Shownotes
The day of the Prop 9 vote draws near, yet Greystoke is torn between campaigning and longing for Aspatria. Can love thrive, both for them and queer people across Oregon?
Today’s story is the second of two parts of “Would?” by Packwolf Lupestripe. This story featured in the ‘Wild Hearts’ anthology published by Armoured Fox Press in 2025. You can find more of her stories on her website https://lupestripe.com/
Last time, Greystoke’s feelings for her former flame, Aspatria Caldbeck, reignited when she went to one of her gigs on campus. After the show, they hooked up in the college canteen where they reminisced about the past and looked to the future.
This concludes, for this year, our Summer Reading Program schedule. Starting next week, we return to our ordinary time schedule, during which you can expect a new episode every Monday.
Read for you by Rob MacWolf — werewolf hitchhiker.
thevoice.dog | Apple podcasts | Spotify | Google Podcasts
If you have a story you think would be a good fit, you can check out the requirements, fill out the submission template and get in touch with us.
https://thevoice.dog/episode/would-by-packwolf-lupestripe-part-2-of-2
Transcripts
You’re
listening
Speaker:to
Speaker:The
Speaker:Voice
Speaker:of
Speaker:Dog.
Speaker:This
Speaker:is
Speaker:Rob
Speaker:MacWolf,
Speaker:your
Speaker:fellow
Speaker:traveler,
Speaker:and
Speaker:Today’s
Speaker:story
Speaker:is
Speaker:the
Speaker:second
Speaker:of
Speaker:two
Speaker:parts
Speaker:of “Would?” by Packwolf Lupestripe. This story was featured in
Speaker:the ‘Wild
Speaker:Hearts’
Speaker:anthology,
Speaker:published
Speaker:by
Speaker:Armoured
Speaker:Fox Press in 2025. You can
Speaker:find
Speaker:more
Speaker:of
Speaker:her
Speaker:stories
Speaker:on
Speaker:her website
Speaker:lupestripe.com.
Last time,
Greystoke’s
Speaker:feelings
Speaker:for
Speaker:her
Speaker:former flame,
Speaker:Aspatria
Speaker:Caldbeck,
Speaker:reignited
Speaker:when
Speaker:she
Speaker:went
Speaker:to
Speaker:one
Speaker:of
Speaker:her
Speaker:gigs
Speaker:on
Speaker:campus.
Speaker:After
Speaker:the
Speaker:show,
Speaker:they
Speaker:hooked
Speaker:up
Speaker:in
Speaker:the
Speaker:college
Speaker:canteen
Speaker:where they
Speaker:reminisced
Speaker:about
Speaker:the
Speaker:past
Speaker:and
Speaker:looked
Speaker:to
Speaker:the
Speaker:future.
Please enjoy
“Would?”
by Packwolf Lupestripe, Part 2 of 2
“Homosexuality.
Paedophilia.
Speaker:Sadism.
Speaker:Masochism.
Speaker:The
Speaker:proponents
Speaker:of
Speaker:Measure 9
Speaker:believe
Speaker:all
Speaker:these
Speaker:things
Speaker:are
Speaker:equal.
Speaker:And
Speaker:they
Speaker:believe
Speaker:that
Speaker:we
Speaker:are
Speaker:NOT
Speaker:equal!”
The
crowd
Speaker:may
Speaker:have
Speaker:been
Speaker:small,
Speaker:but
Speaker:it
Speaker:crackled
Speaker:with
Speaker:energy.
Speaker:Greystoke
Speaker:strode
Speaker:up
Speaker:to
Speaker:the
Speaker:group,
Speaker:her
Speaker:eyes
Speaker:focused
Speaker:on
Speaker:the
Speaker:animated
Speaker:badger
Speaker:addressing
Speaker:them.
Speaker:She
Speaker:stopped,
Speaker:scouring
Speaker:the
Speaker:entourage
Speaker:for
Speaker:Aspatria.
Speaker:Her
Speaker:heart
Speaker:sank
Speaker:when
Speaker:she
Speaker:couldn’t
Speaker:find
Speaker:her.
“Section
one.
Speaker:This
Speaker:state
Speaker:shall
Speaker:not
Speaker:recognise
Speaker:any
Speaker:categorical
Speaker:provision
Speaker:such
Speaker:as ‘sexual
Speaker:orientation,’ ‘sexual
Speaker:preference,’
Speaker:and
Speaker:similar
Speaker:phrases
Speaker:that
Speaker:include
Speaker:homosexuality,
Speaker:paedophilia,
Speaker:sadism
Speaker:or
Speaker:masochism.”
Greystoke
checked
Speaker:her
Speaker:watch.
Speaker:Five
Speaker:minutes
Speaker:past
Speaker:twelve.
“Quotas,
minority
Speaker:status,
Speaker:affirmative
Speaker:action,
Speaker:or
Speaker:any
Speaker:similar
Speaker:concepts, shall not
Speaker:apply
Speaker:to
Speaker:these
Speaker:forms
Speaker:of
Speaker:conduct,
Speaker:nor
Speaker:shall
Speaker:government
Speaker:promote
Speaker:these
Speaker:behaviours.”
She
cast
Speaker:her
Speaker:gaze
Speaker:around
Speaker:the
Speaker:crowd
Speaker:again,
Speaker:hoping
Speaker:she had
Speaker:just
Speaker:missed
Speaker:her.
Speaker:But
Speaker:how
Speaker:could
Speaker:she
Speaker:have
Speaker:missed
Speaker:her?
Speaker:She
Speaker:was
Speaker:stunning.
Speaker:She
Speaker:would
Speaker:stand
Speaker:out
Speaker:in
Speaker:any
Speaker:crowd,
Speaker:particularly
Speaker:one
Speaker:with
Speaker:barely
Speaker:fifty
Speaker:people.
Speaker:Butterflies
Speaker:started
Speaker:to
Speaker:build
Speaker:in her
Speaker:stomach.
Speaker:Then
Speaker:she
Speaker:felt
Speaker:a
Speaker:pull
Speaker:on
Speaker:her
Speaker:arm.
“Hey,
sorry
Speaker:I’m
Speaker:late.
Speaker:The
Speaker:bridge
Speaker:was
Speaker:up.”
Relief
washed
Speaker:over
Speaker:Greystoke
Speaker:like
Speaker:a
Speaker:tidal
Speaker:wave.
Speaker:She
Speaker:turned
Speaker:to
Speaker:be
Speaker:met
Speaker:by
Speaker:those
Speaker:ruby-red
Speaker:eyes;
Speaker:the
Speaker:eyeliner
Speaker:only
Speaker:enhancing
Speaker:their
Speaker:depth
Speaker:and
Speaker:sparkle.
Speaker:She
Speaker:smiled and
Speaker:instinctively
Speaker:embraced
Speaker:her.
Speaker:Aspatria
Speaker:took
Speaker:a step
Speaker:back
Speaker:to
Speaker:steady
Speaker:herself
Speaker:before
Speaker:reciprocating.
Greystoke
breathed
Speaker:in
Speaker:deeply,
Speaker:taking
Speaker:in
Speaker:Aspatria’s
Speaker:scent.
Speaker:There
Speaker:was
Speaker:a
Speaker:warming
Speaker:familiarity
Speaker:to
Speaker:it
Speaker:beneath
Speaker:the
Speaker:cheap
Speaker:body
Speaker:wash
Speaker:and
Speaker:deodorant. It
Speaker:smelled
Speaker:a
Speaker:little
Speaker:like
Speaker:home.
Speaker:It
Speaker:smelled
Speaker:somehow
Speaker:reassuring.
She
never
Speaker:wanted
Speaker:the
Speaker:hug
Speaker:to
Speaker:end,
Speaker:but she
Speaker:knew
Speaker:it
Speaker:must.
Speaker:They
Speaker:decoupled
Speaker:and
Speaker:turned
Speaker:to
Speaker:face
Speaker:the
Speaker:speaker.
“Still wearing
Yeen
Speaker:Spirit?
Speaker:I
Speaker:gave
Speaker:that
Speaker:up
Speaker:in
Speaker:high
Speaker:school.”
“It’s a
good
Speaker:deodorant,”
Speaker:Aspatria whispered,
Speaker:digging
Speaker:Greystoke
Speaker:in
Speaker:the
Speaker:ribs. “What
Speaker:have
Speaker:I
Speaker:missed?”
“Not much,” Greystoke replied. “Just this badger. He
seems
Speaker:quite
Speaker:pissed.”
“Rightly
so,”
Speaker:Aspatria
Speaker:said. “The
Speaker:Measure is
Speaker:a
Speaker:travesty.
Speaker:It’s
Speaker:got
Speaker:many
Speaker:riled
Speaker:up.
Speaker:If
Speaker:librarians
Speaker:and
Speaker:slackers
Speaker:are
Speaker:on
Speaker:the
Speaker:same
Speaker:side,
Speaker:you
Speaker:know
Speaker:it’s
Speaker:bad.”
