1 00:00:01,720 --> 00:00:03,240 Speaker 1: Cool Zone Media. 2 00:00:04,880 --> 00:00:09,520 Speaker 2: Book Club book Club book Club. That's that's how we 3 00:00:09,560 --> 00:00:14,120 Speaker 2: start the show. I've decided it's the Cool Zone Media 4 00:00:14,160 --> 00:00:19,920 Speaker 2: book Club. I'm your host, Margaret Kiljoy, my guest today, 5 00:00:20,079 --> 00:00:21,799 Speaker 2: since the whole format is that I read it to 6 00:00:21,840 --> 00:00:24,720 Speaker 2: someone reads stories to someone from Cool Zone Media. The 7 00:00:24,840 --> 00:00:25,680 Speaker 2: Serene Hi. 8 00:00:25,720 --> 00:00:27,960 Speaker 3: Serene Hi, Margaret, thanks for having me. 9 00:00:28,560 --> 00:00:34,400 Speaker 2: Yeah, well, it's the Coolzone Media book Club. Every Sunday, 10 00:00:34,800 --> 00:00:37,479 Speaker 2: I read you different stories, stories that have to do 11 00:00:37,600 --> 00:00:41,000 Speaker 2: with the themes of cool Zone Media and specifically it 12 00:00:41,120 --> 00:00:43,240 Speaker 2: could happen here. I don't know what I'm saying. It's spooky, 13 00:00:43,320 --> 00:00:46,519 Speaker 2: it's not, but the world is spooky. I don't know 14 00:00:47,000 --> 00:00:52,920 Speaker 2: that's true. This story though, this is a like this 15 00:00:53,080 --> 00:00:54,040 Speaker 2: is a posy story. 16 00:00:54,800 --> 00:00:57,360 Speaker 3: Oh I love that for myself and for you and 17 00:00:57,520 --> 00:00:59,560 Speaker 3: for us and for all of you listening. 18 00:01:00,240 --> 00:01:06,440 Speaker 2: That's right. Today we're reading a story by it could 19 00:01:06,480 --> 00:01:11,320 Speaker 2: happen here alumni guest sim Kern, who I believe you interviewed. 20 00:01:11,920 --> 00:01:15,800 Speaker 3: Yeah, they're awesome. I really respect their work and I'm 21 00:01:15,800 --> 00:01:17,960 Speaker 3: excited to be read one of their stories. 22 00:01:18,560 --> 00:01:22,559 Speaker 2: Yeah. They It's always very weird to be a fiction 23 00:01:22,640 --> 00:01:24,920 Speaker 2: writer and then like also be known for this completely 24 00:01:25,040 --> 00:01:29,920 Speaker 2: unrelated thing, you know, like I don't know to put 25 00:01:30,040 --> 00:01:32,600 Speaker 2: words into Sim's mouth, you know, like like Sim is 26 00:01:32,680 --> 00:01:35,160 Speaker 2: right now doing a lot of really amazing content on 27 00:01:35,360 --> 00:01:40,479 Speaker 2: TikTok and Instagram about Jewish anti Zionism. 28 00:01:41,560 --> 00:01:42,520 Speaker 1: And and on. 29 00:01:42,600 --> 00:01:45,440 Speaker 2: It could happen here also, but it's just like, but 30 00:01:45,520 --> 00:01:49,320 Speaker 2: they also write really amazing stories, and so yeah, we're 31 00:01:49,360 --> 00:01:51,440 Speaker 2: going to read you one. I'm going to read you 32 00:01:51,600 --> 00:01:55,840 Speaker 2: one and sharene is the stand in for you, the listener, 33 00:01:56,760 --> 00:01:59,880 Speaker 2: that is I. This story is called the Lost Roads. 34 00:02:02,800 --> 00:02:06,040 Speaker 2: The years of debate and organizing, planning, in preparation had 35 00:02:06,080 --> 00:02:09,280 Speaker 2: spanned my entire life, But at long last, the Body 36 00:02:09,320 --> 00:02:14,000 Speaker 2: Politic had reached a decision. Demolition Day had arrived, and 37 00:02:14,120 --> 00:02:17,240 Speaker 2: I stood on the front lines. The old world would 38 00:02:17,280 --> 00:02:21,040 Speaker 2: be gouged and shoveled away, ushering in a dazzling future. 39 00:02:21,880 --> 00:02:24,880 Speaker 2: Children would reclaim the freedom of play, beasts of the 40 00:02:24,960 --> 00:02:27,840 Speaker 2: wild would roam once more, and we would liberate the 41 00:02:27,919 --> 00:02:32,040 Speaker 2: earth from her tari strait jacket. I never felt more 42 00:02:32,080 --> 00:02:35,480 Speaker 2: proud in my neon yellow coveralls and matching hard hat 43 00:02:35,600 --> 00:02:39,200 Speaker 2: emblazoned with the badge of the Body Politic. My weapons 44 00:02:39,280 --> 00:02:43,120 Speaker 2: for the battle ahead rested heavy across my shoulder. Pickaxe 45 00:02:43,160 --> 00:02:47,760 Speaker 2: and shovel, simple tools for a simple job. We were cleaners, 46 00:02:48,240 --> 00:02:50,880 Speaker 2: not as venerated as the drivers of the mighty diggers 47 00:02:50,880 --> 00:02:54,240 Speaker 2: who forged ahead, or the pavers with their specialized skills. 