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The day after the Ladies' circle Lee had given Arthur's turquoise apporte to Stoner to make into a ring for Christmas and Stoner had added the task to his always-long to-do list. On it already were finding a place to live; getting a job; enrolling in school; volunteering to work at the Food Conspiracy; building a greenhouse at Sandra and Lloyd and Peg’s house on Ninth Street; building a greenhouse at Arthur and Lee's; getting a 50-pound bag of food for his dog Nostradamus; returning to Flagstaff one last time to tie up his affairs there and complete his move to Tucson; writing his mother; writing his infant daughter's mother, who would have nothing to do with him, wouldn't even refuse and send back what little money he sent; making a Christmas present for Nostradamus that she eventually could eat; making a Christmas present for his daughter that she couldn’t fit in her mouth, so couldn't eat; and returning three how-to books overdue at the library.
He got to work on the ring Christmas Eve. He made it solid yet graceful, with a double band of silver. He doubted Arthur expected to be moving his fingers again. How could he, he of so little faith? Stoner's mind meandered as he worked. He had lived in the Southwest, mostly in Flagstaff, for the past two and a half years, and he had nothing to show for it. He had attended school but earned no degree. He had sired a daughter but seen her only once because six months before she was born her mother had rejected him as a father. He had no cash, no place to live, and no job. If he went to school, what should be his major? Chemistry? Astronomy? Metallurgy? Architecture? Should he seek an engineering degree? Agriculture? Forestry? Business administration, so he could earn a living but not be forever under some boss' thumb? Go back to the Northeast and get a job with his father, a plumbing contractor, digging ditches? He could do that, but if he returned to Godwin wouldn’t he stay forever? Would staying there forever be so bad? He found a piece of twine in the house--Sandra's, Peg's, and Lloyd's house, not his--and attached it to the new-made ring. He hadn't mailed his Christmas cards yet. He hadn't even bought them. He remembered his regrettable impecuniousness and amended bought to made. He hadn't even sent his mother a card.
Christmas day Arthur, whose fingers still weren’t moving, and Lee came to Ninth Street for dinner. Stoner stood behind Arthur emitting ghostly moans as he slowly lowered the ring, attached to the twine, in front of him. Sandra removed the twine and passed the ring to Arthur, and he slipped it onto the middle finger of his right hand. He‘d never worn a ring before and liked it. It fit well, Stoner an accomplished craftsman.
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To go to the next part of THE HEALING click here.
To go to the THE HEALING & LOVE NOTE DISCUSSION FORUM click here. I want to hear almost anything you are willing to say, including whether you have had similar or contradictory experiences. Criticism of my behavior and beliefs is also solicited and will be (more or less!) welcome.
Edited by Coach, 09 March 2006 - 08:03 PM.
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