“Section
two,”
Speaker:the
Speaker:badger
Speaker:continued. “State, regional and
Speaker:local
Speaker:governments
Speaker:and
Speaker:their
Speaker:properties and
Speaker:monies
Speaker:shall
Speaker:not
Speaker:be
Speaker:used
Speaker:to
Speaker:promote,
Speaker:encourage,
Speaker:or
Speaker:facilitate
Speaker:homosexuality,
Speaker:paedophilia,
Speaker:sadism
Speaker:or
Speaker:masochism.”
Boos
started
Speaker:to
Speaker:be
Speaker:heard
Speaker:through
Speaker:the
Speaker:crowd,
Speaker:which
Speaker:was
Speaker:thickening
Speaker:by
Speaker:the
Speaker:minute.
“Section
three.
Speaker:State,
Speaker:regional and
Speaker:local
Speaker:governments
Speaker:and
Speaker:their
Speaker:departments,
Speaker:agencies
Speaker:and
Speaker:other
Speaker:entities,
Speaker:including
Speaker:specifically
Speaker:the
Speaker:State
Speaker:Department
Speaker:of
Speaker:Higher
Speaker:Education and
Speaker:the
Speaker:public
Speaker:schools,
Speaker:shall
Speaker:assist
Speaker:in
Speaker:setting
Speaker:a
Speaker:standard
Speaker:for
Speaker:Oregon’s
Speaker:youth
Speaker:that
Speaker:recognises
Speaker:homosexuality,
Speaker:paedophilia,
Speaker:sadism
Speaker:and
Speaker:masochism
Speaker:as
Speaker:abnormal,
Speaker:wrong,
Speaker:unnatural,
Speaker:and
Speaker:perverse
Speaker:and
Speaker:that
Speaker:these
Speaker:behaviours
Speaker:are
Speaker:to
Speaker:be
Speaker:discouraged
Speaker:and
Speaker:avoided.”
The
boos
Speaker:grew
Speaker:louder,
Speaker:and
Speaker:Greystoke
Speaker:instinctively
Speaker:grabbed
Speaker:Aspatria’s
Speaker:paw.
Speaker:She
Speaker:held
Speaker:it
Speaker:tightly
Speaker:and was
Speaker:surprised when
Speaker:the
Speaker:singer
Speaker:didn’t
Speaker:let
Speaker:go.
“And,
finally,
Speaker:section
Speaker:four.
Speaker:It
Speaker:shall
Speaker:be
Speaker:considered
Speaker:that
Speaker:it is
Speaker:the
Speaker:intent
Speaker:of
Speaker:the
Speaker:people
Speaker:in
Speaker:enacting
Speaker:this
Speaker:section
Speaker:that
Speaker:if
Speaker:any
Speaker:part
Speaker:thereof
Speaker:is
Speaker:held
Speaker:unconstitutional,
Speaker:the
Speaker:remaining
Speaker:parts
Speaker:shall
Speaker:be
Speaker:held
Speaker:in
Speaker:force.”
The
badger
Speaker:let
Speaker:those
Speaker:final
Speaker:words
Speaker:hang
Speaker:in
Speaker:the
Speaker:air,
Speaker:allowing
Speaker:the
Speaker:crowd
Speaker:to
Speaker:digest
Speaker:them. He
Speaker:then
Speaker:continued.
“Our
opponents
Speaker:say ‘no
Speaker:special
Speaker:rights.’
Speaker:And
Speaker:why
Speaker:do
Speaker:they
Speaker:say
Speaker:that,
Speaker:my
Speaker:friends?
Speaker:To
Speaker:divide
Speaker:us.
Speaker:To
Speaker:separate
Speaker:us
Speaker:from
Speaker:other
Speaker:marginalised
Speaker:communities
Speaker:in
Speaker:this
Speaker:country.
Speaker:And
Speaker:yet
Speaker:the
Speaker:truth
Speaker:is
Speaker:that
Speaker:if
Speaker:this
Speaker:Measure
Speaker:passes,
Speaker:it
Speaker:will
Speaker:change
Speaker:the
Speaker:meaning
Speaker:of
Speaker:civil
Speaker:rights
Speaker:in
Speaker:this
Speaker:state
Speaker:for
Speaker:all
Speaker:of
Speaker:us!
Speaker:The
Speaker:balance
Speaker:of
Speaker:power
Speaker:between
Speaker:the
Speaker:government
Speaker:and
Speaker:minority
Speaker:groups
Speaker:will
Speaker:shift
Speaker:and
Speaker:basic
Speaker:rights
Speaker:would
Speaker:no
Speaker:longer
Speaker:be
Speaker:guaranteed.
Speaker:For
Speaker:everyone.
Speaker:We
Speaker:must
Speaker:fight
Speaker:this.
Speaker:We
Speaker:must
Speaker:fight
Speaker:this
Speaker:hard.
Speaker:And
Speaker:if
Speaker:we
Speaker:fight
Speaker:this,
Speaker:we
Speaker:will
Speaker:win!”
The
crowd
Speaker:cheered
Speaker:loudly.
“Now
I
Speaker:believe
Speaker:we
Speaker:have
Speaker:a
Speaker:very
Speaker:special
Speaker:guest
Speaker:with us
Speaker:today.
Speaker:Lakeview
Speaker:native
Speaker:and
Speaker:legendary
Speaker:Baby
Speaker:Grrrl singer
Speaker:Aspatria Caldbeck. Aspatria, where are you?”
The wolf raised
her
Speaker:left
Speaker:hand.
“Baby
Grrrl
Speaker:played
Speaker:a
Speaker:fundraiser
Speaker:here
Speaker:last
Speaker:night
Speaker:for
Speaker:the
Speaker:campaign.
Speaker:I
Speaker:hear
Speaker:it
Speaker:was
Speaker:a
Speaker:good
Speaker:show.
Speaker:I
Speaker:don’t
Speaker:have
Speaker:a
Speaker:guitar up
Speaker:here
Speaker:but
Speaker:why
Speaker:don’t
Speaker:you
Speaker:come
Speaker:say
Speaker:a few words.”
Aspatria
picked her
Speaker:way
Speaker:through
Speaker:the
Speaker:crowd,
Speaker:dragging
Speaker:Greystoke
Speaker:with
Speaker:her.
Speaker:At
Speaker:the
Speaker:foot
Speaker:of
Speaker:the
Speaker:stage,
Speaker:she let
Speaker:go
Speaker:of her hand
Speaker:and
Speaker:clambered
Speaker:up
Speaker:to
Speaker:join
Speaker:the
Speaker:badger.
“Hello
everybody,”
Speaker:Aspatria
Speaker:said. “I
Speaker:haven’t
Speaker:prepared
Speaker:a
Speaker:speech
Speaker:or
Speaker:anything. We
Speaker:played a
Speaker:show
Speaker:last
Speaker:night and
Speaker:raised
Speaker:over
Speaker:eight
Speaker:hundred
Speaker:dollars
Speaker:for
Speaker:the ‘No to 9’
Speaker:campaign.”
Cheers
and
Speaker:whoops
Speaker:punctuated
Speaker:the
Speaker:air
Speaker:as
Speaker:Greystoke
Speaker:looked
Speaker:on
Speaker:in awe.
“This
is
Speaker:a
Speaker:very
Speaker:important
Speaker:moment
Speaker:in
Speaker:our
Speaker:state’s
Speaker:history, and
Speaker:we
Speaker:must
Speaker:fight
Speaker:for
Speaker:the
Speaker:rights
Speaker:of
Speaker:all
Speaker:Oregonians.
Speaker:But
Speaker:our
Speaker:opponents
Speaker:are
Speaker:ruthless.
Speaker:Look
Speaker:at
Speaker:this.”
She
pulled
Speaker:a
Speaker:flyer
Speaker:from
Speaker:her
Speaker:pocket.
“This
is
Speaker:what
Speaker:they are
Speaker:distributing
Speaker:down in
Speaker:Lakeview.
Speaker:Leaflets
Speaker:that
Speaker:say
Speaker:gay
Speaker:men
Speaker:are
Speaker:disease-ridden,
Speaker:promiscuous,
Speaker:and
Speaker:prone
Speaker:to
Speaker:paedophilia.
Speaker:They
Speaker:say
Speaker:the
Speaker:top
Speaker:serial
Speaker:murderers
Speaker:in
Speaker:America
Speaker:have
Speaker:all
Speaker:been
Speaker:admitted
Speaker:homosexuals.
Speaker:All
Speaker:lies,
Speaker:lies,
Speaker:LIES.”
The
crowd
Speaker:booed.
“And
look
Speaker:at
Speaker:this,”
Speaker:she
Speaker:continued,
Speaker:holding
Speaker:up
Speaker:a
Speaker:second
Speaker:leaflet.