48 00:02:55,000 --> 00:02:57,440 Speaker 2: Certainly we weren't as envied as the planters who would 49 00:02:57,440 --> 00:03:00,880 Speaker 2: follow in our wake. Our work was hard and tedious, 50 00:03:01,000 --> 00:03:04,160 Speaker 2: but essential to the operation ahead, and I had volunteered 51 00:03:04,200 --> 00:03:08,639 Speaker 2: for it. Today, on every continent on Earth, teams of 52 00:03:08,720 --> 00:03:11,480 Speaker 2: workers like mine would embark on a multi year mission 53 00:03:12,320 --> 00:03:18,000 Speaker 2: destroy the roads, all of them. My squad was stationed 54 00:03:18,040 --> 00:03:21,520 Speaker 2: in the Buffalo Bayou Settler Reservation in the city formerly 55 00:03:21,600 --> 00:03:25,200 Speaker 2: known as Houston, Texas, on a two lane residential road, 56 00:03:25,680 --> 00:03:30,760 Speaker 2: Calcott Street, the eighteen hundred block. It was a sweltering morning, 57 00:03:31,120 --> 00:03:33,680 Speaker 2: hotter than it had any right to be in early March. 58 00:03:34,840 --> 00:03:37,200 Speaker 2: We had a long way yet to go in cooling 59 00:03:37,240 --> 00:03:40,240 Speaker 2: the climate. But that morning I didn't mind the heat 60 00:03:40,720 --> 00:03:44,640 Speaker 2: because I knew what a start we were making. Cowcutt 61 00:03:44,720 --> 00:03:47,400 Speaker 2: dead ended at a maglev line, and from time to 62 00:03:47,520 --> 00:03:49,800 Speaker 2: time the woosh of a passing train sent a blast 63 00:03:49,840 --> 00:03:54,200 Speaker 2: of welcome wind escaping from its prairie covered tunnel. Miry 64 00:03:54,520 --> 00:03:57,280 Speaker 2: Our squad leader gave a short speech that was more 65 00:03:57,360 --> 00:04:01,840 Speaker 2: instructional than inspirational. When the digger hummed to life, its 66 00:04:01,920 --> 00:04:05,280 Speaker 2: ten foot wheels began to turn, the vicious blades of 67 00:04:05,320 --> 00:04:08,880 Speaker 2: its snout sliced into cracked asphalt like a hot knife 68 00:04:08,920 --> 00:04:12,560 Speaker 2: through butter, and the huge sheets of shattered road lifted, 69 00:04:13,000 --> 00:04:16,800 Speaker 2: twisting towards the sky and clattering down the beast's neck 70 00:04:17,000 --> 00:04:21,240 Speaker 2: into the bin on its back. The roar of it 71 00:04:21,480 --> 00:04:24,200 Speaker 2: was tremendous, and I was glad for the noise canceling 72 00:04:24,240 --> 00:04:28,159 Speaker 2: bud stuck into my ears. We watched it trundle ahead 73 00:04:28,160 --> 00:04:30,800 Speaker 2: of us for half an hour until Mary gave the 74 00:04:30,920 --> 00:04:33,080 Speaker 2: signal that it was safe for us to begin our work. 75 00:04:34,000 --> 00:04:36,520 Speaker 2: The digger only pulled up eighty to eighty five percent 76 00:04:36,600 --> 00:04:39,640 Speaker 2: of the road. The bits scattered behind were left for 77 00:04:39,800 --> 00:04:44,600 Speaker 2: our shovels. We bent to the work, scoop some asphalt, 78 00:04:44,720 --> 00:04:47,440 Speaker 2: then toss it into the drone carts that followed behind us. 79 00:04:47,920 --> 00:04:53,360 Speaker 2: Loyal puppies, scoop toss, scoop toss. If the digger had 80 00:04:53,400 --> 00:04:55,800 Speaker 2: missed a large chunk of road, we pulled out the 81 00:04:55,880 --> 00:05:01,280 Speaker 2: pickaxes or Mary's jackhammer. My earbud played upbeat music, and 82 00:05:01,360 --> 00:05:04,560 Speaker 2: I timed my shoveling to the rhythm. There was such 83 00:05:04,720 --> 00:05:09,640 Speaker 2: joy in scraping the earth clean of rubble. We'd cleared 84 00:05:09,680 --> 00:05:11,720 Speaker 2: a twenty foot stretch of asphalt when I felt a 85 00:05:11,800 --> 00:05:14,680 Speaker 2: hand on my shoulder. Mary shouted over the noise of 86 00:05:14,720 --> 00:05:17,560 Speaker 2: the digger that it had been a half hour time 87 00:05:17,600 --> 00:05:21,400 Speaker 2: for the be squad to swap in. I'd rather keep going, 88 00:05:21,640 --> 00:05:26,200 Speaker 2: I called back. I'm not even tired. Rest Mary commanded warmly. 89 00:05:26,800 --> 00:05:29,000 Speaker 2: It'll be a long day and a longer year ahead. 90 00:05:29,279 --> 00:05:31,360 Speaker 2: I don't want my cleaners getting injured on their first 91 00:05:31,440 --> 00:05:36,480 Speaker 2: day of the job. She was right, of course. I 92 00:05:36,600 --> 00:05:39,040 Speaker 2: rested with the a squad on a moss yard beneath 93 00:05:39,040 --> 00:05:41,920 Speaker 2: a shady elm. The family who lived there came out 94 00:05:41,960 --> 00:05:45,200 Speaker 2: of their house to greet us, bearing lemonade and homemade cookies. 