twice c r i e d - I mean t h e soul-deep wracking sobs; both t imes

a f t e r movies: "A Tree Grows i n Brooklyn" and "A Man and A Woman": both times i n t h e deep of t h e n i g h t , a f t e r t he k i d s had long been as lee^, o r s o we a l l per tended next day, both t imes. . .

Latch-key ch i ld ren grow up a l l by themselves q u i t e we l l , f i e r c e inde- pendence oozes from ou t t h e i r every pore. They have t o f i n d out f a s t who i t is they a r e - o r e l s e they might s l i p up and a s k a slave-worked, mind- dra ined (of a l l o t h e r conten t by money w o r r i e s ) , gr ief-oppressing, s t abb ing b u l l of a mother i f s h e can s p a r e some love.

And a way love g e t s asked f o r i s by being given.

One th ing only have I l ea rned from he r , and t h a t took me awhile: t o be a woman i n t h i s world demands a q u a l i t y of s tubborness men can only a s p i r e t o , i f they choose.

So I have chosen.

I never s a i d I wasn ' t proud t o c a l l myself i ts t i t l e .

Steven Belkin - -- -- - - - -

For someone who p r i d e s himself on h i s indepdndence, 1:he;:e n re an mharr- as s ing ly l a r g e number of people r e spons ib l e f o r t h i s poem's ~ e n e s i s . It i s perhaps n o t without s i g n i f i g a n c e t h a t only t h r e e of them a r e men. I would l i k e t o start by c o l l e c t i v e l y thanking those f emin i s t s a t Co-op Radio, c i r c a 1980-1985, who waive t h e i r r i g h t t o eschew my g r a t i t u d e . I am compelled - I assume by t h e vo ice of t h e Goddess - t o s i n g l e out Dorothy Kidd f o r s p e c i a l thanks. " ~ o n ' t a s k me why, Dorothy!" I a l s o must mention t h e names of Paula B u t l e r , Vinnie Mohr, Marcia Barry, P a t r i - c i a Jones (when s h e found I l i v e d i n t h e Downtown Eas t s ide , I could do no wrong), Suzanne Barbridge, , Glenn Schentag, K-H-D-S-L, and Jane Harris whose warm benevolence allowed me t o l i k e myself enough t o g r i p t h e chaos wi th in . I must a l s o thank ( w i l l t h i s never end?) t he members of t h e sho r t - l i ved Carnegie Centre Poetry Club f o r t h e i r indulgence t o my work. .especial ly Tora and Ani ta Stevens - who know why. F i n a l l y I must thank Joyce Williams and Vicki Swan whose warmth and kindness s t i r r e d a l l t h e chaos ou t , l i k e t h e p i eces of a j igsaw ... which b r ings me t o George T i l s e r , whose of f - ice door says "counselling" because words a r e inadequate.

RESPECT LIFE - LOVE TRUTH - LOVE THE EARTH

New Rain Panted I

By Claudius Ivan P lan id in

Three-quarters, they say, of the world 's populat ion w i l l s l e e p hungry ton ight ,

I look through my window a t t h e low sky grey, I p r e d i c t r a i n ton ight ,

when young I l i k e d t o p lay i n r a i n ,

t h r ee -qua r t e r s of t h e world 's populat ion w i l l t r y

Confidence

By Claudius Ivan P lan id in

Light ing a c i g a r e t t e i n the summer b lue eyes calm looking i n t o my eyes she s a i d , " I ' m ready t o t ake my leave , wknever the t i m e cmcs."

I n t h e f a l l she had gone. I found ou t when I re turned from vaca t ion s o I never go t t o go t o h e r fune ra l , you see ,

bu t I knew s h e had been ready and somehow t h a t gave m e some s a t i s f a c t i o n .

Her b lue eyes were calm

i looking i n t o my eyes, h e r gaze su re .

T i red of s t r ange c i t i e s , s t r ange towns Not one t r u e f r i e n d have I found, 1'11 keep on searching..who knows, Maybe someday I 'll f i n d a f r i e n d , who w i l l be a t r u e f r i e n d of mine.

Tired o•’ s t r ange c i t i e s , same o l d th ing ; people hu r t i ng people - No happiness do they br ing. Nothing seems t o change, no mat te r God knows, how hard I t r y .