“They
say ‘the
Speaker:homosexual
Speaker:political
Speaker:lobby’
Speaker:wants
Speaker:to ‘normalise
Speaker:homosexual
Speaker:behaviour
Speaker:in
Speaker:society’
Speaker:by
Speaker:changing
Speaker:what is
Speaker:taught
Speaker:in
Speaker:schools. They
Speaker:want
Speaker:to
Speaker:stop
Speaker:programs
Speaker:that
Speaker:counsel
Speaker:gay
Speaker:and
Speaker:lesbian
Speaker:teens,
Speaker:programs
Speaker:that
Speaker:have
Speaker:helped
Speaker:reduce
Speaker:drug
Speaker:use
Speaker:and
Speaker:suicides
Speaker:among
Speaker:vulnerable
Speaker:youths
Speaker:in
Speaker:our
Speaker:state
Speaker:and
Speaker:beyond.
“They
say
Speaker:we’re
Speaker:targeting
Speaker:kids.
Speaker:They
Speaker:say
Speaker:we’re
Speaker:a
Speaker:danger
Speaker:to
Speaker:their
Speaker:children. Well,
Speaker:let
Speaker:me
Speaker:say
Speaker:this.
Speaker:We
Speaker:are
Speaker:your
Speaker:children!”
The
crowd
Speaker:cheered
Speaker:as Greystoke looked
Speaker:on,
Speaker:shocked by what
Speaker:she
Speaker:was
Speaker:hearing.
“We
can
Speaker:stop
Speaker:this
Speaker:cruelty.
Speaker:We
Speaker:can
Speaker:all
Speaker:do
Speaker:our
Speaker:part
Speaker:to
Speaker:stop
Speaker:this.
Speaker:So
Speaker:go
Speaker:into
Speaker:your
Speaker:communities,
Speaker:tell
Speaker:your
Speaker:parents
Speaker:and
Speaker:friends,
Speaker:to
Speaker:vote
Speaker:No
Speaker:on
Speaker:Measure 9.
Speaker:Together
Speaker:we
Speaker:can
Speaker:beat
Speaker:this!”
The
crowd
Speaker:screamed
Speaker:as
Speaker:Aspatria
Speaker:punched
Speaker:the air
Speaker:defiantly.
Speaker:She then
Speaker:jumped
Speaker:off
Speaker:the
Speaker:stage
Speaker:and
Speaker:clattered
Speaker:into
Speaker:Greystoke,
Speaker:who
Speaker:had
Speaker:to
Speaker:catch
Speaker:her to
Speaker:prevent
Speaker:her
Speaker:from
Speaker:falling.
Speaker:She
Speaker:looked
Speaker:into
Speaker:her
Speaker:eyes
Speaker:sheepishly
Speaker:and
Speaker:hugged
Speaker:her.
“You were
so
Speaker:inspiring,”
Speaker:Greystoke
Speaker:whispered
Speaker:in
Speaker:her
Speaker:ear. “It
Speaker:must
Speaker:have
Speaker:taken
Speaker:a
Speaker:lot
Speaker:of
Speaker:guts
Speaker:to
Speaker:do
Speaker:that.”
“I
guess
Speaker:it
Speaker:takes
Speaker:guts
Speaker:to
Speaker:stand
Speaker:up
Speaker:for
Speaker:your
Speaker:beliefs,
Speaker:but
Speaker:it’s
Speaker:easier
Speaker:when
Speaker:it
Speaker:affects
Speaker:someone
Speaker:you
Speaker:care
Speaker:about.
Speaker:I
Speaker:may
Speaker:be
Speaker:in
Speaker:the
Speaker:firing
Speaker:line
Speaker:too,
Speaker:but
Speaker:there was
Speaker:a
Speaker:reason
Speaker:I
Speaker:dragged
Speaker:you to
Speaker:the front.”
Greystoke blushed.
“C’mon, let’s go get a soda pop,” Aspatria
said
Speaker:before she
Speaker:got
Speaker:the
Speaker:chance
Speaker:to
Speaker:reply. “I
Speaker:think
Speaker:it’s
Speaker:winding
Speaker:down.”
#
The diner was
small,
Speaker:but
Speaker:the
Speaker:lunchtime
Speaker:rush
Speaker:had
Speaker:passed,
Speaker:making
Speaker:it
Speaker:easy
Speaker:for
Speaker:the
Speaker:two wolves to
Speaker:find a
Speaker:free
Speaker:booth.
They
shuffled
Speaker:into
Speaker:the
Speaker:worn
Speaker:green
Speaker:leatherette
Speaker:seating,
Speaker:disturbing the
Speaker:red
Speaker:and white
Speaker:checked
Speaker:plastic
Speaker:tablecloth with
Speaker:their
Speaker:knees.
Speaker:The
Speaker:waiter
Speaker:took
Speaker:their
Speaker:order
Speaker:and
Speaker:fifteen
Speaker:minutes
Speaker:later,
Speaker:he
Speaker:casually
Speaker:deposited
Speaker:their
Speaker:food
Speaker:and
Speaker:drink
Speaker:in front
Speaker:of
Speaker:them.
Aspatria
took a slurp of
Speaker:her
Speaker:cola
Speaker:as
Speaker:Greystoke
Speaker:picked
Speaker:up
Speaker:a
Speaker:couple
Speaker:of
Speaker:nachos
Speaker:and
Speaker:casually
Speaker:dipped
Speaker:them
Speaker:in
Speaker:salsa. They
Speaker:smiled
Speaker:across
Speaker:the
Speaker:table
Speaker:at
Speaker:each
Speaker:other.
“A
bit
Speaker:like
Speaker:old
Speaker:times,
Speaker:huh?”
Speaker:Greystoke
Speaker:said
Speaker:through
Speaker:a
Speaker:mouthful
Speaker:of
Speaker:chips.
“Yeah,”
Aspatria
Speaker:agreed. “Except
Speaker:it’s
Speaker:not
Speaker:lyrics
Speaker:we’re
Speaker:writing.
Speaker:Do
Speaker:you
Speaker:want
Speaker:to
Speaker:interview
Speaker:me
Speaker:for
Speaker:the
Speaker:paper?”
“Oh,
yeah,
Speaker:of
Speaker:course,”
Speaker:Greystoke
Speaker:replied,
Speaker:trying
Speaker:to
Speaker:hide
Speaker:her
Speaker:despondence over
Speaker:getting
Speaker:down
Speaker:to
Speaker:business so early. She wiped her paws on her dress and dug
Speaker:out
Speaker:her
Speaker:notepad
Speaker:and
Speaker:pen.
Aspatria
took
Speaker:another
Speaker:swig
Speaker:of
Speaker:cola as
Speaker:Greystoke
Speaker:rummaged
Speaker:through
Speaker:her
Speaker:handbag.
Speaker:She felt
Speaker:the
Speaker:singer’s
Speaker:eyes
Speaker:upon
Speaker:her
Speaker:and
Speaker:found
Speaker:it
Speaker:unsettling.
Speaker:Once
Speaker:she had
Speaker:located
Speaker:her
Speaker:things,
Speaker:she looked
Speaker:up
Speaker:to find
Speaker:Aspatria
Speaker:lost in her
Speaker:thoughts,
Speaker:her
Speaker:eyes
Speaker:glazed over.
“Well?” Greystoke said, dragging Aspatria back to reality as
she
Speaker:turned
Speaker:to
Speaker:the
Speaker:first
Speaker:blank
Speaker:page.
“Well,
what?”
“Are
you
Speaker:ready?”
“Oh,
yeah
Speaker:sure.
Speaker:Fire
Speaker:away.”
“So,
why
Speaker:are
Speaker:you
Speaker:here?”
“Well,
I
Speaker:was
Speaker:born
Speaker:and
Speaker:raised
Speaker:in
Speaker:Lakeview.
Speaker:I am
Speaker:a
Speaker:proud
Speaker:Oregonian.
Speaker:Yet
Speaker:in
Speaker:November,
Speaker:Measure 9
Speaker:threatens
Speaker:to
Speaker:make
Speaker:me,
Speaker:and
Speaker:people
Speaker:like
Speaker:me,
Speaker:second-class
Speaker:citizens
Speaker:in
Speaker:our
Speaker:own
Speaker:state. It
Speaker:seeks
Speaker:to
Speaker:discriminate
Speaker:against
Speaker:gay
Speaker:and
Speaker:lesbian
Speaker:people
Speaker:by
Speaker:handing
Speaker:massive
Speaker:control
Speaker:to
Speaker:the
Speaker:government.”
Greystoke
began
Speaker:scribbling
Speaker:in
Speaker:her
Speaker:notebook.
“As
lead
Speaker:singer
Speaker:of
Speaker:Baby
Speaker:Grrrl,
Speaker:I
Speaker:owe
Speaker:the
Speaker:gay
Speaker:community
Speaker:a
Speaker:lot.