95 00:05:45,800 --> 00:05:48,880 Speaker 2: My first taste of the unexpected perks of working on 96 00:05:49,000 --> 00:05:52,560 Speaker 2: the mission. A long haired child of seven or eight 97 00:05:52,720 --> 00:05:55,200 Speaker 2: with freckled golden brown skin showed me a tray of 98 00:05:55,279 --> 00:06:00,359 Speaker 2: seedlings and an egg carton. You're cleaner's right, the child asked, 99 00:06:00,560 --> 00:06:03,440 Speaker 2: clearly unimpressed by us. I nodded, do you know when 100 00:06:03,440 --> 00:06:07,280 Speaker 2: the planters will be coming first. The pavers have to 101 00:06:07,360 --> 00:06:10,160 Speaker 2: do their work, I said, I know, I know, the 102 00:06:10,279 --> 00:06:13,360 Speaker 2: kid replied, laying paths to the mag left station and 103 00:06:13,400 --> 00:06:16,680 Speaker 2: the bike trails. They rolled their eyes. But when the 104 00:06:16,720 --> 00:06:20,720 Speaker 2: planters come, do you think they'll want to use these? Well, 105 00:06:20,800 --> 00:06:23,880 Speaker 2: that depends, I said, pointing to the seedlings. Are they 106 00:06:23,960 --> 00:06:28,240 Speaker 2: native to this region? Of course, the child cried. I 107 00:06:28,320 --> 00:06:33,760 Speaker 2: got castilia and Davisia zenotheras biciosa, and these are Lupinus texanis, 108 00:06:34,839 --> 00:06:38,839 Speaker 2: prairie fire, primrose and blue bonnets. I confirmed, How beautiful 109 00:06:38,839 --> 00:06:41,760 Speaker 2: they'll look together. Yes, I think there's a very good 110 00:06:41,839 --> 00:06:44,920 Speaker 2: chance the planters will want to use them. The smile 111 00:06:45,080 --> 00:06:47,520 Speaker 2: that lit the kid's face was luminous enough to melt 112 00:06:47,560 --> 00:06:51,200 Speaker 2: any lingering soreness in my muscles. As they drifted away 113 00:06:51,279 --> 00:06:54,200 Speaker 2: to tend to their seedlings, one of their parents, sitting 114 00:06:54,279 --> 00:06:57,720 Speaker 2: a short ways away, leaned towards me. I think you 115 00:06:57,839 --> 00:07:02,080 Speaker 2: just made their month. As we swap names and pronouns, 116 00:07:02,120 --> 00:07:04,320 Speaker 2: the kid's mom never took her eyes off the digger. 117 00:07:05,000 --> 00:07:07,480 Speaker 2: Don't worry, I said, we won't let the kids anywhere 118 00:07:07,520 --> 00:07:10,480 Speaker 2: near the job site. She looked at me for the 119 00:07:10,520 --> 00:07:15,120 Speaker 2: first time. What, No, it's not that it's just well, 120 00:07:15,800 --> 00:07:19,520 Speaker 2: all of it, she laughed apologetically. What will we do 121 00:07:19,640 --> 00:07:24,160 Speaker 2: without ambulances or fire trucks, opal as, epilepsy. You know what, 122 00:07:24,320 --> 00:07:28,520 Speaker 2: if they have a bad fall, there'll be triage cars 123 00:07:28,600 --> 00:07:31,560 Speaker 2: and water tankers running on the Maglev lines, and you're 124 00:07:31,600 --> 00:07:34,800 Speaker 2: right near the station. Emergency services should arrive faster by 125 00:07:34,880 --> 00:07:38,200 Speaker 2: Maglov than they ever did by road. They say that, 126 00:07:38,560 --> 00:07:42,200 Speaker 2: but everything's changing so fast, everywhere, all at once. What 127 00:07:42,320 --> 00:07:47,040 Speaker 2: if they're wrong. Look all your life, you've been living 128 00:07:47,120 --> 00:07:49,960 Speaker 2: with one ton bullets speeding past your house fifty feet 129 00:07:50,000 --> 00:07:52,880 Speaker 2: from your front door. Cars have been the biggest killers 130 00:07:52,880 --> 00:07:55,480 Speaker 2: of kids for a century. Won't it be safer to 131 00:07:55,520 --> 00:07:59,280 Speaker 2: have that gone? I suppose, she said, still twisting the 132 00:07:59,280 --> 00:08:02,320 Speaker 2: hem of her skirt. Her fears served as a reminder 133 00:08:02,480 --> 00:08:05,000 Speaker 2: that the quorum had only been reached by a slim margin. 