So lone ly Like i f I I f only I I f only I

sometimes I f e e l , could l i v e my l i f e over. .. had t h a t one t r u e f r i e n d , had t h a t one t r u e f r i end .

Vinn i e Cunningham

A t t h e November 8 th Volunteer Open Discussion, i t was announced t h a t Barry Coull w i l l a s se s s the program by persona l ly in te rv iewing f i f t y vo lunteers . He w i l l ask them how they f e e l about t he program and what they want t o ge t out of i t ; t h e i r jobs; communication and work- i ng r e l a t i onsh ips .

He w i l l w r i t e down the answers, analyze them and w r i t e a r epo r t on t h e program. A l l answers a r e con f iden t i a l and no names w i l l be

Walking a t h i n l i n e By Joachim

Some young people have r e a l l y f i g u r e d i t a l l o u t . The guys a r e working i n t h e pubs and t h e i r p r e t - t y l a d i e s do i t i n t h e s t r e e t s . Adam Smith (The Wealth o f Nat ions , 1776 A.D.) must be s o r r y t h a t he c a n ' t s t u d y t h e d i v i s i o n o f l a b o u r modern s t y l e .

* The P o ~ e is o n l y t e a c h i n g a

h a l f - t r u t h . The a n c i e n t Creeks b e l i e v e d t h a t Venus, t h e Goddess o f Love and t h e Vorld, was re- horn a s t h e Holy Vi rg in a t s u n r i s e .

t

The monks used t o be a l o t w i s e r i n t h e Middle Ages. They s e n t o f f t h o s e f o o l husbands t o f i g h t i n t h e Crusades s o they could have a pood time. *

Some would say Lhe Church i s cloinr: some good. Gut s o d i d Count Eracu la . The Romanian p e a s a n t s a r e s t i l l a d o r i n z him today f o r keepinq t h e Yoslems o u t o f Europe. Other- wise we could have an A$atollah s i t t i n g i n V i c t o r i a today d e c l a r - i n g war on Alber ta . But then every

rnan could have 4 wives. And now t h e f e m i n i s t s would demand e q u a l r i g h t s . We would a l l be in te rmar r - i e d i n no t i m e . *

I d o n ' t b e l i e v e i n r i g h t wing o r l e f t wing p o l i t i c s . We need b o t r wings i f we want t o f l y . And a s f o r p r i v a t i z a t i o n : why n o t s e l l ? t ad4 i l l an B l o d e l l t o t h e l o g g e r s and. X c ~ o n a l d ' s t o t h e peop le who work t h e r e . And i f t h e Pos t O f f i c e w a s s o l d t o t h e p o s t a l workers , we would be guaran teedran end t o a l l s t r i k e s .

And t a l k i n g about f l y i n g . . I found some mushrooms under t h e G r a n v i l l e S t . Br idge and went t o U.B .C. t o have them i d e n t i f i e d . What a waste of t i m e ! I went t o Botany, Biology and Zoology. Theese guys know nothing. They a r e a l l s p e c i a l i s t s . I guess what they know b e s t i s screaming f o r more money, I can do t h a t too , and I don' t need a Ph.D. f o r t h a t ! So I decided t o go back t o Yain and ask t h e cops. But I c o u l d n ' t b e l i e v e my eyes when I saw s o many young women on t h e UBC bus . . . I thought g i r l s j u s t want t o have I' fun , fun . . ."

The age o l d c a l l i n g t o explore , t o t r a v e l . But t o where? And f o r what? So you s t a y wherever you a r e ; but what aye you s t ay ing f o r ? Perhaps - f o r a job, f o r a home, f o r a family- s o For most people, t h a t i s no t a r e a l i t y , and f o r many people, never w i l l be. So what happened, you ask yourse l f --how d i d w e Lose t he good fight--so bad and what do most p e o ~ l e have t o show f o r t h e i r l i v e s . . . but the bea t goes on, doesn ' t i t ?