Speaker:They
Speaker:come
Speaker:to
Speaker:our
Speaker:gigs;
Speaker:they
Speaker:support
Speaker:the
Speaker:band.
Speaker:This is
Speaker:why
Speaker:we
Speaker:did
Speaker:the
Speaker:benefit
Speaker:last
Speaker:night,
Speaker:as a
Speaker:way
Speaker:of
Speaker:paying
Speaker:back
Speaker:to
Speaker:the
Speaker:community.”
Greystoke
nodded.
“And
as
Speaker:a
Speaker:bisexual
Speaker:myself,
Speaker:I
Speaker:understand
Speaker:the
Speaker:community,
Speaker:and
Speaker:know
Speaker:how
Speaker:hard
Speaker:it
Speaker:is
Speaker:living
Speaker:in
Speaker:rural
Speaker:parts
Speaker:of
Speaker:the
Speaker:state.
Speaker:The thought
Speaker:of
Speaker:any
Speaker:gay teen
Speaker:going
Speaker:through
Speaker:what
Speaker:we
Speaker:went
Speaker:through
Speaker:chills
Speaker:me to
Speaker:the
Speaker:bone. This
Speaker:is
Speaker:the
Speaker:first
Speaker:time
Speaker:in
Speaker:my
Speaker:life
Speaker:that
Speaker:politics
Speaker:has become
Speaker:personal.
Speaker:It is
Speaker:why
Speaker:I
Speaker:feel
Speaker:I
Speaker:must
Speaker:fight
Speaker:against
Speaker:this
Speaker:Measure.”
‘What
we
Speaker:went
Speaker:through’.
Speaker:She
Speaker:could
Speaker:have
Speaker:said
Speaker:I,
Speaker:but
Speaker:she didn’t. Greystoke
Speaker:stopped writing and looked
Speaker:up
Speaker:at
Speaker:Aspatria,
Speaker:noticing
Speaker:a tear
Speaker:forging a
Speaker:coal-black
Speaker:stream
Speaker:down
Speaker:her
Speaker:cheek.
Speaker:Instinctively,
Speaker:she
Speaker:grabbed
Speaker:her paw and
Speaker:squeezed
Speaker:before
Speaker:fishing out a
Speaker:tissue. She passed it over and Aspatria dabbed her eye.
Greystoke waited a
minute
Speaker:before
Speaker:asking
Speaker:her
Speaker:next
Speaker:question.
“I
must
Speaker:admit,
Speaker:I
Speaker:only
Speaker:knew
Speaker:the
Speaker:basics
Speaker:about
Speaker:Measure 9.
Speaker:I
Speaker:didn’t
Speaker:realise
Speaker:it
Speaker:was
Speaker:quite
Speaker:so
Speaker:egregious.
Speaker:So,
Speaker:what
Speaker:can
Speaker:we
Speaker:do
Speaker:to
Speaker:stop
Speaker:it?”
“It may be hard,
but
Speaker:one
Speaker:of
Speaker:the
Speaker:best
Speaker:things
Speaker:to
Speaker:do
Speaker:is
Speaker:to
Speaker:come
Speaker:out
Speaker:to
Speaker:friends
Speaker:and
Speaker:family.”
Greystoke
froze,
Speaker:her
Speaker:pen
Speaker:hovering
Speaker:over
Speaker:the
Speaker:page as
Speaker:she
Speaker:thought
Speaker:of
Speaker:her
Speaker:own
Speaker:situation.
Speaker:She
Speaker:knew
Speaker:just
Speaker:how
Speaker:difficult
Speaker:that
Speaker:would
Speaker:be.
“It’s
far
Speaker:more
Speaker:likely
Speaker:people
Speaker:will
Speaker:vote
Speaker:against
Speaker:this
Speaker:Measure
Speaker:if
Speaker:they
Speaker:know
Speaker:someone
Speaker:who will
Speaker:be
Speaker:affected
Speaker:by
Speaker:it,”
Speaker:Aspatria
Speaker:continued.
“A…a…and
what
Speaker:if
Speaker:you
Speaker:can’t
Speaker:do
Speaker:that?”
“Talk
to
Speaker:them
Speaker:about
Speaker:Measure 9.
Speaker:Urge
Speaker:them
Speaker:to
Speaker:vote
Speaker:against.
Speaker:Fundraise where
Speaker:you
Speaker:can and
Speaker:donate
Speaker:to
Speaker:local
Speaker:anti-9
Speaker:campaigns.
Speaker:Support
Speaker:local
Speaker:movements,
Speaker:join
Speaker:local
Speaker:groups.
Speaker:There
Speaker:are
Speaker:so
Speaker:many
Speaker:there’s
Speaker:guaranteed
Speaker:to
Speaker:be
Speaker:one
Speaker:for
Speaker:you.”
Greystoke had started
scribbling
Speaker:again,
Speaker:but
Speaker:there
Speaker:was
Speaker:a
Speaker:hesitation
Speaker:in her
Speaker:pen
Speaker:strokes.
Speaker:Aspatria
Speaker:picked
Speaker:up
Speaker:on
Speaker:this.
“There
are
Speaker:even
Speaker:gay
Speaker:and
Speaker:lesbian
Speaker:choirs
Speaker:performing
Speaker:in
Speaker:rural
Speaker:counties.
Speaker:Go
Speaker:listen
Speaker:to
Speaker:them.
Speaker:There’s
Speaker:plenty
Speaker:you
Speaker:can
Speaker:do.
Speaker:I
Speaker:know
Speaker:it’s
Speaker:scary,
Speaker:but
Speaker:we’re
Speaker:fighting
Speaker:for
Speaker:our
Speaker:existence.
Speaker:Being
Speaker:afraid and
Speaker:not
Speaker:doing
Speaker:anything
Speaker:is
Speaker:much
Speaker:worse
Speaker:than
Speaker:being
Speaker:afraid
Speaker:and
Speaker:doing
Speaker:something.”
Greystoke
nodded,
Speaker:trying
Speaker:to
Speaker:suppress
Speaker:the
Speaker:fear
Speaker:in
Speaker:her
Speaker:voice.
Speaker:She
Speaker:looked up at Aspatria to try and regain her
Speaker:composure.
“A…a…anything
else?”
“Much
can
Speaker:be
Speaker:done
Speaker:on
Speaker:the
Speaker:day.
Speaker:Get
Speaker:out
Speaker:the
Speaker:vote
Speaker:on
Speaker:November 3rd.
Speaker:Drive
Speaker:people
Speaker:to
Speaker:voting
Speaker:places.
Speaker:Hold
Speaker:signs
Speaker:and
Speaker:placards
Speaker:reminding
Speaker:people
Speaker:to
Speaker:vote
Speaker:No
Speaker:on 9.
Speaker:However,
Speaker:we
Speaker:must
Speaker:work
Speaker:hard
Speaker:until
Speaker:then
Speaker:too.
Speaker:We
Speaker:can
Speaker:defeat
Speaker:this,
Speaker:but
Speaker:the
Speaker:threat
Speaker:is
Speaker:real.
Speaker:We
Speaker:can
Speaker:win,
Speaker:but
Speaker:we
Speaker:have
Speaker:to
Speaker:do
Speaker:something
Speaker:on
Speaker:a
Speaker:personal
Speaker:level,
Speaker:day
Speaker:by
Speaker:day,
Speaker:every
Speaker:minute
Speaker:that
Speaker:we
Speaker:live,
Speaker:to
Speaker:ensure
Speaker:that
Speaker:we
Speaker:do.”
“What
would
Speaker:you
Speaker:say
Speaker:to
Speaker:the
Speaker:people
Speaker:of
Speaker:Lakeview?”
“I
would
Speaker:say
Speaker:that
Speaker:gay
Speaker:people
Speaker:are
Speaker:part
Speaker:of
Speaker:the
Speaker:community.
Speaker:They have
Speaker:always
Speaker:been
Speaker:part
Speaker:of
Speaker:the
Speaker:community.
Speaker:And
Speaker:like
Speaker:you,
Speaker:they
Speaker:have
Speaker:the
Speaker:same
Speaker:hopes
Speaker:and
Speaker:desires
Speaker:and
Speaker:dreams.
Speaker:Many
Speaker:gay
Speaker:people
Speaker:value
Speaker:family.
Speaker:Many
Speaker:gay
Speaker:people
Speaker:are
Speaker:Christians.
Speaker:We
Speaker:are
Speaker:not
Speaker:all
Speaker:the
Speaker:same.
Speaker:But
Speaker:above
Speaker:all,
Speaker:we
Speaker:are
Speaker:all,
Speaker:gay
Speaker:and
Speaker:straight,
Speaker:Oregonians.
Speaker:Don’t
Speaker:let
Speaker:this Measure
Speaker:divide us.”