134 00:08:06,000 --> 00:08:09,760 Speaker 2: Millions of people still opposed our mission. But I couldn't 135 00:08:09,760 --> 00:08:12,400 Speaker 2: stay and convince her because Maria was waving us back 136 00:08:12,480 --> 00:08:17,239 Speaker 2: over to start another shift. By noon, we'd cleared the block, 137 00:08:17,320 --> 00:08:19,800 Speaker 2: and a squad of pavers emerged from the Maglev station 138 00:08:20,000 --> 00:08:23,120 Speaker 2: with a fleet of drones in tow. I would have 139 00:08:23,160 --> 00:08:25,440 Speaker 2: spent so much time watching them work over the next 140 00:08:25,560 --> 00:08:27,840 Speaker 2: year that I could have joined their ranks by the 141 00:08:27,960 --> 00:08:32,720 Speaker 2: end of it. First they'd survey the land with sweeping lasers, 142 00:08:33,360 --> 00:08:36,240 Speaker 2: then they'd stake out the course of their paths. Some 143 00:08:36,440 --> 00:08:39,199 Speaker 2: communities wanted a large paved areas in the middle of 144 00:08:39,280 --> 00:08:43,719 Speaker 2: the block for games or festivals. Still, the footprint of 145 00:08:43,800 --> 00:08:46,600 Speaker 2: paved spaces was always a tiny fraction of the asphalt 146 00:08:46,679 --> 00:08:50,319 Speaker 2: roads we destroyed. And of course the paths weren't for 147 00:08:50,480 --> 00:08:56,760 Speaker 2: cars only people walking, skating, biking, wheeling. Unlike sidewalks of 148 00:08:56,840 --> 00:09:00,360 Speaker 2: old meeting at sharp right angles, the pavers de only 149 00:09:00,440 --> 00:09:04,360 Speaker 2: in curves. From above, their completed paths looked organic, like 150 00:09:04,440 --> 00:09:08,040 Speaker 2: branching veins, each block one leaf, each neighborhood a branch, 151 00:09:08,440 --> 00:09:11,200 Speaker 2: each city a sprawling tree were once there'd been a grid. 152 00:09:11,960 --> 00:09:14,840 Speaker 2: The paving material they poured was a bright green composite 153 00:09:15,240 --> 00:09:18,960 Speaker 2: made from a century's worth of discarded plastic. When dried, 154 00:09:19,280 --> 00:09:22,160 Speaker 2: it had a slight bounce to it, delightful to walk on, 155 00:09:22,440 --> 00:09:25,959 Speaker 2: but hard and smooth enough for wheels. And it was porous, 156 00:09:26,160 --> 00:09:29,040 Speaker 2: so that every precious drop of precipitation soaked through to 157 00:09:29,120 --> 00:09:34,240 Speaker 2: the soil below. At first I envied the respect afforded 158 00:09:34,240 --> 00:09:37,840 Speaker 2: the pavers engineers, all dressed in their smart blue coveralls. 159 00:09:37,920 --> 00:09:40,599 Speaker 2: They commanded so much respect from the folks of the neighborhood, 160 00:09:41,320 --> 00:09:44,439 Speaker 2: but they were officious to us, perpetually frustrated that we 161 00:09:44,520 --> 00:09:47,600 Speaker 2: weren't moving fast enough. They snipped at each other too, 162 00:09:48,040 --> 00:09:51,560 Speaker 2: with none of the intense camaraderie that banded together us cleaners. 163 00:09:54,000 --> 00:09:56,439 Speaker 2: So even if some magic wish could have made me 164 00:09:56,480 --> 00:10:00,439 Speaker 2: an engineer, forget it. I'd rather be a cleaner. But 165 00:10:00,520 --> 00:10:04,440 Speaker 2: the planters, oh I did envy them. I didn't often 166 00:10:04,480 --> 00:10:06,280 Speaker 2: get to see them work, not unless I took a 167 00:10:06,320 --> 00:10:08,520 Speaker 2: stroll during one of my breaks, back to a street 168 00:10:08,600 --> 00:10:15,120 Speaker 2: we'd cleaned weeks before. Botanists, mycologists, bryologists and ediphologists, and 169 00:10:15,240 --> 00:10:18,920 Speaker 2: of course the native land historians they deferred to. In 170 00:10:19,000 --> 00:10:21,720 Speaker 2: bright green work suits, they descend on a street after 171 00:10:21,800 --> 00:10:25,160 Speaker 2: the pavers had poured fresh paths. It was the planter's 172 00:10:25,240 --> 00:10:29,000 Speaker 2: job to restore the ruined soil trapped by asphalt for 173 00:10:29,080 --> 00:10:33,960 Speaker 2: a century. Our work took hours, The pavers work took days, 174 00:10:34,559 --> 00:10:38,000 Speaker 2: but the planter's task would take months or even years. 175 00:10:38,520 --> 00:10:42,720 Speaker 2: Where the soil was saturated with heavy metals. They used 176 00:10:42,720 --> 00:10:46,320 Speaker 2: all kinds of composts, fertilizers, and minerals. But their most 177 00:10:46,480 --> 00:10:50,920 Speaker 2: ingenious allies were living things microbes that devoured microplastics and 178 00:10:51,000 --> 00:10:55,000 Speaker 2: mushrooms that leached pollution from the earth. At superfund sites 179 00:10:55,040 --> 00:10:58,480 Speaker 2: where the land was especially toxic, they displaced residents and 180 00:10:58,600 --> 00:11:03,600 Speaker 2: worked for months in hasmac gear to heal the poisoned earth. Finally, 181 00:11:03,760 --> 00:11:06,959 Speaker 2: the planters would escort drone carts bursting with greenery from 182 00:11:07,000 --> 00:11:10,480 Speaker 2: the maglev station. They'd plant the fruit trees that would 183 00:11:10,480 --> 00:11:13,360 Speaker 2: feed the neighborhood, the shade trees that would cool their homes. 