J u s t th ink of what t he re i s n ' t t he re f o r you wherever you go. - don ' t you eve r wonder who we have t o thank

t h e hea l thy and the s t rong from s t rong fami l ies .

amidst l i e s and advertisement of t h e good l i f e . So put on a happy f ace , and understand,

f o r many people

Dave McConneLl

AUNTIE PHYLLIS 'S ICE CREAM

I remember i t wel l ; i t was one of those days t h a t th ings s o r t of f a l l t oge the r i n the odd way of chance. You introduced me t o your Auntie Phy l l i s , a s h o r t but r a t h e r rotund woman ( t o say the l e a s t ) . Also I remembered your saying t h a t smoking g ra s s remov- ed a l l your i n d i b i t i o n s s o I in- v i t e d you t o my h o t e l room and, t o my s u r p r i s e , Auntie accomp- anied us.

On t h e way up t h e e l eva to r I remember v(?r?dn_rZsg i f t I - , s z~ ~li: cables would maintain but we ar- r ived s a f e l y and I r o l l e d up a few which we smoked. I w a s wish- ing your aunt wasn't t h e r e and, being q u i t e stoned, l a y on the bed; then you l ay down on one s i d e and your aunt on t h e o the r . Gravity being what i t is every- thing s h i f t e d towards a u n t i e and t h e r e I was half-buried beneath one garguantan th igh and arm - having paranoid thoughts t h a t i f she decided t o r o l l over I would be completely under he r impress- i v e personage, completely a t he r mercy.

I t was then t h a t Auntie k i s sed me on the cheek and, see ing the cons te rna t ion on my face , you commenced g iggl ing and Auntie . s t a r t e d laughing and the whole room shook with mir th, none of i t mine. Then Auntie granted me a repr ieve by demanding i n a s ten- t o r i a n r o a r some water t o ge t he r through the dese r t and I eager ly leaped from t h e bed t o accomodate he r a s any good hos t would do; but a f t e r nine l a rge g l a s ses and a s e a t by the window ( a s f a r away a s I could ge t ) I refused t o haul any

more water. She then demanded i c e cream and I saw my s a l v a t i o n and t o l d h e r t h a t the Oval t ine Restau- r a n t had the b e s t chocolate-flavour i c e cream i n the whole western world. So we repa i red the re but s t i l l she complained so a t t h a t po in t I wished h e r we l l but s a i d t h a t wherever she went she should take a f ive-gal lon bucket of water. She l e f t i n a huf f , and we re turned t o t h e h o t e l and between bouts of l ove you break me i n t o l augh te r by demanding water i n a gruff imi t a t ion of Auntie.

T.T,.11 -2 -1 3 * 9 - L --- , r L a . r X I L A . A L J U ~ C M a lung i fme I

and sometimes i th ink i would put up with a u n t i e j u s t t o have you once again.

i applause * applause

oneness t o a s p i r e what c a l l it then

I i !

these r e f l e c t i o n s i n the mir rors of des i r e .

N E E D H E L P ?

DERA can h e l p you with:

* any welfare problems * UIC problems * getting legal .assistance * unsafe l i v i n g conditions

in hotels o r apartments * d i s p u t e s wi th l a n d l o r d s * income tax DERA i s loca t ed a t 9 East Hastings

o r phone 682-0931.

DI3R.A HAS BEEN SERVING THE DOWNTOWN EASTSIDE FOR 13 YEARS 1 --

Wonderful Memories o f Red Roy Hubbard

Kent and I met Roy a t t h e Dom- i n i o n Hotel i n 1980. He w a s a very s p e c i a l f r i e n d . He d ied of h e a r t t r o u b l e s . He loved everyone i n t h e Carnegie Community Centre . He he lped peop le w i t h t h e i r problems and when they needed th ings . Roy was always i n a happy mood. People w i l l m i s s him very much. Many peop le went t o ROY'S f u n e r a l . . some peop le c r i e d f o r him.

Roy was l i k e a father t o me and he lped me w i t h my problems. I f I was hungry h e would g ive me sand-

wiches and cookies and g r a n o l a b a r s . Often h e would t a k e Kent and m e o u t f o r d inner . Sometimes I would cook a r o a s t d i n n e r f o r him and a f t e r w a r d s h e would t a l k w i t h u s f o r hours . Then h e would go home f o r t h e r e s t o f t h e n i g h t . W e would t a l k aga in t h e nex t day. When he d i e d I w a s sad l i k e when my Mom died. It was v e r y h a r d on me.

I have heard t h a t i f you l o v e someone, t h a t person i s a p a r t of your l i f e f o r e v e r . I w i l l remember t h a t when I m i s s him and when I a m -- 1 aau.