“Thank you, Aspatria. May I ask some
further
Speaker:questions?”
“Sure.”
“So,
what
Speaker:next
Speaker:for
Speaker:Baby
Speaker:Grrrl?”
“We
start
Speaker:our
Speaker:European
Speaker:tour in
Speaker:November,
Speaker:a
Speaker:few
Speaker:days
Speaker:after
Speaker:the
Speaker:vote.
Speaker:We
Speaker:moved
Speaker:the
Speaker:dates
Speaker:back
Speaker:to
Speaker:be
Speaker:able
Speaker:to
Speaker:campaign
Speaker:here.
Speaker:We’re
Speaker:hoping
Speaker:to
Speaker:have
Speaker:a
Speaker:new
Speaker:album
Speaker:out
Speaker:next
Speaker:year.
Speaker:The
Speaker:grunge
Speaker:scene in
Speaker:the
Speaker:Pacific
Speaker:Northwest
Speaker:is
Speaker:exploding
Speaker:right
Speaker:now
Speaker:and
Speaker:we’re
Speaker:hoping
Speaker:to
Speaker:ride
Speaker:the
Speaker:wave.”
“Will
you
Speaker:be
Speaker:touring
Speaker:the
Speaker:U.S.
Speaker:again?”
“We
hope
Speaker:so.
Speaker:We
Speaker:have
Speaker:a
Speaker:couple
Speaker:of
Speaker:benefits
Speaker:in
Speaker:January
Speaker:and
Speaker:February,
Speaker:but
Speaker:we
Speaker:want
Speaker:to
Speaker:tour
Speaker:in
Speaker:the
Speaker:Spring
Speaker:to
Speaker:support
Speaker:the
Speaker:album.”
“And
how
Speaker:was
Speaker:the
Speaker:show
Speaker:last
Speaker:night?”
“Incredible.
The
Speaker:atmosphere
Speaker:was
Speaker:intense, and
Speaker:it
Speaker:was
Speaker:an
Speaker:honour
Speaker:raising
Speaker:so
Speaker:much
Speaker:money
Speaker:for
Speaker:the
Speaker:No
Speaker:campaign.
Speaker:We
Speaker:love
Speaker:playing
Speaker:Portland,
Speaker:the
Speaker:crowd
Speaker:really
Speaker:get
Speaker:us.
Speaker:We
Speaker:always
Speaker:feel
Speaker:at
Speaker:home
Speaker:here
Speaker:and
Speaker:we
Speaker:can’t
Speaker:wait
Speaker:to
Speaker:come
Speaker:back.”
Greystoke
kept
Speaker:writing,
Speaker:her
Speaker:tongue
Speaker:slowly
Speaker:starting
Speaker:to
Speaker:poke
Speaker:out of
Speaker:the
Speaker:side
Speaker:of
Speaker:her
Speaker:muzzle.
Speaker:She
Speaker:didn’t
Speaker:notice
Speaker:Aspatria
Speaker:blush, but she felt
Speaker:a new tension
Speaker:in
Speaker:the
Speaker:air.
Speaker:She
Speaker:looked
Speaker:up
Speaker:at
Speaker:the
Speaker:singer and
Speaker:noticed
Speaker:she
Speaker:was
Speaker:distracted,
Speaker:casually
Speaker:looking
Speaker:around
Speaker:the
Speaker:room
Speaker:as if
Speaker:searching
Speaker:for
Speaker:something.
Speaker:Her next
Speaker:question
Speaker:refocused
Speaker:her.
“Do
you
Speaker:go
Speaker:back
Speaker:to
Speaker:Lakeview
Speaker:at
Speaker:all?”
“Occasionally.
It’s
Speaker:quite
Speaker:hard
Speaker:when
Speaker:you’re
Speaker:always
Speaker:on
Speaker:the
Speaker:road,
Speaker:but
Speaker:I
Speaker:do
Speaker:go
Speaker:back
Speaker:from
Speaker:time
Speaker:to
Speaker:time.
Speaker:Being
Speaker:there
Speaker:gives
Speaker:me
Speaker:time
Speaker:to
Speaker:relax, it
Speaker:grounds
Speaker:me.
Speaker:I
Speaker:do
Speaker:miss
Speaker:it,
Speaker:it’s
Speaker:a
Speaker:place
Speaker:that
Speaker:gets
Speaker:under
Speaker:your
Speaker:skin.”
Greystoke
let
Speaker:the
Speaker:sentence
Speaker:hang.
Speaker:She
Speaker:only
Speaker:went
Speaker:back
Speaker:for
Speaker:the
Speaker:Holidays,
Speaker:and
Speaker:even
Speaker:then,
Speaker:it
Speaker:was
Speaker:grudgingly.
Speaker:Her
Speaker:mind
Speaker:drifted
Speaker:back
Speaker:to
Speaker:her
Speaker:high
Speaker:school
Speaker:days,
Speaker:and
Speaker:she
Speaker:asked
Speaker:her
Speaker:next
Speaker:question
Speaker:without
Speaker:thinking.
“Any
love
Speaker:interests
Speaker:in
Speaker:your
Speaker:life?”
She
felt
Speaker:her
Speaker:ears
Speaker:flatten
Speaker:and
Speaker:immediately
Speaker:regretted
Speaker:it.
Speaker:She
Speaker:looked
Speaker:up
Speaker:and
Speaker:saw
Speaker:Aspatria’s glistening
Speaker:eyes
Speaker:staring
Speaker:at
Speaker:her
Speaker:inquisitively.
Speaker:She
Speaker:felt
Speaker:herself
Speaker:shrivel
Speaker:inside
Speaker:and
Speaker:braced
Speaker:herself
Speaker:for
Speaker:the
Speaker:response.
Speaker:Her
Speaker:tail
Speaker:twitched
Speaker:nervously.
“Maybe,”
she
Speaker:answered,
Speaker:winking
Speaker:deviously. “But I’m
Speaker:not
Speaker:sure.
Speaker:Let’s
Speaker:see
Speaker:how
Speaker:things
Speaker:go.”
“Thank
you,
Speaker:Aspatria,” Greystoke
Speaker:concluded, trying to
Speaker:hide
Speaker:her mortification.
“It’s
been
Speaker:a
Speaker:pleasure.
Speaker:I
Speaker:look
Speaker:forward
Speaker:to
Speaker:reading
Speaker:the
Speaker:article.”
“It’ll
be
Speaker:out
Speaker:next
Speaker:week,
Speaker:October 20th.”
#
Greystoke
stared
Speaker:at
Speaker:the
Speaker:scrawls
Speaker:in
Speaker:her
Speaker:notebook,
Speaker:her
Speaker:mind
Speaker:casting
Speaker:back
Speaker:to
Speaker:the
Speaker:interview.
Speaker:She
Speaker:knew
Speaker:she
Speaker:should
Speaker:have
Speaker:been
Speaker:typing
Speaker:up
Speaker:the
Speaker:report,
Speaker:but
Speaker:she
Speaker:kept
Speaker:flicking
Speaker:to
Speaker:the
Speaker:back
Speaker:page,
Speaker:reliving
Speaker:the
Speaker:embarrassment
Speaker:of her
Speaker:final
Speaker:question.
Speaker:Two
Speaker:days
Speaker:had
Speaker:passed,
Speaker:but
Speaker:she
Speaker:still
Speaker:cringed
Speaker:whenever
Speaker:she
Speaker:recalled
Speaker:it.
Every
time
Speaker:she
Speaker:tried
Speaker:to
Speaker:focus
Speaker:on
Speaker:her
Speaker:work,
Speaker:her
Speaker:feelings
Speaker:kept
Speaker:dragging
Speaker:her
Speaker:away.
Speaker:Did Aspatria
Speaker:love
Speaker:her, or
Speaker:didn’t
Speaker:she?
Speaker:Did
Speaker:they
Speaker:have
Speaker:a
Speaker:future
Speaker:together, or
Speaker:not?
Speaker:Everything
Speaker:was
Speaker:happening
Speaker:so
Speaker:fast
Speaker:she
Speaker:didn’t
Speaker:know
Speaker:what
Speaker:to
Speaker:think.
Speaker:She
Speaker:was
Speaker:so
Speaker:scared
Speaker:to
Speaker:hope,
Speaker:particularly
Speaker:with
Speaker:the
Speaker:febrile
Speaker:political
Speaker:atmosphere,
Speaker:but
Speaker:she
Speaker:couldn’t
Speaker:ignore
Speaker:her
Speaker:heart
Speaker:either.
She
sighed.
Speaker:She
Speaker:knew
Speaker:she
Speaker:needed
Speaker:answers,
Speaker:but
Speaker:now
Speaker:was
Speaker:not
Speaker:the
Speaker:time.
Speaker:She
Speaker:needed
Speaker:to
Speaker:get
Speaker:this
Speaker:done.