184 00:11:14,240 --> 00:11:16,880 Speaker 2: The trees would take decades to mature, but one day, 185 00:11:17,400 --> 00:11:21,559 Speaker 2: this endless orchard would crisscross the continent, everywhere there'd once 186 00:11:21,640 --> 00:11:25,960 Speaker 2: only been pavement. The promise of that bountiful future had 187 00:11:26,040 --> 00:11:30,839 Speaker 2: captivated the hearts of most everyone on Earth, most but 188 00:11:31,080 --> 00:11:34,440 Speaker 2: not all. Because you know whose hearts it didn't capture, 189 00:11:34,480 --> 00:11:39,079 Speaker 2: sharene Please tell me the people who sponsor this pot 190 00:11:39,200 --> 00:11:44,160 Speaker 2: gath You are cold and heartless. Wait no, wait, that's 191 00:11:44,160 --> 00:11:44,640 Speaker 2: the opposite. 192 00:11:45,000 --> 00:11:45,880 Speaker 1: We love. 193 00:11:46,080 --> 00:11:49,120 Speaker 2: Yeah, they're great. Where are the people who we would 194 00:11:49,160 --> 00:11:51,760 Speaker 2: oppose all of this if it disrupted the capitalism that 195 00:11:52,120 --> 00:11:55,480 Speaker 2: provides these goods and services to you, we're totally not, 196 00:11:55,679 --> 00:11:58,960 Speaker 2: just like almost everyone else involved in capitalism at every level, 197 00:11:59,240 --> 00:12:17,480 Speaker 2: cynically and gay with it in order to survive, and 198 00:12:17,600 --> 00:12:22,000 Speaker 2: we're back. We ran into our first protester around two 199 00:12:22,000 --> 00:12:24,880 Speaker 2: o'clock that day, during the last hour of my shift. 200 00:12:25,520 --> 00:12:28,080 Speaker 2: Cleaning was my first job after college, and I'd never 201 00:12:28,160 --> 00:12:31,360 Speaker 2: worked such a heavy day of labor. By midafternoon, my 202 00:12:31,440 --> 00:12:34,079 Speaker 2: muscles were screaming, and I was looking forward to a 203 00:12:34,160 --> 00:12:38,200 Speaker 2: long soak in the solar spring at the bathhouse. Suddenly 204 00:12:39,200 --> 00:12:41,760 Speaker 2: the digger fell silent and it ground to a halt. 205 00:12:42,760 --> 00:12:45,520 Speaker 2: The driver leaned out of his cab, hollering at someone 206 00:12:45,600 --> 00:12:49,240 Speaker 2: up ahead. Cautiously, Mary led us around the side of 207 00:12:49,280 --> 00:12:53,640 Speaker 2: the machine. There, inches from the digger's snout, said an 208 00:12:53,679 --> 00:12:58,320 Speaker 2: old fashioned gasoline powered pickup truck. There were signs painted 209 00:12:58,360 --> 00:13:02,360 Speaker 2: all over the truck the cars are freedom, save the roads, 210 00:13:02,760 --> 00:13:06,720 Speaker 2: resist the stone age. Part of me had to admire 211 00:13:06,760 --> 00:13:09,400 Speaker 2: the guy's courage. The digger could have churned through that 212 00:13:09,520 --> 00:13:12,360 Speaker 2: vehicle with ease, but the driver sat inside the cab, 213 00:13:13,040 --> 00:13:17,439 Speaker 2: arms folded. Mary approached the cab and motioned for the 214 00:13:17,520 --> 00:13:21,000 Speaker 2: driver to roll down the window. She introduced herself and 215 00:13:21,080 --> 00:13:25,160 Speaker 2: he gave his name, Bruce Wellborn. She used his first 216 00:13:25,280 --> 00:13:27,319 Speaker 2: name a lot after that, explaining that we had to 217 00:13:27,320 --> 00:13:29,920 Speaker 2: get back to work. Bruce, give us a break, Bruce, 218 00:13:30,480 --> 00:13:32,240 Speaker 2: and if he didn't like it, he could take it 219 00:13:32,360 --> 00:13:36,320 Speaker 2: up with the body politic. At first, Bruce seemed uncertain, 220 00:13:36,800 --> 00:13:39,840 Speaker 2: darting glances at us nervously. But the longer he talked 221 00:13:39,840 --> 00:13:43,160 Speaker 2: to Miry, the angrier he got. Until his pale skin 222 00:13:43,240 --> 00:13:46,599 Speaker 2: flushed red. He got louder and louder, until he was 223 00:13:46,679 --> 00:13:50,760 Speaker 2: shouting car's rights at the top of his lungs, right 224 00:13:50,840 --> 00:13:54,559 Speaker 2: in her face. I couldn't remember the last time I'd 225 00:13:54,559 --> 00:13:57,319 Speaker 2: seen a grown person totally given over to rage like that. 226 00:13:58,080 --> 00:14:00,760 Speaker 2: My legs felt shaky and my heart art was racing, 227 00:14:01,360 --> 00:14:05,800 Speaker 2: as if he'd been yelling at me. Miry turned to 228 00:14:05,960 --> 00:14:08,320 Speaker 2: walk back to us, and Bruce rolled up his window. 