...

TheSchool,Continued

IforgottomentionBillyBrandtsfatherwhowas
knifedfatallywhenhegrappledwithamaskedintruder
inhishome.
Oneday,wehadadiscussioninclass.Theyaskedme,
wheredidtheygo?Thetrees,thesalamander,the
tropicalfish,Edgar,thepoppasandmommas,Matthew
andTony,wheredidtheygo?AndIsaid,Idontknow,
Idontknow.Andtheysaid,whoknows?andIsaid,
nobodyknows.Andtheysaid,isdeaththatwhichgives
meaningtolife?AndIsaidno,lifeisthatwhichgives
meaningtolife.Thentheysaid,butisntdeath,
consideredasafundamentaldatum,themeansby
whichthetakenforgrantedmundanityoftheeveryday
maybetranscendedinthedirectionof
Isaid,yes,maybe.
Theysaid,wedontlikeit.
Isaid,thatssound.
Theysaid,itsabloodyshame!
Isaid,itis.
Theysaid,willyoumakelovenowwithHelen(our
teachingassistant)sothatwecanseehowitisdone?
WeknowyoulikeHelen.
IdolikeHelenbutIsaidthatIwouldnot.
Weveheardsomuchaboutit,theysaid,butweve
neverseenit.
IsaidIwouldbefiredandthatitwasnever,oralmost
never,doneasademonstration.Helenlookedoutthe
window.
Theysaid,please,pleasemakelovewithHelen,we
requireanassertionofvalue,wearefrightened.
Isaidthattheyshouldntbefrightened(althoughIam

oftenfrightened)andthattherewasvalueeverywhere.
Helencameandembracedme.Ikissedherafewtimes
onthebrow.Weheldeachother.Thechildrenwere
excited.Thentherewasaknockonthedoor,Iopened
thedoor,andthenewgerbilwalkedin.Thechildren
cheeredwildly.

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