Speaker:Everything
Speaker:else
Speaker:would
Speaker:have
Speaker:to
Speaker:wait.
Greystoke strode to
the
Speaker:kitchen
Speaker:to
Speaker:grab
Speaker:her
Speaker:fourth
Speaker:coffee
Speaker:of
Speaker:the
Speaker:day.
Speaker:As
Speaker:she
Speaker:did,
Speaker:she
Speaker:formulated
Speaker:a
Speaker:plan.
Speaker:She
Speaker:knew Aspatria
Speaker:would
Speaker:be
Speaker:interested
Speaker:in
Speaker:the
Speaker:finished
Speaker:article,
Speaker:and
Speaker:she
Speaker:also
Speaker:knew
Speaker:she
Speaker:could
Speaker:get
Speaker:the
Speaker:newspaper
Speaker:a
Speaker:day
Speaker:earlier
Speaker:than
Speaker:when
Speaker:it
Speaker:went
Speaker:on
Speaker:the
Speaker:stands.
She smiled
as
Speaker:she
Speaker:pressed
Speaker:the
Speaker:button
Speaker:on
Speaker:the
Speaker:machine.
Speaker:It
Speaker:hummed
Speaker:into
Speaker:life,
Speaker:belching
Speaker:a
Speaker:watery
Speaker:black
Speaker:fluid
Speaker:into
Speaker:a
Speaker:white
Speaker:plastic
Speaker:cup. A
Speaker:splash
Speaker:of
Speaker:milk
Speaker:followed.
Speaker:She
Speaker:grimaced
Speaker:at
Speaker:the
Speaker:unappetising
Speaker:liquid
Speaker:and
Speaker:resolved
Speaker:to talk
Speaker:to
Speaker:the
Speaker:editor
Speaker:about
Speaker:getting
Speaker:a
Speaker:proper
Speaker:coffee
Speaker:maker.
Speaker:That
Speaker:too
Speaker:would
Speaker:have
Speaker:to
Speaker:wait.
She
walked
Speaker:back
Speaker:to
Speaker:her
Speaker:desk,
Speaker:cradling
Speaker:the
Speaker:hot
Speaker:cup
Speaker:while
Speaker:gripped
Speaker:by a
Speaker:renewed
Speaker:motivation.
Speaker:The
Speaker:sooner she
Speaker:could
Speaker:get
Speaker:this
Speaker:done,
Speaker:the
Speaker:sooner
Speaker:the
Speaker:date
Speaker:could
Speaker:be
Speaker:arranged.
Speaker:She
Speaker:placed
Speaker:down
Speaker:her drink,
Speaker:sat
Speaker:on
Speaker:her
Speaker:chair,
Speaker:and
Speaker:started
Speaker:to
Speaker:type.
#
BABY
GRRRL
Speaker:PLAYS
Speaker:TRIUMPHANT
Speaker:CAMPUS
Speaker:GIG
Aspatria
Caldbeck
Speaker:Says ‘No On 9’
Speaker:in
Speaker:Barnstorming
Speaker:Show
Exclusive
interview
Speaker:with
Speaker:Oregon’s
Speaker:Queen
Speaker:of
Speaker:Grunge
Speaker:as
Speaker:Baby
Speaker:Grrrl raises
Speaker:over $800
Speaker:for campaign
Greystoke showed Aspatria the
front
Speaker:page
Speaker:of
Speaker:the
Speaker:student
Speaker:newspaper.
Speaker:Underneath
Speaker:the
Speaker:headline
Speaker:there
Speaker:was
Speaker:a
Speaker:grainy
Speaker:photograph
Speaker:of
Speaker:the
Speaker:singer
Speaker:on
Speaker:stage
Speaker:about
Speaker:to
Speaker:launch
Speaker:into
Speaker:one
Speaker:of
Speaker:the
Speaker:band’s songs.
“Nice,”
Aspatria
Speaker:said, quickly scouring
Speaker:through the
Speaker:text. “You’ve done
Speaker:a
Speaker:great
Speaker:job.”
“Thanks,”
Greystoke
Speaker:replied,
Speaker:blushing
Speaker:as
Speaker:she
Speaker:passed
Speaker:the
Speaker:paper
Speaker:over
Speaker:to
Speaker:her. “You
Speaker:interview
Speaker:well.”
Aspatria
turned
Speaker:to
Speaker:pages
Speaker:four
Speaker:and
Speaker:five,
Speaker:where
Speaker:there
Speaker:was
Speaker:a
Speaker:double-page
Speaker:spread
Speaker:containing
Speaker:their
Speaker:interview
Speaker:alongside
Speaker:Aspatria’s ‘Top
Speaker:Tips
Speaker:for
Speaker:Defeating 9’.
Speaker:She
Speaker:started
Speaker:reading.
Greystoke
picked
Speaker:up
Speaker:her
Speaker:burger
Speaker:and
Speaker:held
Speaker:it
Speaker:just
Speaker:below
Speaker:her
Speaker:muzzle.
“It’s
great
Speaker:to
Speaker:see
Speaker:you
Speaker:again,”
Speaker:she
Speaker:continued
Speaker:before taking a bite.
Aspatria nodded
as she shovelled a
Speaker:handful
Speaker:of
Speaker:fries
Speaker:into
Speaker:her
Speaker:mouth.
“And
you,”
Speaker:she
Speaker:said. “Thanks
Speaker:for
Speaker:arranging
Speaker:the
Speaker:hook up.”
Greystoke
waved her paw
Speaker:nonchalantly. “I
Speaker:thought
Speaker:you’d
Speaker:like
Speaker:to
Speaker:see
Speaker:the
Speaker:paper
Speaker:before
Speaker:it
Speaker:hit
Speaker:the
Speaker:stands.
Speaker:And
Speaker:it’s
Speaker:always
Speaker:good
Speaker:to
Speaker:reminisce,
Speaker:to
Speaker:reconnect.”
“Yeah,
I
Speaker:know,”
Speaker:Aspatria
Speaker:said
Speaker:as
Speaker:Greystoke
Speaker:took
Speaker:another
Speaker:bite. “It’s
Speaker:been
Speaker:wild
Speaker:talking
Speaker:with
Speaker:you
Speaker:this
Speaker:past
Speaker:week
Speaker:or
Speaker:so.
Speaker:It’s
Speaker:helped
Speaker:me
Speaker:put
Speaker:things
Speaker:in
Speaker:perspective.”
Greystoke
nodded,
Speaker:feeling
Speaker:a
Speaker:slight
Speaker:strain
Speaker:in
Speaker:the
Speaker:air.
“And,
well,
Speaker:all
Speaker:this
Speaker:time,
Speaker:I
Speaker:thought
Speaker:I
Speaker:was
Speaker:longing
Speaker:for
Speaker:Lakeview
Speaker:when
Speaker:really
Speaker:I
Speaker:was
Speaker:longing
Speaker:for
Speaker:you.”
Greystoke’s
chewing
Speaker:slowed as she
Speaker:took
Speaker:in
Speaker:the
Speaker:words.
Speaker:Heat
Speaker:flushed
Speaker:across
Speaker:her
Speaker:cheeks.
Speaker:She
Speaker:swallowed
Speaker:and
Speaker:stared
Speaker:into
Speaker:Aspatria’s
Speaker:eyes,
Speaker:intense
Speaker:and
Speaker:serious.
Speaker:Seconds
Speaker:passed
Speaker:like
Speaker:an
Speaker:eternity
Speaker:in her
Speaker:gaze.
Speaker:She
Speaker:didn’t
Speaker:know
Speaker:what
Speaker:to
Speaker:say,
Speaker:but
Speaker:she
Speaker:knew
Speaker:she
Speaker:had
Speaker:to
Speaker:say
Speaker:something.
“Longing…
for
Speaker:me?”
Aspatria
nodded,
Speaker:a
Speaker:single
Speaker:tear
Speaker:forming in
Speaker:the
Speaker:corner
Speaker:of
Speaker:her
Speaker:eye. “I
Speaker:said
Speaker:you
Speaker:were
Speaker:an
Speaker:influence;
Speaker:I
Speaker:guess
Speaker:I
Speaker:never
Speaker:knew
Speaker:quite
Speaker:how
Speaker:much.
Speaker:When
Speaker:you
Speaker:asked
Speaker:me
Speaker:about
Speaker:the
Speaker:protest,
Speaker:whether
Speaker:I
Speaker:was
Speaker:asking you
Speaker:on
Speaker:a
Speaker:date,
Speaker:I
Speaker:later
Speaker:realised
Speaker:how
Speaker:right
Speaker:that
Speaker:felt.
Speaker:I
Speaker:thought
Speaker:I
Speaker:just
Speaker:wanted
Speaker:to
Speaker:see
Speaker:you
Speaker:again,
Speaker:but
Speaker:I
Speaker:was
Speaker:always
Speaker:hoping
Speaker:for
Speaker:more.”
