Artwork for podcast The Voice of Dog
[18+] “A Tale of Two Whirlwinds” by Herr Wozzeck (read by True, part 1 of 2)
8th June 2026 • The Voice of Dog • Rob MacWolf and guests
00:00:00 00:26:50

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[18+] LaShawn’s life is defined by two whirlwind romances. For the second to begin, the first must end.

Today’s story is the first of two parts of a revamped version of “A Tale of Two Whirlwinds” by Herr Wozzeck, who is a composer, violist, Thereminist, and writer based in Boston. They are the author of the novels Whip and Boot and Lost Inside the Blue Line, as well as the poetry collection The Enigma Letters. His stories are also in various anthologies, including “The Wideness of the World” and “The Furry Game Show Network”. You can see them perform with Trio Menagerie, and you can find more of their stories on their FurAffinity account.

Read by True, Speaking Directly Into Your Mind.

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https://thevoice.dog/episode/18-a-tale-of-two-whirlwinds-by-herr-wozzeck-part-1-of-2

Transcripts

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version

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Tale

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of

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Two Whirlwinds” by Herr Wozzeck,

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is

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a

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composer,

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violist,

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and to the whirlwinds.

Please enjoy


“A

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Tale

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of

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Two Whirlwinds” by Herr Wozzeck, Part 1 of 2

When LaShawn

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Richards

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first

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came

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to

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Cleveland,

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he

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had

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expected

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a

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fresh

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start.

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California,

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as

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it

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of

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have

liked:

liked:

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death

liked:

had

liked:

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and

liked:

the

liked:

response

liked:

to

liked:

the

liked:

riots

liked:

had

liked:

shown

liked:

LaShawn

liked:

that

liked:

California

liked:

was

liked:

no

liked:

place

liked:

for

liked:

him.
Better

liked:

to

liked:

be

liked:

quieter

liked:

than

liked:

to

liked:

stand

liked:

out.

liked:

And

liked:

so,

liked:

there

liked:

he

liked:

was,

liked:

in

liked:

northeast

liked:

Ohio,

liked:

ready

liked:

to

liked:

get

liked:

a

liked:

fresh

liked:

start.

liked:

There,

liked:

away

liked:

from

liked:

prying

liked:

eyes, he could

liked:

maybe

liked:

fly

liked:

under

liked:

the

liked:

radar,

liked:

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invisible

liked:

to

liked:

any

liked:

eyes

liked:

that

liked:

might

liked:

judge.

liked:

A

liked:

quiet

liked:

existence

liked:

was

liked:

better

liked:

than

liked:

anything

liked:

else.
And

liked:

if

liked:

love

liked:

decided

liked:

to

liked:

form?

liked:

Well…

liked:

LaShawn

liked:

had

liked:

already

liked:

squared

liked:

that

liked:

possibility

liked:

with

liked:

God.

liked:

If

liked:

he’d decided

liked:

he

liked:

would

liked:

have

liked:

a

liked:

relationship,

liked:

well…

liked:

let it

liked:

happen. But LaShawn

liked:

hoped

liked:

that

liked:

whatever

liked:

it

liked:

was,

liked:

he

liked:

could

liked:

keep

liked:

it

liked:

quiet.

----**----

LaShawn

liked:

met

liked:

him

liked:

at

liked:

the

liked:

bathhouse.
He’d

liked:

been

liked:

rubbing

liked:

shampoo

liked:

into

liked:

his

liked:

fur

liked:

when

liked:

a

liked:

lanky

liked:

beech

liked:

marten

liked:

right

liked:

next

liked:

to

liked:

him

liked:

turned

liked:

his

liked:

shower head

liked:

on.

liked:

The

liked:

bear’s

liked:

breath

liked:

caught

liked:

as

liked:

he

liked:

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liked:

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liked:

rate

liked:

at

liked:

which

liked:

he

liked:

rubbed

liked:

the

liked:

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liked:

into

liked:

his

liked:

coarse

liked:

brown

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fur:

he

fur:

could

fur:

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fur:

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fur:

but

fur:

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fur:

at

fur:

the

fur:

slightly

fur:

lighter

fur:

fur

fur:

of

fur:

the

fur:

marten,

fur:

and the

fur:

white

fur:

tuft

fur:

that

fur:

jutted

fur:

out

fur:

from

fur:

just

fur:

under

fur:

his

fur:

jaw.

fur:

LaShawn

fur:

had

fur:

always

fur:

been

fur:

drawn

fur:

to

fur:

exotic

fur:

presences,

fur:

but

fur:

there

fur:

was

fur:

something

fur:

about

fur:

this

fur:

strange

fur:

marten

fur:

that…

fur:

that…
“My

fur:

name

fur:

is

fur:

Tomás,”

fur:

the

fur:

marten

fur:

spoke

fur:

up.
LaShawn

fur:

started,

fur:

his

fur:

gaze

fur:

turning

fur:

directly

fur:

to

fur:

the

fur:

Marten’s green eyes. “Tomás?”

fur:

He blinked

fur:

once,

fur:

before

fur:

leaning

fur:

his

fur:

head

fur:

towards

fur:

the

fur:

wall. “I’m

fur:

going to

fur:

guess

fur:

you’re

fur:

Spanish.”
“Yes

fur:

indeed,

fur:

señor,”

fur:

he

fur:

replied.

fur:

LaShawn

fur:

then took

fur:

note

fur:

of

fur:

Tomás’

fur:

light

fur:

accent,

fur:

smiling

fur:

as

fur:

he

fur:

realized

fur:

it

fur:

was,

fur:

indeed,

fur:

some

fur:

form

fur:

of

fur:

Spanish.
“Pues, ¿como es mi español?” LaShawn

fur:

had

fur:

asked

fur:

almost

fur:

immediately

fur:

upon

fur:

finding

fur:

this

fur:

out.
Tomás

fur:

chuckled

fur:

lightly,

fur:

a

fur:

small

fur:

smile

fur:

revealing

fur:

perfectly

fur:

white

fur:

teeth. “A

fur:

little

fur:

too… 

fur:

permanent,

fur:

I

fur:

think,”

fur:

he

fur:

quipped

fur:

as

fur:

he

fur:

twirled

fur:

a

fur:

finger

fur:

in

fur:

the

fur:

air. “The

fur:

word

fur:

you’re

fur:

looking

fur:

for

fur:

is

fur:

estar,

fur:

my

fur:

good

fur:

friend.”
“Ah,

fur:

of

fur:

course,”

fur:

said

fur:

LaShawn,

fur:

giving

fur:

a

fur:

shrug. “I

fur:

always

fur:

get

fur:

those

fur:

two

fur:

words

fur:

mixed

fur:

up.”
“It

fur:

happens

fur:

to

fur:

most

fur:

non-native

fur:

speakers,”

fur:

the

fur:

marten

fur:

replied.
The

fur:

marten’s

fur:

smile

fur:

seemed

fur:

to

fur:

brighten

fur:

up

fur:

his

fur:

whole

fur:

visage.

fur:

As

fur:

LaShawn

fur:

took

fur:

it

fur:

in,

fur:

he

fur:

felt

fur:

his

fur:

toes

fur:

tingle

fur:

in

fur:

a

fur:

way

fur:

they

fur:

had

fur:

not

fur:

tingled

fur:

at

fur:

another

fur:

man

fur:

in

fur:

a

fur:

while.

fur:

As

fur:

he

fur:

stood

fur:

there,

fur:

taking

fur:

it

fur:

all

fur:

in…
Tomás

fur:

chuckled,

fur:

pointing

fur:

down

fur:

at

fur:

his

fur:

groin. “You

fur:

look

fur:

quite…

fur:

excited

fur:

there,

fur:

my

fur:

friend,”

fur:

he

fur:

replied.
LaShawn

fur:

looked

fur:

down

fur:

and

fur:

blushed,

fur:

only

fur:

then

fur:

realizing

fur:

how

fur:

hard

fur:

he’d gotten.

fur:

He

fur:

took

fur:

a

fur:

second

fur:

to

fur:

stare

fur:

at

fur:

it,

fur:

and,

fur:

upon

fur:

seeing

fur:

that

fur:

Tomás

fur:

was

fur:

still

fur:

there,

fur:

laughed,

fur:

before

fur:

turning

fur:

to

fur:

the

fur:

Marten

fur:

and

fur:

letting

fur:

his

fur:

length

fur:

swing

fur:

before

fur:

him. “Oh,

fur:

well,

fur:

that

fur:

tends

fur:

to

fur:

happen

fur:

around

fur:

places

fur:

like

fur:

this,”

fur:

he

fur:

said

fur:

hurriedly,

fur:

his

fur:

tone

fur:

a

fur:

little

fur:

quick.
“Ah,”

fur:

said

fur:

Tomás,

fur:

leaning

fur:

close

fur:

and

fur:

putting

fur:

an

fur:

arm

fur:

around

fur:

LaShawn’s shoulder. “I see.

fur:

That

fur:

is

fur:

quite

fur:

good…”

fur:

He

fur:

then

fur:

leaned

fur:

close,

fur:

and

fur:

LaShawn

fur:

could

fur:

hear

fur:

his

fur:

breath

fur:

in

fur:

his

fur:

ear. “Perhaps

fur:

I

fur:

can

fur:

help

fur:

you

fur:

with

fur:

that,

fur:

my

fur:

dear

fur:

bear…”
Despite

fur:

himself,

fur:

LaShawn

fur:

found

fur:

himself

fur:

smiling

fur:

as

fur:

the

fur:

marten’s

fur:

hands

fur:

played

fur:

with

fur:

his

fur:

chest

fur:

fur. “Well,

fur:

that

fur:

sounds

fur:

awful

fur:

nice,”

fur:

LaShawn

fur:

said. “Ya wanna

fur:

do it here, or…?”
Tomás

fur:

answered

fur:

the

fur:

question

fur:

by

fur:

sinking

fur:

to

fur:

his

fur:

knees

fur:

before

fur:

LaShawn.

fur:

And

fur:

so,

fur:

the

fur:

bear’s

fur:

immediate

fur:

next

fur:

question

fur:

got

fur:

lost

fur:

in

fur:

the

fur:

haze

fur:

of

fur:

the

fur:

Marten

fur:

taking

fur:

his

fur:

cock

fur:

in

fur:

his

fur:

mouth

fur:

and

fur:

sinking

fur:

all

fur:

the

fur:

way

fur:

to

fur:

the

fur:

base.

----**----

It

fur:

had

fur:

been

fur:

quite

fur:

a

fur:

more

fur:

intense

fur:

encounter

fur:

than

fur:

LaShawn

fur:

usually

fur:

got

fur:

up

fur:

to.

fur:

Being

fur:

new

fur:

to

fur:

all

fur:

this,

fur:

LaShawn’s

fur:

inexperience

fur:

did

fur:

show

fur:

but

fur:

what

fur:

he

fur:

lacked

fur:

in

fur:

experience

fur:

he

fur:

made

fur:

up

fur:

for

fur:

in

fur:

enthusiasm.

fur:

And

fur:

when

fur:

they

fur:

exchanged

fur:

phone

fur:

numbers,

fur:

LaShawn

fur:

had

fur:

gone

fur:

straight

fur:

home

fur:

and

fur:

left

fur:

him

fur:

a

fur:

voice

fur:

message

fur:

sure

fur:

to

fur:

make

fur:

Tomás

fur:

run

fur:

out

fur:

of

fur:

tape.
LaShawn

fur:

had

fur:

known

fur:

too

fur:

many

fur:

people

fur:

that

fur:

were

fur:

warped

fur:

by ‘Nam

fur:

to

fur:

simply

fur:

sit

fur:

back

fur:

and

fur:

live

fur:

life

fur:

without

fur:

a

fur:

little

fur:

spontaneity,

fur:

after

fur:

all.

fur:

And,

fur:

well,

fur:

even

fur:

if

fur:

it

fur:

had

fur:

to

fur:

be

fur:

in

fur:

the

fur:

shadows,

fur:

his

fur:

feet

fur:

felt

fur:

lighter

fur:

than

fur:

air…
After

fur:

about

fur:

a

fur:

month,

fur:

Tomás

fur:

suggested

fur:

that

fur:

he

fur:

move

fur:

in

fur:

with

fur:

LaShawn.

fur:

LaShawn

fur:

agreed,

fur:

and

fur:

so

fur:

Tomás

fur:

moved

fur:

in

fur:

rather

fur:

gleefully,

fur:

a

fur:

smile

fur:

on

fur:

his

fur:

face

fur:

the

fur:

whole time…

----**----

“Mmph.” Tomás rubbed his stomach, looking

fur:

at

fur:

the

fur:

mixed-species

fur:

bear. “That

fur:

seafood

fur:

especially was

fur:

quite

fur:

nice.”
“Well,

fur:

what

fur:

can

fur:

I

fur:

tell you,

fur:

Tomás?” LaShawn asked. “The

fur:

West

fur:

Side

fur:

Market

fur:

always

fur:

has

fur:

the

fur:

good

fur:

stuff.

fur:

I

fur:

wouldn’t

fur:

do

fur:

shopping

fur:

anywhere

fur:

else

fur:

in

fur:

all of

fur:

Cleveland.”
“Evidently

fur:

not, 

fur:

mi

fur:

amor,”

fur:

said Tomás,

fur:

smiling

fur:

at

fur:

LaShawn.

fur:

He

fur:

then

fur:

leaned

fur:

forward,

fur:

grasping

fur:

LaShawn’s

fur:

hand. “So

fur:

tell

me:

me:

how

me:

did

me:

you

me:

learn

me:

to

me:

make

me:

that?”
“Oh,

me:

you

me:

know,

me:

growing

me:

up

me:

in

me:

California

me:

and

me:

all,

me:

I

me:

had

me:

plenty

me:

of

me:

Hispanic

me:

people

me:

around,”

me:

said

me:

LaShawn,

me:

his

me:

voice

me:

turning

me:

fond. “Some

me:

of

me:

our

me:

neighbors

me:

were

me:

actually

me:

Spanish,

me:

though,

me:

and

me:

not

me:

Mexican.

me:

One

me:

time,

me:

they

me:

had

me:

us

me:

over

me:

for

me:

dinner,

me:

and

me:

they

me:

made

me:

us

me:

a

me:

paella

me:

so

me:

good

me:

I

me:

couldn’t

me:

stop

me:

talking

me:

about

me:

it

me:

for

me:

days.”
“Sounds

me:

like

me:

the

me:

work

me:

of

me:

a

me:

good

me:

Spanish

me:

mother,”

me:

Tomás

me:

replied

me:

jovially. “I

me:

guess

me:

you

me:

learned

me:

it

me:

after

me:

a while?”
“Something

me:

like

me:

that,”

me:

LaShawn

me:

replied. “I’ve

me:

been

me:

making

me:

it

me:

for

me:

the

me:

family

me:

for

me:

as

me:

long

me:

as

me:

I

me:

can

me:

remember

me:

after

me:

that.

me:

And

me:

now…”

me:

LaShawn

me:

turned

me:

his

me:

hand,

me:

taking

me:

Tomás’

me:

hand

me:

in

me:

his. “Now,

me:

I

me:

get

me:

to

me:

share it

me:

with

me:

you.”
Tomás

me:

chuckled. “Much

me:

like

me:

you

me:

get

me:

to

me:

share

me:

your

me:

singing

me:

with

me:

me, eh?”
LaShawn

me:

let

me:

his

me:

teeth

me:

show

me:

a

me:

little

me:

more. “What

me:

is a

me:

singing

me:

voice for, if

me:

not

me:

to sing?”
“Hah! Very true.” Tomás leaned forward. “Do you… wish

me:

to

me:

sing

me:

for

me:

me,

me:

love?”
And LaShawn

me:

smiled,

me:

standing

me:

up

me:

and

me:

looking

me:

to

me:

the

me:

record

me:

player

me:

in

me:

the

me:

bedroom. “I

me:

thought

me:

you’d

me:

never

me:

ask, dear,”

me:

he

me:

said. “Let

me:

me

me:

see…”
He

me:

quickly

me:

stood

me:

up,

me:

glancing

me:

between

me:

records

me:

as

me:

he

me:

thought

me:

on

me:

what

me:

to

me:

sing

me:

for

me:

his

me:

dear

me:

Tomás.

me:

After

me:

a

me:

second,

me:

he

me:

grinned,

me:

picking

me:

up a record of Lecuona

me:

and

me:

the

me:

Cuban

me:

Boys

me:

and

me:

waggling

me:

his

me:

brows.
“Let’s

me:

do

me:

it

me:

in

me:

Spanish,”

me:

he

me:

said.
He

me:

then

me:

pulled

me:

out

me:

the

me:

record,

me:

setting

me:

it

me:

on

me:

the

me:

turntable

me:

and

me:

starting

me:

to

me:

play

me:

it.

me:

Out

me:

came

me:

the

me:

sound

me:

of

me:

piano,

me:

just

me:

ahead

me:

of

me:

a

me:

little

me:

Cuban

me:

salsa

me:

band,

me:

or

me:

what

me:

would’ve

me:

passed

me:

for

me:

one

me:

fort

me:

years

me:

earlier,

me:

LaShawn

me:

supposed.

me:

Some

me:

of

me:

the

me:

sound

me:

was

me:

a

me:

little

iffy:

iffy:

he’d

iffy:

run

iffy:

those

iffy:

grooves

iffy:

pretty

iffy:

ragged.
But

iffy:

then,

iffy:

LaShawn

iffy:

began

iffy:

to

iffy:

sing

iffy:

along,

iffy:

perfectly

iffy:

recited

iffy:

lyrics

iffy:

sounding

iffy:

out

iffy:

over

iffy:

the

iffy:

accompaniment

iffy:

delicately.

iffy:

Sure,

iffy:

LaShawn

iffy:

had

iffy:

to

iffy:

sing

iffy:

over

iffy:

another

iffy:

singer

iffy:

to

iffy:

do

iffy:

just

iffy:

this,

iffy:

but

iffy:

as

iffy:

Tomás

iffy:

shifted

iffy:

in

iffy:

his

iffy:

chair,

iffy:

the

iffy:

bear

iffy:

winked

iffy:

at

iffy:

the

iffy:

marten,

iffy:

and

iffy:

soon

iffy:

the

iffy:

marten’s

iffy:

attention

iffy:

was

iffy:

on

iffy:

how

iffy:

his

iffy:

voice

iffy:

shifted

iffy:

over

iffy:

the

iffy:

sounds

iffy:

of

iffy:

the

iffy:

record.
LaShawn

iffy:

could

iffy:

only

iffy:

respond

iffy:

with

iffy:

a

iffy:

smile,

iffy:

and

iffy:

an

iffy:

upturned

iffy:

nose.

----**----

As

iffy:

LaShawn

iffy:

would

iffy:

eventually

iffy:

discover,

iffy:

Tomás

iffy:

also

iffy:

quite

iffy:

liked

iffy:

movie

iffy:

musicals.

iffy:

Rodgers

iffy:

and

iffy:

Hammerstein,

iffy:

Lerner

iffy:

and

iffy:

Loewe,

iffy:

Jerome

iffy:

Kern…

iffy:

Tomás’

iffy:

taste

iffy:

for all things

iffy:

musical

iffy:

matched

iffy:

LaShawn’s

iffy:

almost

iffy:

perfectly.

iffy:

In

iffy:

fact,

iffy:

they

iffy:

matched

iffy:

so

iffy:

perfectly,

iffy:

LaShawn

iffy:

greeted

iffy:

Tomás

iffy:

with

iffy:

a

iffy:

rather

iffy:

jovial

iffy:

musical

iffy:

performance

iffy:

of

iffy:

some

iffy:

Rodgers

iffy:

and

iffy:

Hammerstein

iffy:

standards

iffy:

on

iffy:

their

iffy:

first

iffy:

anniversary,

iffy:

something

iffy:

Tomás

iffy:

appreciated.
After

iffy:

all,

iffy:

as

iffy:

the

iffy:

lyric

iffy:

went, “you

iffy:

are

iffy:

precisely

iffy:

my

iffy:

cup

iffy:

of

iffy:

tea”.

iffy:

And

iffy:

as

iffy:

his

iffy:

tenor

iffy:

wafted

iffy:

past

iffy:

Tomás’

iffy:

ear

iffy:

over

iffy:

the

iffy:

scratching

iffy:

of

iffy:

a

iffy:

vinyl

iffy:

record,

iffy:

Tomás’

iffy:

smile

iffy:

told

iffy:

them

iffy:

both

iffy:

how

iffy:

much

iffy:

their

iffy:

cup

iffy:

of

iffy:

tea

iffy:

they

iffy:

both

iffy:

were.
Of

iffy:

course,

iffy:

LaShawn

iffy:

also

iffy:

realized

iffy:

that

iffy:

Tomás

iffy:

liked

iffy:

his

iffy:

alcohol.

iffy:

In

iffy:

fact,

iffy:

Tomás

iffy:

probably

iffy:

liked

iffy:

his

iffy:

alcohol

iffy:

a

iffy:

little

iffy:

too

iffy:

much…

----**----

“So,

iffy:

how’re ya’ll

iffy:

doin’ on

iffy:

this

iffy:

fine

iffy:

night?”
The

iffy:

bartender

iffy:

of

iffy:

the

iffy:

Leather

iffy:

Stallion

iffy:

leaned

iffy:

over

iffy:

towards

iffy:

Tomás,

iffy:

his

iffy:

brows

iffy:

waggling

iffy:

more at

iffy:

the

iffy:

Marten

iffy:

than at

iffy:

LaShawn.

iffy:

If

iffy:

the

iffy:

bear

iffy:

thought

iffy:

it

iffy:

was

iffy:

weird,

iffy:

he

iffy:

didn’t

iffy:

say

iffy:

anything,

iffy:

instead

iffy:

holding

iffy:

his

iffy:

drink

iffy:

close

iffy:

at

iffy:

hand.
“Oh,

iffy:

we’re

iffy:

doing

iffy:

just

iffy:

fine,

iffy:

thank

iffy:

you,”

iffy:

said

iffy:

LaShawn,

iffy:

glancing

iffy:

over

iffy:

at Tomás

iffy:

with

iffy:

a

iffy:

quietly

iffy:

happy

iffy:

glance. “And

iffy:

how’re

iffy:

you

iffy:

tonight,

iffy:

good

iffy:

sir?”
“A

iffy:

bit

iffy:

lonely,

iffy:

but

iffy:

I

iffy:

kin

iffy:

manage,”

iffy:

said

iffy:

the

iffy:

bartender. “You

iffy:

lookin’

iffy:

for

iffy:

action?”
“Nah,”

iffy:

said

iffy:

LaShawn.

iffy:

He

iffy:

glanced

iffy:

over

iffy:

at Tomás,

iffy:

pausing

iffy:

before

iffy:

he

iffy:

looked

iffy:

back

iffy:

to

iffy:

the

iffy:

bar. “I

iffy:

think

iffy:

I’m

iffy:

good.”
Tomás’

iffy:

mouth

iffy:

went

iffy:

flat

iffy:

in

iffy:

response,

iffy:

before

iffy:

he

iffy:

turned

iffy:

back

iffy:

to

iffy:

the

iffy:

horse. “For

iffy:

now?

iffy:

I

iffy:

am

iffy:

not

iffy:

sure.

iffy:

Let us

iffy:

see

iffy:

how

iffy:

the night unfolds.”
“Gotcha, gotcha,”

iffy:

said

iffy:

the

iffy:

horse.

iffy:

He

iffy:

shrugged. “It’d

iffy:

be

iffy:

nice

iffy:

to

iffy:

bring

iffy:

a

iffy:

man

iffy:

home,

iffy:

but,

iffy:

hey,

iffy:

this

iffy:

late

iffy:

at

iffy:

night...”
The

iffy:

marten

iffy:

smirked. “You

iffy:

may

iffy:

get

iffy:

lucky,”

iffy:

said

iffy:

Tomás. “You

iffy:

have a…

iffy:

a

iffy:

swagger,

iffy:

that

iffy:

is

iffy:

very

iffy:

attractive.”

iffy:

The

iffy:

marten

iffy:

sat

iffy:

forward

iffy:

slightly,

iffy:

smiling

iffy:

at

iffy:

the

iffy:

bartender. “Don’t

iffy:

count

iffy:

yourself

iffy:

out.

iffy:

You

iffy:

never

iffy:

know.”
The

iffy:

horse

iffy:

shrugged,

iffy:

before

iffy:

pouring

iffy:

out

iffy:

another

iffy:

beer

iffy:

for

iffy:

the

iffy:

marten. “Oh,

iffy:

I

iffy:

think

iffy:

I

iffy:

do,”

iffy:

he

iffy:

said. “Here,

iffy:

on

iffy:

the

iffy:

house.”
LaShawn

iffy:

frowned,

iffy:

before

iffy:

watching

iffy:

as

iffy:

Tomás

iffy:

took

iffy:

it

iffy:

with

iffy:

a

iffy:

smile. “Tomás,

iffy:

that’s

iffy:

your

iffy:

fifth

iffy:

beer of the

iffy:

night.”
“Eh, is

iffy:

fine,”

iffy:

said

iffy:

the

iffy:

marten. “I

iffy:

don’t

iffy:

look

iffy:

drunk,

iffy:

do I?”
LaShawn

iffy:

frowned. “N-no…”
“Then

iffy:

it’s

iffy:

fiiiiiine,”

iffy:

said

iffy:

Tomás

iffy:

as

iffy:

he

iffy:

took

iffy:

a

iffy:

big

iffy:

swig. “Trust

iffy:

me.”
LaShawn

iffy:

sighed.

iffy:

After

iffy:

a

iffy:

second,

iffy:

he

iffy:

blinked,

iffy:

before

iffy:

looking

iffy:

down

iffy:

to

iffy:

his

iffy:

own

iffy:

groin.

iffy:

He

iffy:

realized

iffy:

just

iffy:

how

iffy:

tight

iffy:

the

iffy:

area

iffy:

felt,

iffy:

and,

iffy:

well…
“Just

iffy:

be

iffy:

careful,”

iffy:

he

iffy:

said. “I

iffy:

need

iffy:

to

iffy:

go

iffy:

to

iffy:

the

iffy:

bathroom.

iffy:

You

iffy:

hold

iffy:

the

iffy:

fort

iffy:

down,

iffy:

okay?”
“Sí, sí,” Tomás had stated. “Vayas al baño, mi amor…”
LaShawn thus left Tomás

iffy:

in

iffy:

the

iffy:

care

iffy:

of

iffy:

the

iffy:

bartender.

iffy:

As

iffy:

he

iffy:

stepped

iffy:

into

iffy:

the

iffy:

bar’s

iffy:

bathroom,

iffy:

he

iffy:

heard

iffy:

the

iffy:

sound

iffy:

of

iffy:

rutting

iffy:

coming

iffy:

from

iffy:

the

iffy:

stall.

iffy:

He

iffy:

sighed

iffy:

exasperatedly,

iffy:

glancing

iffy:

beneath

iffy:

the

iffy:

stall

iffy:

and

iffy:

seeing

iffy:

the

iffy:

same

iffy:

feet

iffy:

down

iffy:

there

iffy:

as

iffy:

he

iffy:

had

iffy:

earlier

iffy:

in

iffy:

the

iffy:

night.

iffy:

He

iffy:

shook

iffy:

his

iffy:

head,

iffy:

wondering

iffy:

how

iffy:

two

iffy:

people

iffy:

could

iffy:

have

iffy:

that

iffy:

much

iffy:

stamina

iffy:

right

iffy:

before

iffy:

walking

iffy:

up

iffy:

to

iffy:

a

iffy:

urinal.
He

iffy:

pissed,

iffy:

and

iffy:

left

iffy:

the

iffy:

bathroom.
He

iffy:

made it

iffy:

five

iffy:

steps

iffy:

before

iffy:

he

iffy:

saw

iffy:

Tomás

iffy:

making

iffy:

out

iffy:

with

iffy:

the

iffy:

horse

iffy:

before

iffy:

him.
LaShawn

iffy:

was

iffy:

not

iffy:

certain

iffy:

of

iffy:

what

iffy:

came

iffy:

over

iffy:

him

iffy:

in

iffy:

that

iffy:

moment,

iffy:

but

iffy:

before

iffy:

he

iffy:

could

iffy:

say

iffy:

much

iffy:

of

iffy:

anything

iffy:

else,

iffy:

he

iffy:

had

iffy:

leaped

iffy:

in,

iffy:

shoving

iffy:

Tomás

iffy:

away

iffy:

and punching

iffy:

the

iffy:

stallion

iffy:

very

iffy:

hard

iffy:

in

iffy:

the

iffy:

face.

iffy:

Tomás

iffy:

shouted

iffy:

at

iffy:

him

iffy:

in

iffy:

a

iffy:

slurred

iffy:

voice,

iffy:

but

iffy:

before

iffy:

LaShawn

iffy:

could

iffy:

do

iffy:

much

iffy:

else,

iffy:

a

iffy:

bar

iffy:

fight

iffy:

erupted

iffy:

around

iffy:

him,

iffy:

and

iffy:

everything

iffy:

became

iffy:

a

iffy:

haze

iffy:

of

iffy:

angry

iffy:

voices

iffy:

and

iffy:

fisticuffs

iffy:

and

iffy:

glasses

iffy:

of

iffy:

alcohol

iffy:

shattering

iffy:

on

iffy:

the

iffy:

floor.
He

iffy:

had

iffy:

no

iffy:

idea

iffy:

when

iffy:

he

iffy:

and

iffy:

Tomás

iffy:

had

iffy:

been

iffy:

dragged

iffy:

out

iffy:

of

iffy:

the

iffy:

bar,

iffy:

but

iffy:

soon

iffy:

enough

iffy:

both

iffy:

bear

iffy:

and

iffy:

marten

iffy:

were

iffy:

out

iffy:

on

iffy:

the

iffy:

pavement

iffy:

in

iffy:

front

iffy:

of

iffy:

the

iffy:

Leather

iffy:

Stallion

iffy:

Saloon.

iffy:

And

iffy:

when

iffy:

they

iffy:

did,

iffy:

the

iffy:

long

iffy:

bus

iffy:

ride

iffy:

home

iffy:

was

iffy:

taken

iffy:

in

iffy:

a

iffy:

somewhat

iffy:

angry

iffy:

silence.

----**----

Tomás

iffy:

sat

iffy:

at

iffy:

the

iffy:

table

iffy:

the

iffy:

next

iffy:

morning,

iffy:

his

iffy:

head

iffy:

hanging

iffy:

low.

iffy:

When

iffy:

LaShawn

iffy:

walked

iffy:

in,

iffy:

he

iffy:

kept

iffy:

looking

iffy:

down

iffy:

at

iffy:

the

iffy:

floor,

iffy:

his

iffy:

hands

iffy:

clenching

iffy:

and

iffy:

unclenching.

iffy:

LaShawn

iffy:

could

iffy:

tell

iffy:

from

iffy:

the

iffy:

way

iffy:

Tomás’

iffy:

brow

iffy:

was

iffy:

furrowed

iffy:

that

iffy:

Tomás

iffy:

felt

iffy:

very

iffy:

guilty

iffy:

about

iffy:

what

iffy:

had

iffy:

happened

iffy:

the

iffy:

night

iffy:

before.
“Lo…

iffy:

Lo

iffy:

siento,

iffy:

mi

iffy:

amor…”

iffy:

he

iffy:

said,

iffy:

his

iffy:

voice

iffy:

low

iffy:

and

iffy:

gravelly

iffy:

in

iffy:

a

iffy:

way

iffy:

that

iffy:

LaShawn

iffy:

was

iffy:

not

iffy:

used

iffy:

to hearing. “Yo… Tomé tanto trago, y me—”
“Sh…” LaShawn reached

iffy:

for

iffy:

Tomás’

iffy:

hand,

iffy:

gently

iffy:

caressing

iffy:

it.

iffy:

It

iffy:

was

iffy:

then

iffy:

that

iffy:

Tomás

iffy:

looked

iffy:

up,

iffy:

his

iffy:

eyes

iffy:

bloodshot

iffy:

and

iffy:

his

iffy:

cheek

iffy:

fur stained

iffy:

with tears. “It’s all right,

iffy:

Tomás.

iffy:

I

iffy:

forgive

iffy:

you.”
The

iffy:

marten

iffy:

nodded,

iffy:

looking

iffy:

at

iffy:

LaShawn.

iffy:

He

iffy:

opened

iffy:

his

iffy:

mouth,

iffy:

but

iffy:

then

iffy:

closed

iffy:

it,

iffy:

preferring

iffy:

to

iffy:

lean

iffy:

close

iffy:

to

iffy:

LaShawn.

iffy:

He

iffy:

then

iffy:

leaned

iffy:

his

iffy:

forehead

iffy:

against

iffy:

LaShawn’s

iffy:

letting

iffy:

out

iffy:

a

iffy:

strained

iffy:

whimper

iffy:

as

iffy:

he

iffy:

did.

iffy:

LaShawn

iffy:

nodded

iffy:

against

iffy:

his

iffy:

lover,

iffy:

his

iffy:

paw

iffy:

coming

iffy:

up

iffy:

to

iffy:

caress

iffy:

Tomás’

iffy:

cheek

iffy:

tenderly.

iffy:

The

iffy:

two

iffy:

of

iffy:

them

iffy:

then

iffy:

stayed

iffy:

that

iffy:

way

iffy:

for

iffy:

several

iffy:

minutes,

iffy:

LaShawn

iffy:

lightly

iffy:

pressing

iffy:

a

iffy:

kiss

iffy:

against

iffy:

the

iffy:

marten’s

iffy:

muzzle.

----**----

They

iffy:

both

iffy:

agreed that

iffy:

it

iffy:

would

iffy:

be

iffy:

the

iffy:

last

iffy:

time

iffy:

they

iffy:

ever

iffy:

went

iffy:

out

iffy:

to

iffy:

a

iffy:

bar

iffy:

for

iffy:

New

iffy:

Years.
Still,

iffy:

something

iffy:

shifted.

iffy:

Tomás

iffy:

would

iffy:

sometimes

iffy:

go

iffy:

out

iffy:

at

iffy:

night,

iffy:

with

iffy:

LaShawn

iffy:

staying

iffy:

in.

iffy:

He

iffy:

would

iffy:

be

iffy:

gone

iffy:

the

iffy:

whole

iffy:

night,

iffy:

and

iffy:

when

iffy:

LaShawn

iffy:

saw

iffy:

Tomás

iffy:

come

iffy:

in

iffy:

the

iffy:

next

iffy:

morning,

iffy:

he

iffy:

looked

iffy:

a

iffy:

touch

iffy:

disheveled

iffy:

much of the time.

iffy:

LaShawn

iffy:

never

iffy:

asked

iffy:

what

iffy:

happened

iffy:

whenever

iffy:

Tomás

iffy:

went

iffy:

out,

iffy:

but

iffy:

he

iffy:

could

iffy:

tell

iffy:

that

iffy:

Tomás

iffy:

was

iffy:

generally

iffy:

unhappy

iffy:

every

iffy:

time

iffy:

he

iffy:

did.
That

iffy:

realization

iffy:

stung

iffy:

LaShawn

iffy:

slightly.

iffy:

Nevertheless,

iffy:

he

iffy:

loved

iffy:

Tomás

iffy:

too

iffy:

much

iffy:

to

iffy:

ask

iffy:

about

iffy:

that.

iffy:

They

iffy:

were

iffy:

quite

iffy:

close,

iffy:

after

all:

all:

things

all:

would

all:

work

all:

themselves

all:

out,

all:

he

all:

trusted.
It

all:

was

all:

a

all:

few

all:

months

all:

later

all:

when

all:

Tomás

all:

finally

all:

stayed

all:

at

all:

home

all:

more

all:

often

all:

than

all:

not,

all:

and

all:

over

all:

time

all:

he

all:

began

all:

to

all:

get

all:

moods

all:

where

all:

he

all:

would

all:

just

all:

remain

all:

completely

all:

silent,

all:

as

all:

if

all:

pondering

all:

something.
After

all:

a little

all:

while,

all:

LaShawn

all:

could

all:

not

all:

take

all:

it

all:

anymore.

----**----

“Tomás,

all:

what’s

all:

wrong?”
LaShawn

all:

looked

all:

down

all:

at

all:

Tomás

all:

from

all:

where

all:

he

all:

laid

all:

down

all:

on

all:

the

all:

bed.

all:

Tomás

all:

faced

all:

the

all:

wall,

all:

remaining

all:

that

all:

way

all:

even

all:

as

all:

the

all:

mixed

all:

bear

all:

stroked

all:

his

all:

hair

all:

tenderly.

all:

They

all:

remained

all:

quiet

all:

for

all:

a

all:

few

all:

seconds,

all:

Tomás

all:

remaining

all:

silent.
Finally,

all:

the

all:

marten

all:

sat

all:

up,

all:

looking

all:

up at LaShawn,

all:

his

all:

brows

all:

pulled

all:

back

all:

almost

all:

as

all:

far

all:

as

all:

his

all:

ears.
“LaShawn…”

all:

he

all:

glanced down. “I

all:

know

all:

that, nominally,

all:

this

all:

can

all:

only

all:

happen

all:

in

all:

the

all:

eyes

all:

of

all:

God.

all:

But…”
He

all:

breathed

all:

in

all:

nervously,

all:

caressing LaShawn’s cheek.
“LaShawn, will… Will you marry me?”
LaShawn

all:

felt

all:

his

all:

fur

all:

stand

all:

on

all:

end

all:

almost

all:

immediately.

all:

Marriage?

all:

That was…

all:

that

all:

was

all:

not

all:

possible.
“T… Tomás…

all:

What

all:

are

all:

you

all:

talking

all:

about?”

all:

he

all:

said,

all:

his

all:

eyes

all:

wide

all:

as

all:

he

all:

recoiled

all:

slightly.
“I…

all:

I

all:

want

all:

to

all:

get

all:

married,”

all:

said

all:

Tomás. “I

all:

love

all:

you,

all:

LaShawn.

all:

I

all:

love

all:

you,

all:

and

all:

I… I

all:

want

all:

to

all:

stay

all:

close

all:

to

all:

you.

all:

Be

all:

one

all:

flesh.”
LaShawn

all:

frowned. “Is…

all:

is

all:

this

all:

your

all:

saying

all:

you

all:

want

all:

to

all:

stay

all:

committed?”
“Yes,”

all:

said

all:

Tomás. “I…

all:

I

all:

want

all:

to

all:

tell

all:

people

all:

you

all:

are

all:

my

all:

one

all:

and

all:

only

all:

when

all:

we

all:

go

all:

out.

all:

Is…

all:

Is

all:

that

all:

not

all:

enough?”
“But

all:

the

all:

courts…

all:

the

all:

courts

all:

won’t

all:

let

all:

it

all:

happen,

all:

man!”

all:

He

all:

looked

all:

down. “You

all:

know

all:

how

all:

they

all:

get

all:

about

all:

people

all:

like

all:

us!

all:

And

all:

what

all:

about

all:

all

all:

those

all:

priests?

all:

Nobody

all:

would

all:

officiate

all:

it!

all:

And

all:

even

all:

if

all:

we could

all:

somehow

all:

do

all:

it…”

all:

LaShawn

all:

looked

all:

at

all:

Tomás

all:

intently. “Why

all:

now,

all:

of

all:

all

all:

times?”
“Because

all:

I

all:

care

all:

about

all:

you,”

all:

said

all:

Tomás,

all:

a

all:

desperate

all:

edge

all:

to

all:

his

all:

voice. “I

all:

want

all:

us

all:

to

all:

be

all:

close, LaShawn.”
“I… I can’t…” LaShawn

all:

took

all:

a shaky

all:

breath

all:

in. “I

all:

don’t

all:

know…”
The

all:

marten

all:

let

all:

out

all:

an

all:

aggravated

all:

sigh. “Of

all:

course,”

all:

he

all:

said. “You

all:

don’t

all:

know.

all:

Is

all:

it

all:

that,

all:

or

all:

are

all:

you

all:

just

all:

afraid?”
“I…”

all:

LaShawn

all:

paused,

all:

glancing

all:

at

all:

the

all:

ground.

all:

He

all:

knew

all:

he

all:

had

all:

not

all:

told

all:

anyone

all:

else

all:

of

all:

his

all:

love

all:

for

all:

Tomás.

all:

How

all:

might

all:

his

all:

mother

all:

react

all:

to

all:

find

all:

out

all:

he

all:

was

all:

in

all:

love

all:

with

all:

a

all:

man?

all:

Would his

all:

father

all:

call him

all:

disgusting?

all:

And

all:

what

all:

of

all:

his

all:

church?

all:

Would

all:

they

all:

come

all:

at

all:

him

all:

with

all:

the

all:

familiar

all:

burning

all:

crosses?

all:

If

all:

Tomás

all:

were

all:

to

all:

be

all:

introduced

all:

to

all:

them

all:

as

all:

something

all:

more

all:

than

all:

that…
The

all:

hesitation

all:

LaShawn

all:

showed

all:

gave

all:

Tomás

all:

the

all:

answer

all:

he

all:

needed.

all:

The

all:

marten

all:

frowned,

all:

pulling

all:

his

all:

legs

all:

closer. “I

all:

see…”

all:

he

all:

said. “And

all:

here

all:

I

all:

thought

all:

you

all:

meant

all:

what

all:

you

all:

sang

all:

about

all:

not

all:

letting

all:

anyone

all:

rain

all:

on

all:

your

all:

parade.”
LaShawn gaped at Tomás. “Don’t say that,

all:

man,”

all:

he

all:

said,

all:

leaning

all:

forward. “I

all:

just…

all:

I

all:

wanted

all:

to

all:

sing

all:

something you

all:

like

all:

again!

all:

You

all:

like

all:

Barbra

all:

Streisand,

all:

and

all:

I—”
“—wanted

all:

to

all:

make

all:

me

all:

happy,

all:

I

all:

know,”

all:

said

all:

Tomás,

all:

a

all:

bitter

all:

edge

all:

in

all:

his

all:

voice. “Perhaps

all:

you

all:

should

all:

have

all:

sang 

all:

Hello

all:

Dolly 

all:

instead.”
“But

all:

your

all:

name

all:

ain’t

all:

Dolly,”

all:

LaShawn

all:

replied. “And

all:

I’m

all:

pretty

all:

sure

all:

you

all:

know

all:

that

all:

Tomás

all:

doesn’t

all:

fit

all:

in

all:

the

all:

rhythm

all:

of

all:

the

all:

song!”
“Maybe,”

all:

said

all:

Tomás.

all:

He

all:

then

all:

glanced

all:

down

all:

at

all:

the

all:

floor. “Look,

all:

if

all:

you

all:

don’t

all:

want

all:

to,

all:

I

all:

won’t

all:

bring

all:

it

all:

up

all:

again.

all:

But

all:

just…

all:

tell me,

all:

mi

all:

amor.

all:

Do you want to

all:

marry

all:

me?”
LaShawn’s

all:

mouth

all:

dried

all:

up,

all:

and

all:

he

all:

suddenly

all:

found

all:

it

all:

difficult

all:

to

all:

breathe. “I…

all:

I

all:

would,

all:

but…

all:

I

all:

can’t,

all:

Tomás…”
The

all:

marten

all:

nodded,

all:

the

all:

hurt

all:

obvious

all:

in

all:

the

all:

way

all:

his

all:

eyes

all:

watered.
“Then

all:

that

all:

is

all:

that,”

all:

he

all:

said,

all:

his

all:

tone

all:

steely.

all:

He

all:

then

all:

turned

all:

away,

all:

lifting

all:

the

all:

covers

all:

up

all:

and

all:

stepping

all:

out

all:

of

all:

the

all:

bed.
The

all:

pang

all:

of

all:

guilt

all:

that

all:

LaShawn

all:

felt

all:

was

all:

one

all:

that

all:

would

all:

not

all:

go

all:

away

all:

for

all:

quite

all:

some

all:

time.

all:

And

all:

even

all:

in

all:

his

all:

university

all:

classes,

all:

that

all:

pang

all:

followed

all:

LaShawn

all:

everywhere.

----**----

Surprisingly,

all:

Tomás

all:

stayed

all:

around,

all:

even

all:

after

all:

LaShawn

all:

rejected

all:

his

all:

proposal.

all:

However,

all:

things

all:

had

all:

chilled

all:

considerably

all:

between

all:

the

all:

two

all:

of

all:

them

all:

after

all:

that

all:

point,

all:

and

all:

LaShawn

all:

felt

all:

it

all:

in

all:

the

all:

way

all:

they

all:

talked.
His

all:

paella

all:

got

all:

increasingly

all:

worse,

all:

something

all:

that

all:

Tomás

all:

did

all:

his

all:

best

all:

not

all:

to

all:

mention

all:

in

all:

their

all:

conversations

all:

even

all:

though

all:

it

all:

did

all:

still

all:

weigh

all:

heavy

all:

on

all:

LaShawn’s

all:

heart. The

all:

sex

all:

also

all:

turned

all:

rather

all:

cold,

all:

and

all:

while

all:

it

all:

was

all:

still

all:

fun

all:

it

all:

was

all:

not

all:

what

all:

it

all:

used

all:

to

all:

be.

all:

LaShawn

all:

could

all:

tell in the

all:

way

all:

Tomás

all:

moved

all:

that

all:

the

all:

rejection

all:

still

all:

stung,

all:

and

all:

it

all:

would

all:

do

all:

so

all:

for

all:

a

all:

while.
And

all:

then

all:

there

all:

were

all:

the

all:

arguments.…

----**---

“I

all:

told

all:

you,

all:

Tomás,

all:

I

all:

need

all:

to

all:

go

all:

to

all:

school!

all:

I’ve

all:

put

all:

it

all:

off

all:

for

all:

long

all:

enough!”
“Oh,

all:

so

all:

I

all:

am

all:

the

all:

one

all:

meant

all:

to

all:

support

all:

you

all:

now?”
“You

all:

know

all:

I’ve

all:

never

all:

used

all:

your

all:

money

all:

for

all:

myself,

all:

Tomás!

all:

That

all:

is

all:

all

all:

my

all:

money

all:

going

all:

into

all:

that

all:

university!

all:

My

all:

money!

all:

Not

all:

your

all:

money!”
“So

all:

that

all:

church

all:

job

all:

is

all:

going

all:

to

all:

pay

all:

all

all:

the

all:

bills

all:

as

all:

well?”
“Tomás,

all:

you

all:

know

all:

that

all:

it

all:

covers

all:

all

all:

of

all:

the

all:

university’s

all:

expenses,

all:

and

all:

leaves

all:

some

all:

for

all:

everything

all:

else!

all:

We

all:

have

all:

gone

all:

over

all:

this

all:

again

all:

and

all:

again,

all:

and

all:

you’re

all:

still

all:

complaining

all:

about

all:

it!”
“Well,

all:

these

all:

are

all:

our

all:

finances,

all:

LaShawn,

all:

you thick hijo de puta!”
“Excuse me? I’m

all:

trying

all:

not

all:

to

all:

strain our

all:

finances

all:

here,

all:

and

all:

that is

all:

how

all:

you

all:

feel

all:

about

all:

it?

all:

Tomás,

all:

just…

all:

I

all:

don’t

all:

even

all:

know

all:

how

all:

to

all:

dignify

all:

that

all:

with

all:

a

all:

response!”
“You

all:

can

all:

start

all:

by—!”
“This

all:

ain’t

all:

even

all:

really

all:

about

all:

the

all:

money,

all:

is it?

all:

You’re

all:

still

all:

angry

all:

that

all:

I

all:

don’t

all:

want

all:

to

all:

leave

all:

Cleveland!”
“What?

all:

How

all:

could

all:

you

all:

suggest

all:

such

all:

a

all:

thing?”
“I

all:

know

all:

how

all:

it

all:

is

all:

you

all:

look

all:

at

all:

everything

all:

around

all:

these

all:

parts!

all:

You

all:

don’t

all:

like

all:

it

all:

here,

all:

I

all:

can

all:

tell!”
“The

all:

whole

all:

city

all:

is

all:

falling

all:

apart,

all:

LaShawn!

all:

How

all:

can

all:

you

all:

not

all:

see

all:

that?

all:

If

all:

you

all:

would

all:

just

all:

move

all:

back

all:

to

all:

California,

all:

we

all:

might

all:

find

all:

something

all:

better

all:

there!”
“You

all:

know

all:

I

all:

can’t

all:

go

all:

back

all:

there,

all:

Tomás!

all:

I’ve

all:

got

all:

too

all:

much

all:

here!

all:

I’ve

all:

got

all:

the

all:

church,

all:

and

all:

the

all:

university,

all:

and

all:

connections!”
“Do

all:

you

all:

not

all:

have

all:

family

all:

there?”
“You

all:

know

all:

how

all:

I

all:

feel

all:

about

all:

the

all:

family,

all:

Tomás!

all:

I

all:

don’t

all:

want

all:

to

all:

rely

all:

on

all:

them!”
“I’m

all:

sure

all:

they

all:

would

all:

not

all:

mind.

all:

Or

all:

are

all:

you

all:

just

all:

afraid

all:

to

all:

face

all:

them

all:

about

all:

us?”
“Don’t

all:

change

all:

the

all:

subject,

all:

Tomás!”
“…it

all:

is

all:

that

all:

you

all:

don’t

all:

want

all:

to

all:

talk

all:

to

all:

them

all:

about

all:

us!”
“D-don’t

all:

you

all:

take

all:

that

all:

tone

all:

with

all:

me!

all:

And

all:

you

all:

know

all:

that

all:

this

all:

isn’t

all:

about

all:

what

all:

they’d

all:

say

all:

about

all:

us!”
“Maybe

all:

it

all:

is

all:

not.

all:

But

all:

I

all:

think,

all:

somewhere

all:

deep

all:

down,

all:

you

all:

know

all:

that is not fully true.”
“Tomás, that is not the—!”
“I am tired

all:

of

all:

this. Do what you want,

all:

LaShawn.

all:

I

all:

cannot

all:

stand

all:

another

all:

word

all:

of

all:

this.”

----**----

The

all:

arguments

all:

only

all:

got

all:

worse

all:

and

all:

worse,

all:

and

all:

it

all:

was

all:

so

all:

that

all:

they

all:

stopped

all:

getting

all:

intimate

all:

as

all:

time

all:

went

all:

on.

all:

He

all:

could

all:

see

all:

Tomás’

all:

increasingly

all:

distant

all:

behavior,

all:

and

all:

the

all:

distance

all:

honestly

all:

scared

all:

LaShawn

all:

a

all:

little

all:

bit,

all:

perhaps

all:

more

all:

than

all:

his

all:

own

all:

fear

all:

of

all:

coming

all:

out

all:

to

all:

anyone

all:

inside

all:

of

all:

his

all:

family.
Sometimes,

all:

he

all:

prayed

all:

to

all:

God.

all:

He

all:

prayed

all:

that

all:

God

all:

would

all:

look

all:

past

all:

the

all:

whole ‘love

all:

with

all:

another

all:

man’

all:

thing

all:

and

all:

see

all:

that

all:

deep

all:

down,

all:

LaShawn

all:

and

all:

Tomás

all:

were

all:

a couple

all:

trying

all:

to

all:

settle

all:

the

all:

growing

all:

amount

all:

of

all:

differences.

all:

He

all:

had

all:

always

all:

turned

all:

to

all:

God

all:

in

all:

times

all:

of

all:

trouble,

all:

and

all:

in

all:

that

all:

place

all:

it

all:

was

all:

the

all:

only

all:

place

all:

he

all:

could

all:

go

all:

to.
Please

all:

God,

all:

he’d

all:

say. 

all:

I

all:

want

all:

us

all:

to

all:

stop

all:

arguing.

all:

Please…
And

all:

as

all:

the

all:

nights

all:

passed

all:

on, he’d

all:

add

all:

other

things:

things:

he’d add

things:

for

things:

Tomás

things:

to

things:

come

things:

to

things:

his senses, he’d add for

things:

Tomás to

things:

stop going out

things:

drinking

things:

all

things:

the

things:

time,

things:

he’d ask God

things:

to

things:

give

things:

him

things:

the

things:

strength

things:

to

things:

make

things:

it

things:

all

things:

work

things:

out

things:

in

things:

the

things:

end,

things:

sometimes

things:

he

things:

would

things:

even

things:

ask

things:

God

things:

to

things:

just

things:

send

things:

down

things:

some

things:

advice

things:

at

things:

some

things:

point.

things:

The

things:

pleas

things:

only

things:

intensified

things:

as

things:

time

things:

went

things:

on.
And

things:

eventually,

things:

LaShawn

things:

got

things:

what

things:

he

things:

wished

things:

for.

----**----

LaShawn

things:

had

things:

come

things:

home

things:

at

things:

exactly

things:

the

things:

time

things:

he

things:

normally

things:

did

things:

on

things:

Thursdays,

things:

still

things:

thinking

things:

about

things:

his

things:

homework

things:

for

things:

the

things:

night.

things:

There

things:

was

things:

quite

things:

a

things:

bit

things:

to

things:

do,

things:

and

things:

he

things:

carried

things:

all

things:

the

things:

books

things:

he

things:

needed.
“Hey, Tomás, I’m

things:

home,”

things:

said

things:

LaShawn

things:

as

things:

he

things:

let

things:

himself

things:

in.
He

things:

wiped

things:

his

things:

feet

things:

for

things:

a

things:

few

things:

more

things:

seconds,

things:

before

things:

realizing

things:

that

things:

he

things:

was

things:

greeted

things:

with

things:

nothing but silence.
LaShawn blinked, looking

things:

into

things:

the

things:

house

things:

they had

things:

shared. “Tomás?”

things:

he

things:

asked.
Silence

things:

once

things:

again

things:

greeted

things:

him.
And

things:

immediately,

things:

the

things:

bear

things:

mix

things:

knew

things:

that

things:

something

things:

was

things:

wrong.

things:

Even

things:

with

things:

the

things:

distance

things:

they

things:

had

things:

attained,

things:

Tomás

things:

would

things:

be

things:

running

things:

down

things:

the

things:

stairs

things:

or

things:

from

things:

wherever

things:

else

things:

he

things:

was

things:

situated

things:

to

things:

greet LaShawn

things:

at

things:

the

things:

door.

things:

That

things:

constant

things:

had

things:

never

things:

changed

things:

at

things:

all

things:

across all

things:

the

things:

time

things:

that

things:

LaShawn

things:

and

things:

Tomás

things:

had

things:

been

things:

living

things:

together.

things:

And

things:

now,

things:

not

things:

only

things:

was

things:

Tomás

things:

not

things:

at

things:

the

things:

door,

things:

but

things:

he

things:

was

things:

not

things:

even

things:

replying.
LaShawn’s

things:

blood

things:

turned

things:

to

things:

ice

things:

as

things:

the

things:

realization

things:

dawned

things:

on

things:

him.
LaShawn

things:

quietly

things:

placed

things:

his

things:

books

things:

on

things:

the

things:

nearby

things:

table,

things:

and

things:

then

things:

began

things:

frantically

things:

looking

things:

around

things:

the

things:

house

things:

for

things:

any

things:

sign

things:

of

things:

Tomás.

things:

He

things:

looked

things:

in

things:

all

things:

the

things:

rooms,

things:

made

things:

sure

things:

that

things:

he

things:

was

things:

not

things:

hiding

things:

anywhere

things:

at

things:

all.

things:

When

things:

that

things:

failed,

things:

LaShawn

things:

began

things:

to

things:

panic,

things:

and

things:

he

things:

created

things:

a

things:

disorganized

things:

mess

things:

of

things:

his

things:

own

things:

house.

things:

He

things:

checked

things:

drawers,

things:

desks,

things:

anything

things:

for

things:

any

things:

kind

things:

of

things:

note

things:

or

things:

personal

things:

belonging

things:

that

things:

he

things:

had

things:

left

things:

there.

things:

He

things:

searched

things:

every

things:

cupboard,

things:

trash

things:

bin, and

things:

anything

things:

for

things:

any,

things:

just

things:

any

things:

sign

things:

that…

things:

that

things:

he

things:

hadn’t…
But

things:

it

things:

was

things:

to

things:

no

things:

avail.

things:

Neither

things:

Tomás,

things:

nor

things:

any

things:

of

things:

his

things:

personal

things:

belongings,

things:

were

things:

in

things:

that

things:

house.

things:

There

things:

was

things:

not

things:

even

things:

so

things:

much

things:

as

things:

a

things:

single

things:

strand

things:

of

things:

that

things:

luscious

things:

brown

things:

fur

things:

left

things:

behind.
LaShawn

things:

could

things:

only

things:

sit

things:

alone

things:

on

things:

the

things:

bed

things:

that

things:

night.

things:

He

things:

had

things:

planned

things:

to

things:

get

things:

so

things:

much

things:

work

things:

done

things:

that

things:

night,

things:

but

things:

he

things:

could

things:

not

things:

do

things:

any

things:

of

things:

it.

things:

Tomás

things:

had

things:

left

things:

with

things:

not

things:

even

things:

so

things:

much

things:

as

things:

a

things:

note;

things:

LaShawn

things:

wondered

things:

how

things:

someone

things:

who

things:

had

things:

been

things:

so

things:

beautiful,

things:

so

things:

wonderful,

things:

could

things:

bring

things:

himself

things:

to

things:

leave

things:

without

things:

even

things:

leaving

things:

that.
LaShawn

things:

had

things:

wanted to spend

things:

the

things:

night

things:

in Tomás’

things:

arms.

things:

Instead,

things:

he

things:

spent

things:

the

things:

whole

things:

night

things:

weeping

things:

bitterly,

things:

drifting

things:

into

things:

a

things:

dreamless

things:

sleep…

----**----

The

things:

relationship

things:

had

things:

lasted

things:

seven

things:

years.

things:

Seven

things:

years

things:

of

things:

a

things:

slow

things:

decline,

things:

seven

things:

years

things:

that

things:

LaShawn

things:

would

things:

never

things:

get

things:

back…

things:

Seven

things:

years

things:

of

things:

love,

things:

life…

things:

and

things:

an

things:

almost

things:

perfect

things:

slice

things:

of

things:

paradise.

things:

In

things:

some

things:

ways,

things:

LaShawn

things:

now

things:

understood

things:

exactly

things:

how

things:

Emile

things:

De

things:

Becque

things:

felt.

things:

Paradise

things:

once

things:

nearly

things:

was

things:

his,

things:

and

things:

losing

things:

it

things:

was

things:

a

things:

feeling

things:

that

things:

tore

things:

his

things:

heart

things:

apart…
But

things:

as

things:

all

things:

things

things:

in

things:

life

things:

did,

things:

LaShawn

things:

soldiered

things:

on.

things:

He

things:

began

things:

to

things:

work

things:

out

things:

after

things:

that

things:

point,

things:

attaining

things:

quite

things:

a

things:

bit

things:

of

things:

muscle,

things:

before

things:

developing

things:

the

things:

signature

things:

gut

things:

that

things:

most

things:

bears

things:

develop

things:

in

things:

their

things:

later

things:

years.

things:

He

things:

devoted

things:

more

things:

time

things:

to

things:

the

things:

church.

things:

He

things:

began

things:

recording

things:

with

things:

people

things:

he

things:

knew

things:

across

things:

Cleveland.

things:

And

things:

he

things:

continued

things:

singing

things:

his

things:

heart

things:

out.
And

things:

as

things:

LaShawn’s

things:

life

things:

marched

things:

on,

things:

so

things:

too

things:

did

things:

the

things:

later

things:

half

things:

of

things:

the 70’s.

things:

And

things:

beyond

things:

the 70’s,

things:

his

things:

life

things:

would

things:

continue

things:

without

things:

Tomás.

things:

He

things:

watched

things:

as

things:

Ronald

things:

Reagan

things:

was

things:

elected.

things:

He

things:

stood

things:

on

things:

the

things:

sidelines

things:

as

things:

the

things:

first

things:

outbreaks

things:

of

things:

AIDS

things:

affected

things:

people

things:

around

things:

him.

things:

He

things:

watched

things:

as

things:

gay

things:

pride

things:

began

things:

to

things:

pick

things:

up

things:

steam.

things:

He

things:

found

things:

himself

things:

still

things:

relying

things:

on

things:

landlines

things:

when

things:

the

things:

world

things:

began

things:

to

things:

turn

things:

to

things:

cellular

things:

telephones

things:

and

things:

laptop

things:

computers.
But

things:

through

things:

it

things:

all,

things:

that

things:

question

things:

Tomás

things:

asked

things:

rang

things:

through

things:

his

things:

mind,

things:

about

things:

what

things:

it

things:

would

things:

have

things:

been

things:

like

things:

to

things:

be…

things:

married

things:

to

things:

a

things:

man

things:

through

things:

all

things:

that.

things:

And

things:

every

things:

time

things:

he

things:

thought

things:

about

things:

it,

things:

he

shuddered:

shuddered:

though

shuddered:

his

shuddered:

heart

shuddered:

ached,

shuddered:

his

shuddered:

head

shuddered:

ached

shuddered:

even

shuddered:

more,

shuddered:

and

shuddered:

imagining

shuddered:

the

shuddered:

riots

shuddered:

he’d

shuddered:

left

shuddered:

and

shuddered:

the

shuddered:

tingle

shuddered:

he

shuddered:

felt

shuddered:

in

shuddered:

his

shuddered:

pawpads…
He

shuddered:

sighed.

shuddered:

No.

shuddered:

It

shuddered:

was

shuddered:

too

shuddered:

late

shuddered:

for

shuddered:

him.

shuddered:

Now

shuddered:

that

shuddered:

the

shuddered:

world

shuddered:

was

shuddered:

ready,

shuddered:

well…

shuddered:

LaShawn

shuddered:

was

shuddered:

but

shuddered:

a

shuddered:

relic

shuddered:

of

shuddered:

the

shuddered:

past.

shuddered:

What

shuddered:

of

shuddered:

this

shuddered:

new

shuddered:

world

shuddered:

could

shuddered:

love

shuddered:

him

shuddered:

for

shuddered:

him,

shuddered:

could

shuddered:

have

shuddered:

the

shuddered:

patience

shuddered:

Tomás

shuddered:

had

shuddered:

lacked

shuddered:

near

shuddered:

the

shuddered:

end?



This

shuddered:

was

shuddered:

the

shuddered:

first

shuddered:

of

shuddered:

two

shuddered:

parts

shuddered:

of “A

shuddered:

Tale

shuddered:

of

shuddered:

Two

shuddered:

Whirlwinds”

shuddered:

by

shuddered:

Herr Wozzeck, read for you by READER, with CALLSIGN. Tune in next

shuddered:

time

shuddered:

to

shuddered:

see

shuddered:

what

shuddered:

form

shuddered:

LaShawn’s

shuddered:

second

shuddered:

whirlwind

shuddered:

romance

shuddered:

takes.

As

shuddered:

always,

shuddered:

you

shuddered:

can

shuddered:

find

shuddered:

more

shuddered:

stories

shuddered:

on

shuddered:

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shuddered:

web at

shuddered:

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shuddered:

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shuddered:

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shuddered:

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shuddered:

Happy

shuddered:

Pride

shuddered:

and

shuddered:

Thank

shuddered:

you

shuddered:

for

shuddered:

listening

shuddered:

to

shuddered:

The

shuddered:

Voice

shuddered:

of

shuddered:

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