229 00:14:09,120 --> 00:14:11,120 Speaker 2: I envied him the cool a sea that must be 230 00:14:11,200 --> 00:14:14,880 Speaker 2: blowing inside. The sun was blaring down on all our 231 00:14:14,960 --> 00:14:18,319 Speaker 2: heads by then the hottest part of the day. Bruce 232 00:14:18,400 --> 00:14:20,640 Speaker 2: grabbed an ice cold can from the cooler in the 233 00:14:20,680 --> 00:14:23,680 Speaker 2: back seat. The cab was packed with food supplies and 234 00:14:23,760 --> 00:14:27,720 Speaker 2: extra gas tanks. In this heat, he might outlast us 235 00:14:27,920 --> 00:14:33,600 Speaker 2: in his stockpiled truck. I couldn't understand him. Forty thousand 236 00:14:33,600 --> 00:14:36,200 Speaker 2: people got killed in car wrecks every year in our 237 00:14:36,240 --> 00:14:40,120 Speaker 2: country alone. We would free our air of the smog 238 00:14:40,200 --> 00:14:43,760 Speaker 2: that gave so many little kids asthma. We'd replace millions 239 00:14:43,800 --> 00:14:47,280 Speaker 2: of miles of heat trapping asphalt with carbon absorbing orchards, 240 00:14:47,800 --> 00:14:51,560 Speaker 2: restore parking lots to native prairies, and free the concrete 241 00:14:51,600 --> 00:14:55,880 Speaker 2: walled bayous to ramble along rocky shores. Who would want 242 00:14:55,920 --> 00:14:58,840 Speaker 2: to stand or park in the way of all that 243 00:15:00,880 --> 00:15:03,360 Speaker 2: we need to move? Him, Mary said to us. She 244 00:15:03,480 --> 00:15:06,840 Speaker 2: turned and shouted, this is your last chance to drive away, Bruce. 245 00:15:07,200 --> 00:15:09,880 Speaker 2: We're going to continue our work with or without your cooperation. 246 00:15:11,280 --> 00:15:13,840 Speaker 2: Bruce locked his doors and revved his engine in answer. 247 00:15:15,120 --> 00:15:17,360 Speaker 2: My blood ran icy with fear of the thought of 248 00:15:17,440 --> 00:15:20,520 Speaker 2: going anywhere near that truck. What if he tries to 249 00:15:20,600 --> 00:15:23,160 Speaker 2: run us over, I asked, hoping the others wouldn't think 250 00:15:23,240 --> 00:15:26,320 Speaker 2: me a coward. Should we call a violence response team? 251 00:15:27,200 --> 00:15:29,960 Speaker 2: I don't think that's necessary. Mary frowned. It's not like 252 00:15:30,040 --> 00:15:32,400 Speaker 2: he has a gun. If he did, I think he 253 00:15:32,400 --> 00:15:35,360 Speaker 2: would have shown it by now. He's not violent, just annoying, 254 00:15:37,280 --> 00:15:40,320 Speaker 2: as if on cue Bruce cracked his window and shouted, 255 00:15:40,760 --> 00:15:44,520 Speaker 2: try coming near this truck and see what happens. Okay, 256 00:15:44,680 --> 00:15:47,680 Speaker 2: that sounded like a threat, Ermine said, shooting me a look. 257 00:15:48,040 --> 00:15:50,640 Speaker 2: I was glad to have an ally, And it may 258 00:15:50,680 --> 00:15:52,720 Speaker 2: not be a gun, but a truck is a deadly weapon. 259 00:15:52,760 --> 00:15:56,520 Speaker 2: Sage agreed. Fine. Mary's sighed and walking away from the huddle. 260 00:15:56,880 --> 00:16:00,440 Speaker 2: I'll call the VRT. But a few moments later she back, 261 00:16:01,040 --> 00:16:03,640 Speaker 2: no good. She shook her head. They've got hundreds of 262 00:16:03,680 --> 00:16:06,600 Speaker 2: reports of protesters like Bruce here all over the city, 263 00:16:07,040 --> 00:16:10,080 Speaker 2: some of them in big groups. The dispatcher couldn't even 264 00:16:10,120 --> 00:16:11,520 Speaker 2: promise they could get to us by the end of 265 00:16:11,560 --> 00:16:15,560 Speaker 2: the week. Ah, I whispered. I had assumed Bruce was 266 00:16:15,600 --> 00:16:18,800 Speaker 2: alone extremist. But if there were hundreds of blockades in 267 00:16:18,880 --> 00:16:23,000 Speaker 2: our reservation alone, how many people were protesting across the watershed, 268 00:16:23,160 --> 00:16:26,800 Speaker 2: the continent, the world. Could there be enough anti mission 269 00:16:26,880 --> 00:16:30,160 Speaker 2: sentiment to force the body politic back to the debate chambers. 