Greystoke
felt her
Speaker:body
Speaker:go
Speaker:weak
Speaker:as
Speaker:butterflies
Speaker:took
Speaker:off
Speaker:in
Speaker:her
Speaker:stomach.
Speaker:She
Speaker:felt
Speaker:them
Speaker:soaring
Speaker:and
Speaker:she
Speaker:soared
Speaker:with
Speaker:them,
Speaker:flying
Speaker:higher
Speaker:and
Speaker:higher
Speaker:towards
Speaker:the
Speaker:heavens.
“I
guess
Speaker:what
Speaker:I’m
Speaker:trying
Speaker:to
Speaker:say
Speaker:is
Speaker:I
Speaker:love
Speaker:you.
Speaker:I
Speaker:always
Speaker:did. And
Speaker:I
Speaker:want
Speaker:to
Speaker:start
Speaker:again.”
Greystoke
gulped at
Speaker:the
Speaker:enormity
Speaker:of
Speaker:those
Speaker:words,
Speaker:grabbing
Speaker:her
Speaker:cola and
Speaker:taking
Speaker:a
Speaker:drink
Speaker:to
Speaker:compose
Speaker:herself.
Speaker:She set
Speaker:the
Speaker:glass
Speaker:down
Speaker:and
Speaker:smiled.
“And
I
Speaker:love
Speaker:you
Speaker:too,
Speaker:Asp.
Speaker:I
Speaker:never
Speaker:forgot
Speaker:you.
Speaker:I
Speaker:never
Speaker:will.”
#
Greystoke
turned
Speaker:the
Speaker:dial
Speaker:gently,
Speaker:hoping to
Speaker:coax
Speaker:clarity
Speaker:out
Speaker:of
Speaker:the
Speaker:static.
Speaker:A
Speaker:slight
Speaker:nudge
Speaker:and
Speaker:the
Speaker:announcer’s
Speaker:voice
Speaker:rang
Speaker:clearer.
Speaker:She
Speaker:tried
Speaker:to twist it
Speaker:further,
Speaker:but Aspatria placed a paw on her arm
Speaker:to
Speaker:stop
Speaker:her.
The
duo
Speaker:huddled
Speaker:over
Speaker:the
Speaker:radio
Speaker:expectantly.
“So,
you
Speaker:fly
Speaker:in
Speaker:the
Speaker:morning?”
Speaker:Greystoke
Speaker:said,
Speaker:struggling
Speaker:to disguise
Speaker:her
Speaker:melancholy.
“Yeah,”
Aspatria
Speaker:replied. “I’m
Speaker:looking
Speaker:forward
Speaker:to
Speaker:it,
Speaker:but
Speaker:I’m
Speaker:going
Speaker:to
Speaker:miss
Speaker:you.”
Greystoke
smiled. “Me
Speaker:too,”
Speaker:she
Speaker:said. “But
Speaker:I’m
Speaker:sure
Speaker:it’ll
Speaker:be
Speaker:great.”
They
locked
Speaker:paws
Speaker:and
Speaker:waited;
Speaker:a
Speaker:mix
Speaker:of
Speaker:comfort
Speaker:and tension
Speaker:hanging
Speaker:in
Speaker:the
Speaker:air.
“We
should
Speaker:have
Speaker:gone
Speaker:to
Speaker:Montgomery
Speaker:Park, there’s a
Speaker:huge
Speaker:No
Speaker:on 9
Speaker:gathering
Speaker:down
Speaker:there.”
“Yeah,
but
Speaker:I’d
Speaker:rather
Speaker:spend
Speaker:the
Speaker:night
Speaker:alone
Speaker:with
Speaker:you.”
They
kissed,
Speaker:long
Speaker:and
Speaker:lingering.
Speaker:The
Speaker:radio
Speaker:cut
Speaker:through
Speaker:their
Speaker:passion.
“This just in,
Multnomah
Speaker:County votes No on 9 at 75%.”
The roar from the
park
Speaker:carried through
Speaker:the
Speaker:city,
Speaker:enveloped
Speaker:by
Speaker:the
Speaker:sound
Speaker:of a
Speaker:marimba band. Aspatria squealed with delight and scooped Greystoke
Speaker:in
Speaker:her
Speaker:arms. She
Speaker:carried
Speaker:her
Speaker:over
Speaker:to
Speaker:the
Speaker:bed
Speaker:and
Speaker:placed
Speaker:her
Speaker:down
Speaker:gently.
“It’s
just
Speaker:one
Speaker:county,
Speaker:but
Speaker:that’s
Speaker:as
Speaker:good
Speaker:as
Speaker:we
Speaker:were
Speaker:expecting. There’s
Speaker:still
Speaker:a
Speaker:long
Speaker:way
Speaker:to
Speaker:go,
Speaker:but
Speaker:I
Speaker:think
Speaker:we’ve
Speaker:done
Speaker:it.”
She
smiled
Speaker:and
Speaker:picked
Speaker:up
Speaker:her
Speaker:guitar.
“I
guess
Speaker:this
Speaker:is
Speaker:as
Speaker:good a
Speaker:time
Speaker:as
Speaker:any.
Speaker:I
Speaker:know
Speaker:you’ll
Speaker:miss
Speaker:me,
Speaker:these
Speaker:next
Speaker:three
Speaker:weeks,
Speaker:so
Speaker:I’ve
Speaker:written
Speaker:you
Speaker:a
Speaker:song.
Speaker:You
Speaker:can
Speaker:carry
Speaker:it
Speaker:in
Speaker:your
Speaker:heart
Speaker:while
Speaker:I’m
Speaker:away.”
Greystoke
looked
Speaker:back,
Speaker:stunned.
Speaker:No
Speaker:one
Speaker:had
Speaker:ever
Speaker:written
Speaker:a
Speaker:song
Speaker:for
Speaker:her
Speaker:before,
Speaker:not
Speaker:least a
Speaker:famous
Speaker:musician.
Speaker:Their
Speaker:lyrics
Speaker:in
Speaker:high
Speaker:school
Speaker:had
Speaker:been
Speaker:so
Speaker:superficial,
Speaker:mere
Speaker:teenage
Speaker:angst
Speaker:on
Speaker:a
Speaker:page.
Speaker:It
Speaker:was
Speaker:embarrassing
Speaker:to
Speaker:think
Speaker:about.
“Th…Th…Thank
you,”
Speaker:she
Speaker:said
Speaker:as
Speaker:Aspatria
Speaker:started
Speaker:to
Speaker:strum.
Speaker:A
Speaker:few
Speaker:seconds
Speaker:later,
Speaker:a
Speaker:familiar
Speaker:voice
Speaker:filled
Speaker:the
Speaker:room
Speaker:with
Speaker:a
Speaker:far
Speaker:greater
Speaker:depth
Speaker:than
Speaker:the
Speaker:tinny
Speaker:sound
Speaker:of
Speaker:her
Speaker:Discman.
A
vision
Speaker:in
Speaker:the
Speaker:morning
Speaker:haze
An
apparition
Speaker:in
Speaker:the
Speaker:night
The
final
Speaker:sliver
Speaker:of
Speaker:a
Speaker:dying
Speaker:sun
A
single
Speaker:beam
Speaker:of
Speaker:light
I
lost
Speaker:you
Speaker:once
Speaker:but
Speaker:now
Speaker:you're
Speaker:back
And
I'm
Speaker:never
Speaker:letting
Speaker:go
Because
then
Speaker:I
Speaker:knew
What
I
Speaker:always
Speaker:knew
I
would
Greystoke
closed
Speaker:her
Speaker:eyes
Speaker:and
Speaker:swished
Speaker:her
Speaker:tail
Speaker:to
Speaker:her
Speaker:own
Speaker:private
Speaker:concert,
Speaker:sighing
Speaker:in
Speaker:contentment
Speaker:as
Speaker:the final
Speaker:chord rang
Speaker:true.
Speaker:She
Speaker:smiled.
Speaker:There
Speaker:was
Speaker:nowhere
Speaker:else
Speaker:she
Speaker:would
Speaker:rather
Speaker:be.
#
Rain
pattered
Speaker:on
Speaker:the
Speaker:windowpane
Speaker:as
Speaker:the
Speaker:dull
Speaker:autumn
Speaker:light
Speaker:tried
Speaker:to
Speaker:cleave
Speaker:its
Speaker:way
Speaker:through the
Speaker:curtains. Greystoke
Speaker:yawned, rolled
Speaker:onto her
Speaker:side,
Speaker:and
Speaker:flicked
Speaker:on
Speaker:the
Speaker:television.
She
blinked
Speaker:furiously
Speaker:as
Speaker:her
Speaker:eyes
Speaker:struggled
Speaker:to
Speaker:attune
Speaker:to
Speaker:the
Speaker:bright
Speaker:images
Speaker:on
Speaker:the
Speaker:screen.