Linda Northern, S tuden t , Learning Centre .

"negie 's Halloween lid n o t need a cos- ere 1 Ro have t, and the 1

Another FIRST f o r Vanderzam

The good o l d boy s t a t e d l a s t n i g h t th2.t h e would n o t mind pay- i n g h i s own h o s p i t a l b i l l s . He is t r y i n g t o cover up t h e s a d f a c t t h a t once t h e stars and b a r s a r e f l u t t e r i n g o v e r o u r heads , we w i l l be yankees and have t o pay o u r own medical b i l l s . We w i l l a l s o have t o pack a .44 o r .45 j u s t l i k e t h e peop le i n t h e United S t a t e s do.

I r e c a l l American m i n i s t e r s on t h e i r way t o a confe rance i n Windsor, Onta r io had t o check '

t h e i r guns b e f o r e e n t e r i n g Cana- da. They could p i c k them up on t h e way home. Th is is a t r u e s t o r y . Do you want t o l i v e t h i s way? You can change t h i s i n t h e n e x t e l e c t i o n - coming up!

By JAMES ROADKNIGHT

What is a nega t ive opinion i f d i r e c t e d a t someone by someone e l s e , wi th no thought of t h e con- sequences o r the damage caused? Okay, i t ' s c a l l e d cha rac t e r as- saul t . . sound f a m i l i a r !

So what types of people a r e i n t o cha rac t e r a s s a u l t ? People wi th no th ing t o do; people going no- where; people whose dreams have no content ; people whose every waking hour is spent on th ink ing of ways of p u t t i n g someone else down o r g e t t i n g even. But a t who? For what?

Anyway, whoever they a r e g e t t i n g even with now a r e n o t t h e same people they were g e t t i n g even wi th ten yea r s ago o r yesterday. . the t a r g e t s always seem t o change.

Okay, s o perhaps i t ' s a Nat ional Pastime b u t who t h e h e l l needs i t . I s n ' t t h e r e a whole l o t of b e t t e r th ings t o do and work a t than c r i - t i c i z i n g someone e l s e ' s cha rac t e r ?

Another w a u i e of cime is t r y i n g t o f i g u r e out how t o t e l l people how t o s t o p t h e so-cal led pastime, because i t ' s seemingly unchangable. Well dammit, cha rac t e r a s s a u l t sucks. J u s t look around a t t he pa in i t ' s caused everyone every- where. ~ h e r e b a song:

''Mind your own bus iness , And you won ' t be minding mine. And i f you mind your own bus iness You ' l l be busy a l l t h e t i m e . "

By DAVE McCONNELL

-JL O\.J"'kkT*0

child BIRTH; . o 0 3 7

0 4 AP\?;~# O 0 ' *I '

I would l i k e t o sha re wi th you t h e most wonderful experience I have eve r had i n my twenty years of l i f e .

On August 15/ '85, I was i n fo r - med by my doctor t h a t I had t o be admitted i n t o Grace Hospi ta l f o r High blood pressure. The baby wasn't due f o r another week.

To my s u r p r i s e , Sunday morning t h e doc tors had explained t o me t h a t I would be g iv ing b i r t h t h a t day sometime. I thought i t was a joke, f o r I wasn't f e e l i n g any pain a t a l l .

Approximately 11 :00 am they were tak ing me downstairs t o t h e de l ive ry room. A t 2 :00 pm they had broken my water and f roze the lower p a r t of my body so I would no t f e e l any pain.

1 1 : O O pm i t was time t o push and, 4 hour l a t e r , t he re he was - t h e most charming l i t t l e baby boy. 7. IL A w a s a w e n d e r f c l g l t t tc snr

world, s o t i n y he was, and s o h e l p l e s s he looked.

H e was named Adam Lee Cappell , weighing 9 l b s . 4 oz. I r e a l l y di!d have him t h a t day, and even today I t is s t i l l t h e b e s t day of my l i f e .

For when I am f e e l i n g b lue , o r sad , angry o r whatever mood I am i n , I j u s t think of t h a t day I gave b i r t h t o my son, Adam Lee Cappell.