270 00:16:30,880 --> 00:16:34,280 Speaker 2: That could mean years of delays. I echoed Mary's words 271 00:16:34,280 --> 00:16:38,320 Speaker 2: from earlier. We have to move him, ideas, Mary said, 272 00:16:39,960 --> 00:16:42,080 Speaker 2: couldn't the digger just go up on the grass there 273 00:16:42,120 --> 00:16:44,600 Speaker 2: and drive around him? Ernie asked, But then I'll be 274 00:16:44,720 --> 00:16:46,920 Speaker 2: behind us. I pointed out, what if he turns around 275 00:16:46,960 --> 00:16:51,200 Speaker 2: and runs us over? Mary nodded, I want that truck disabled, 276 00:16:51,440 --> 00:16:55,400 Speaker 2: but nothing that'll hurt him or us. I wasn't much 277 00:16:55,440 --> 00:16:57,240 Speaker 2: help in the discussion that followed, as I didn't know 278 00:16:57,320 --> 00:16:59,760 Speaker 2: much about cars. Someone said they'd heard you could just 279 00:16:59,760 --> 00:17:03,440 Speaker 2: say car by blocking the tailpipe with a potato. Mary 280 00:17:03,520 --> 00:17:06,040 Speaker 2: said that was an urban legend. Once the pressure built up, 281 00:17:06,119 --> 00:17:10,040 Speaker 2: the potato would shoot out. Someone else suggested slashing the tires, 282 00:17:10,080 --> 00:17:11,840 Speaker 2: but a bunch of people rolled their eyes and spoke 283 00:17:11,880 --> 00:17:14,080 Speaker 2: over each other, pointing out that a car was slashed 284 00:17:14,080 --> 00:17:18,720 Speaker 2: tires could still accelerate to deadly speed in seconds. We 285 00:17:18,760 --> 00:17:21,840 Speaker 2: could block him in Sage suggested, drive another digger over 286 00:17:21,920 --> 00:17:23,560 Speaker 2: here and park it right on his ass so he 287 00:17:23,600 --> 00:17:27,560 Speaker 2: can't move. Mary wagged a finger in his direction. That 288 00:17:27,640 --> 00:17:30,280 Speaker 2: could work, But then, what how do we take the 289 00:17:30,280 --> 00:17:33,640 Speaker 2: truck out of commission force open the hood. We could 290 00:17:33,680 --> 00:17:37,280 Speaker 2: slice the latch with a reciprocating saw Ermine said, then 291 00:17:37,359 --> 00:17:41,119 Speaker 2: slash the ignition. Mary snapped her fingers. After that, we 292 00:17:41,280 --> 00:17:43,520 Speaker 2: just pick up the truck and move it. You think 293 00:17:43,520 --> 00:17:46,000 Speaker 2: we can lift it, I asked, with another squad. We 294 00:17:46,080 --> 00:17:49,760 Speaker 2: could sage, said. Mary pressed a finger to her ear, 295 00:17:50,240 --> 00:17:54,240 Speaker 2: calling someone on her earbuds. Ten seconds later, two nearby 296 00:17:54,320 --> 00:17:58,440 Speaker 2: cleaning squads strolled up to our location alongside a rumbling digger. 297 00:17:59,480 --> 00:18:02,600 Speaker 2: Bruce shaeh outed, I won't be moved. You can run 298 00:18:02,680 --> 00:18:06,440 Speaker 2: me over. I'll die for my freedoms, but his voice 299 00:18:06,480 --> 00:18:09,000 Speaker 2: wavered as he watched the second digger pull up on 300 00:18:09,119 --> 00:18:13,240 Speaker 2: his tail. I'll disable the truck, Mary said, I don't 301 00:18:13,240 --> 00:18:15,840 Speaker 2: want to risk any of y'all getting hurt. She grabbed 302 00:18:15,840 --> 00:18:18,640 Speaker 2: the electric saw from our toolbox and clambered over the road, 303 00:18:18,680 --> 00:18:22,359 Speaker 2: smashing blades of our digger. Bruce revved his engine threateningly, 304 00:18:22,840 --> 00:18:25,280 Speaker 2: but with a digger's blades an inch from both bumpers, 305 00:18:25,680 --> 00:18:29,919 Speaker 2: he wasn't going anywhere. Mary sliced open Bruce's hood, then 306 00:18:30,000 --> 00:18:34,160 Speaker 2: sawed something inside that made the engine fall silent. It's 307 00:18:34,160 --> 00:18:37,040 Speaker 2: gonna get hot in there, Bruce, Mary called, dangerous hot. 308 00:18:37,520 --> 00:18:41,720 Speaker 2: You want to come out now, Bruce cursed her. We 309 00:18:41,800 --> 00:18:44,159 Speaker 2: spread out on both sides of the truck. Then and 310 00:18:44,280 --> 00:18:46,760 Speaker 2: I got a handhold under the chassis near the driver's 311 00:18:46,800 --> 00:18:50,879 Speaker 2: back wheel. On Mary's signal, we heaved up, with all 312 00:18:50,960 --> 00:18:53,199 Speaker 2: of