Speaker:It
Speaker:didn’t
Speaker:help
Speaker:it
Speaker:was
Speaker:a
Speaker:commercial
Speaker:for
Speaker:one
Speaker:of
Speaker:the
Speaker:local
Speaker:fast-food
Speaker:chains;
Speaker:all
Speaker:primary
Speaker:colours
Speaker:and
Speaker:cheery
Speaker:pop
Speaker:music.
Speaker:Still,
Speaker:ninety-nine
Speaker:cents
Speaker:for a
Speaker:burger
Speaker:certainly
Speaker:wasn’t
Speaker:spendy.
Speaker:Maybe
Speaker:she’d
Speaker:get
Speaker:one
Speaker:for
Speaker:lunch.
Greystoke
turned
Speaker:down
Speaker:the
Speaker:volume
Speaker:just as
Speaker:the
Speaker:channel
Speaker:cut
Speaker:back
Speaker:to
Speaker:the
Speaker:studio.
“The
news
Speaker:headlines
Speaker:on
Speaker:Wednesday,
Speaker:November 4th.
Speaker:It has
Speaker:been
Speaker:a
Speaker:big
Speaker:night in
Speaker:politics,
Speaker:with a
Speaker:new
Speaker:President
Speaker:on
Speaker:his
Speaker:way
Speaker:to
Speaker:the
Speaker:White
Speaker:House,”
Speaker:the
Speaker:anchor
Speaker:said.
“And
in
Speaker:local
Speaker:news,
Speaker:the
Speaker:controversial
Speaker:Measure 9
Speaker:was
Speaker:defeated
Speaker:yesterday, with 56.47% of Oregonians
Speaker:voting
Speaker:No.
Speaker:Opposition
Speaker:to
Speaker:the
Speaker:Measure
Speaker:was
Speaker:strongest
Speaker:in
Speaker:Benton,
Speaker:Clatsop,
Speaker:Multnomah
Speaker:and
Speaker:Washington
Speaker:counties,
Speaker:with Multnomah voting 75%
Speaker:against. The Measure
Speaker:picked
Speaker:up
Speaker:most
Speaker:support
Speaker:in
Speaker:Crook,
Speaker:Lake
Speaker:and
Speaker:Wheeler
Speaker:counties.”
Greystoke
thought
Speaker:of
Speaker:her
Speaker:time
Speaker:growing
Speaker:up
Speaker:in
Speaker:Lakeview.
Speaker:She
Speaker:thought
Speaker:of
Speaker:her
Speaker:family
Speaker:and
Speaker:friends,
Speaker:the
Speaker:majority
Speaker:of
Speaker:whom
Speaker:would
Speaker:have
Speaker:certainly
Speaker:backed
Speaker:the
Speaker:Measure.
Speaker:Tears
Speaker:welled
Speaker:up
Speaker:in
Speaker:her eyes,
Speaker:but
Speaker:she swiftly shook
Speaker:them
Speaker:away. She
Speaker:hadn’t
Speaker:had
Speaker:the
Speaker:courage to
Speaker:come
Speaker:out
Speaker:to
Speaker:them.
Speaker:Maybe
Speaker:she
Speaker:could
Speaker:have
Speaker:made
Speaker:a
Speaker:difference.
Speaker:But
Speaker:the
Speaker:timing
Speaker:just
Speaker:hadn’t
Speaker:been
Speaker:right.
She
walked
Speaker:over
Speaker:to
Speaker:the
Speaker:window
Speaker:and
Speaker:pulled
Speaker:the
Speaker:curtains
Speaker:open.
Speaker:She
Speaker:stared
Speaker:towards
Speaker:the
Speaker:Willamette
Speaker:River as it
Speaker:idly
Speaker:flowed
Speaker:north.
Speaker:It
Speaker:had
Speaker:been
Speaker:a
Speaker:long
Speaker:journey,
Speaker:but
Speaker:it
Speaker:was
Speaker:almost
Speaker:at its
Speaker:end.
Speaker:It had
Speaker:overcome
Speaker:many
Speaker:obstacles
Speaker:to
Speaker:get
Speaker:here,
Speaker:but
Speaker:it
Speaker:had
Speaker:gotten
Speaker:here
Speaker:eventually.
She
glanced
Speaker:at
Speaker:Aspatria
Speaker:stirring
Speaker:in
Speaker:the
Speaker:bed
Speaker:and
Speaker:grinned.
Speaker:It
Speaker:didn’t
Speaker:matter
Speaker:what
Speaker:anyone
Speaker:in
Speaker:Lakeview
Speaker:thought.
Speaker:She
Speaker:was
Speaker:here
Speaker:and
Speaker:they
Speaker:were
Speaker:there.
Speaker:She’d
Speaker:had
Speaker:to
Speaker:run
Speaker:away
Speaker:from
Speaker:them,
Speaker:but
Speaker:she
Speaker:was
Speaker:sick
Speaker:of
Speaker:running
Speaker:away
Speaker:from
Speaker:herself.
Speaker:She had
Speaker:made
Speaker:mistakes
Speaker:in
Speaker:high
Speaker:school,
Speaker:and
Speaker:it had
Speaker:needled
Speaker:her
Speaker:ever
Speaker:since.
Would
it
Speaker:work
Speaker:out?
Speaker:Who
Speaker:knew?
Speaker:But
Speaker:surely
Speaker:it
Speaker:would
Speaker:be
Speaker:worth
Speaker:a
Speaker:try.
Speaker:Now
Speaker:she
Speaker:was
Speaker:dating
Speaker:a
Speaker:rockstar,
Speaker:her
Speaker:parents
Speaker:would
Speaker:certainly
Speaker:find
Speaker:out,
Speaker:but
Speaker:with
Speaker:her
Speaker:wolf
Speaker:by
Speaker:her
Speaker:side,
Speaker:she
Speaker:knew
Speaker:they
Speaker:could
Speaker:conquer
Speaker:anything.
Speaker:It
Speaker:was
Speaker:time
Speaker:to
Speaker:play
Speaker:a
Speaker:new
Speaker:song.
Aspatria
opened
Speaker:her
Speaker:eyes
Speaker:and
Speaker:Greystoke
Speaker:caught
Speaker:her
Speaker:gaze.
Speaker:The
Speaker:two
Speaker:lovers
Speaker:smiled
Speaker:at
Speaker:each
Speaker:other.
Speaker:Yes, she would
Speaker:give
Speaker:it
Speaker:a
Speaker:shot.
Speaker:She
Speaker:plodded
Speaker:back
Speaker:to
Speaker:the
Speaker:bed
Speaker:and
Speaker:disappeared
Speaker:under
Speaker:the
Speaker:sheets,
Speaker:wrapping
Speaker:her
Speaker:arms
Speaker:around
Speaker:her
Speaker:wolf as she
Speaker:placed
Speaker:her
Speaker:head
Speaker:on
Speaker:her
Speaker:shoulder.
Speaker:She sighed
Speaker:contentedly,
Speaker:breathing
Speaker:in
Speaker:her familiar
Speaker:scent,
Speaker:a reminder of her
Speaker:past and a promise
Speaker:to
Speaker:her
Speaker:future.
Her
smile
Speaker:broke
Speaker:into
Speaker:a
Speaker:grin.
Speaker:She
Speaker:was
Speaker:no
Speaker:longer
Speaker:lost
Speaker:within
Speaker:her
Speaker:orbit.
This
was
Speaker:the
Speaker:second
Speaker:and
Speaker:final
Speaker:part
Speaker:of “Would?”
Speaker:by
Speaker:Packwolf
Speaker:Lupestripe,
Speaker:read
Speaker:for you
Speaker:by
Speaker:Rob MacWolf,
Speaker:Werewolf
Speaker:Hitchhiker.
This
concludes,
Speaker:for
Speaker:this
Speaker:year,
Speaker:our
Speaker:Summer
Speaker:Reading
Speaker:Program
Speaker:schedule.
Speaker:Starting
Speaker:next
Speaker:week,
Speaker:we
Speaker:return
Speaker:to
Speaker:our
Speaker:ordinary
Speaker:time
Speaker:schedule,
Speaker:during
Speaker:which
Speaker:you
Speaker:can
Speaker:expect
Speaker:a
Speaker:new
Speaker:episode
Speaker:every
Speaker:Monday.
As
always,
Speaker:you
Speaker:can
Speaker:find
Speaker:more
Speaker:stories
Speaker:on
Speaker:the
Speaker:web
Speaker:at
Speaker:thevoice.dog,
Speaker:or
Speaker:find
Speaker:the
Speaker:show
Speaker:wherever
Speaker:you
Speaker:get
Speaker:your
Speaker:podcasts.
Speaker:Thank
Speaker:you
Speaker:for
Speaker:listening
Speaker:to
Speaker:The
Speaker:Voice
Speaker:of
Speaker:Dog.