By h i s mother, Mary

Summer Memories

. . .has again vacated h i s body f o r awhile; BUT a publ ic opinion,- p o l l shows "the general agreement was t h a t he was no t born no r hatched.. .he is only s ~ m e thing Seyczd def - i n i t i o n and j u s t a figment of our imagi- nation:

Crasly yours,

Captain Chaos

I thoroughly enjoyed the summer. It r e a l l y began when Mom and I went t o v i s i t my grandparents i n Nanaimo .

They l i v e c l o s e t o a Bird Sanctuary wi th t he l a r - ge s t v a r i e t y of our fea thered f r i e n d s I have eve r seen! The Mil ls t ream Fiver flows behind Grandma and Grandpa's yard.

Their garden is f u l l of Peace roses . My mother w a s named I r ene because i t means "~eace" . Grandma and Grandpa a l s o grow vegetables .

One day we walked t o the downtown a rea through a wi lderness park.

Another h i g h l i g h t during the summer was t h e Scout Jamboree n e a r Sooke. We met Scouts from a l l over t he world and had many adventures. - -

we r.7p-11 r-f t--~g, ca~fieFr.o 7 n o - m i i i n o ~ n r i orrnn 0 2 - -0 ------- ---- -. ---

took p a r t i n midnight h ikes . The Janboree occured from the e igh th t o t he

f i f t e e n t h of August. We learned many outdoor s k i l l s and b e s t of a l l w e made many new and l a s t i n g f r i endsh ips .

> . t l liayne Schmidt

(11 vears ) A l l t h a t you a r e t o me.

1 ' m swept on r i s i n g t i d e s of Love To match your every need, And always 1 ' m consumed wi th you I n thought and word and deed.

My da r l i ng , one and only l ove You a r e a l l my h e a r t seeks , For t r u e love ' s v a l l e y s a r e so s w e e t A s ever a r e t h e peaks.

This is t h e depth of my love f o r you.

She i l a B e l l

Smiles an immu While 1 our gri

Innocen Resi l ience

s ink t o t h e marrow - lnity from snee r s ; augh te r ' s i n f i n i t e e eving f i n a l l y hears .

. - It was e a r l y t h a t morning, -;-

and he was ou t long be fo re we I+{: were f i n i s h e d our chores. He - ' had got ten up e a r l y , a long time be fo re most of us. S ince we shared t h e same room, he woke me and t o l d me he w a s l eav ing e a r l y and would be back around noon. I l e t i t go a t t h a t . Strangely enough, no one no t i ced h i s time of absence u n t i l he had come back. That was when he t o l d us about i t . I d i d n ' t know what t o t h ink , b u t he s a i d i t was fun and t h a t he was going t o do i t aga in , - - slang s .~ i rh -I. !*!e s ~ i sgreee cc go a long wi th him.

We got ou r knapsacks and packed up some o l d p l ayc lo thes , and we headed out . He l e d us t he re . We had been t h e r e many t imes,but t h i s time we were t h e r e t o do something we had .

never t r i e d before . It was time he s a i d , and he was going t o do i t f i r s t . He walked out i n f r o n t of g a s and t o l d us t o c l o s e o u r eyes, then count t o t h ree , and re-open them. We d id and he w a s gone. We a l l saw where he had s tood so we a l l d id t h e same, and a s we d id , each of u s went

missing, b u t w e found him. He s a i d i t w a s happening. It was . happening? WHAT w a s happening?

The surroundings weren ' t t h e r e anymore. We were s t i l l t h e r e , but THERE wasn't t he re . It was somewhere e l s e , We were a l l dumbfounded and a l i t t l e cur ious about how he was so calm. I asked him where we were. He s a i d we were "HERE".

Now he would t e l l you i f h e were he re , t h a t THERE Was a l - ways t h e r e , but we were see ing a THERE t h a t w a s t h e r e t o t h e n..r\ntinnr. n n nnn nnr.lrl onnrrnr \IL,LU L L " L . 0 I IU W I L L LUUIU U L I Y W L L . We would f i n d HERE's misfor tunes THERE, b u t we would f i n d more than HERE's misfor tunes . We found a t r a n q u i l i t y t h a t made HERE look l i k e an adolescent touch of He l l t h a t only we could f ind .

There we were, and t h a t ' s exac t ly where we were. THERE. It sca red the younger ones, t he k i d s younger than I was, t h a t is. He l e d around i t ' s edge. It was a b i g p lace . He s a i d he was going t o s t a y rhere .

We found ou r own way home.