us lifting together and the truck felt about as 313 00:18:53,280 --> 00:18:56,720 Speaker 2: heavy as a big box of books. We shuffled toward 314 00:18:56,800 --> 00:18:58,719 Speaker 2: the side of the road and set it down gently, 315 00:18:59,320 --> 00:19:02,960 Speaker 2: So gently it gave me this funny, peaceful feeling, like 316 00:19:03,080 --> 00:19:07,200 Speaker 2: we were carrying a sleeping toddler to bed. Then Miry 317 00:19:07,320 --> 00:19:11,080 Speaker 2: called back to work. The digger from the north pulled away, 318 00:19:11,200 --> 00:19:14,040 Speaker 2: and I started in on my last shift. From time 319 00:19:14,080 --> 00:19:16,760 Speaker 2: to time I spared a glance at Bruce. After a 320 00:19:16,800 --> 00:19:19,320 Speaker 2: few minutes, he cracked the door to the cab. It 321 00:19:19,400 --> 00:19:21,879 Speaker 2: must have been over one hundred degrees in there. For 322 00:19:21,960 --> 00:19:24,680 Speaker 2: a while he shouted slogans at us, but his voice 323 00:19:24,720 --> 00:19:28,960 Speaker 2: soon grew hoarse. Sage had streamed our whole encounter with 324 00:19:29,040 --> 00:19:32,320 Speaker 2: Bruce from her lenses, and the vid went viral within 325 00:19:32,359 --> 00:19:35,200 Speaker 2: a few hours. Other squads around the city, then the Watershed, 326 00:19:35,320 --> 00:19:38,760 Speaker 2: then the continent started using the Miry maneuver to deal 327 00:19:38,840 --> 00:19:43,919 Speaker 2: with protest cars until that horrible day March twenty seventh. 328 00:19:46,240 --> 00:19:49,159 Speaker 2: After a few weeks, the car's rights protests were losing steam. 329 00:19:49,240 --> 00:19:51,679 Speaker 2: Most of the protesters had given up or run out 330 00:19:51,720 --> 00:19:54,600 Speaker 2: of cars to protest in, but the most fanatical among 331 00:19:54,680 --> 00:19:57,960 Speaker 2: them grew desperate. On the last Friday in March. Some 332 00:19:58,119 --> 00:20:00,320 Speaker 2: brought guns in their trucks, the kind of a legal, 333 00:20:00,480 --> 00:20:02,840 Speaker 2: powerful guns that people hoarded by the millions at the 334 00:20:02,880 --> 00:20:06,159 Speaker 2: start of the century. Of course, we'd known there were 335 00:20:06,160 --> 00:20:08,919 Speaker 2: still many of them out there, ar fifteen's that had 336 00:20:08,960 --> 00:20:12,879 Speaker 2: been hidden from the smelters. To this day, I can't 337 00:20:13,000 --> 00:20:16,679 Speaker 2: walk past the statue of falling cleaners downtown without sitting 338 00:20:16,720 --> 00:20:20,440 Speaker 2: on a bench a while and fighting back tears. I 339 00:20:20,520 --> 00:20:23,240 Speaker 2: had good friends who were killed that day. I feel 340 00:20:23,280 --> 00:20:25,920 Speaker 2: so guilty and disoriented when I think about how it 341 00:20:26,040 --> 00:20:29,560 Speaker 2: was just random, just a dice roll, that their squads 342 00:20:29,640 --> 00:20:32,480 Speaker 2: got shot up and mine didn't. That I'm only alive 343 00:20:32,600 --> 00:20:37,399 Speaker 2: because Bruce wasn't one of the violent ones. After I 344 00:20:37,480 --> 00:20:40,639 Speaker 2: finished up that first shift, Bruce bowed to the inevitable 345 00:20:40,720 --> 00:20:44,320 Speaker 2: and finally climbed down from his truck. He grabbed only 346 00:20:44,359 --> 00:20:46,960 Speaker 2: the cooler out of the back of the cab, abandoning 347 00:20:47,000 --> 00:20:50,119 Speaker 2: the rest of his supplies and the vehicle itself for 348 00:20:50,200 --> 00:20:53,919 Speaker 2: a sanitation team to deal with. I wound up walking 349 00:20:54,000 --> 00:20:57,199 Speaker 2: back to the maglev station next to him, surprised by 350 00:20:57,240 --> 00:20:59,320 Speaker 2: how small he seemed. With his feet on the ground, 351 00:21:00,119 --> 00:21:03,200 Speaker 2: head hung low, He dragged that cooler over the scraped 352 00:21:03,240 --> 00:21:06,399 Speaker 2: clean earth. You know what, that cooler could have been 353 00:21:06,520 --> 00:21:11,119 Speaker 2: filled with sureen gold gold coins. It could have been 354 00:21:11,119 --> 00:21:16,240 Speaker 2: filled with gold coins like perennial sponsor of the show 355 00:21:17,240 --> 00:21:22,040 Speaker 2: regging gold coins. Do we still get those? Do you think? 356 00:21:22,640 --> 00:21:23,000 Speaker 1: I don't know. 357 00:21:23,040 --> 00:21:23,879 Speaker 4: I just think it's funny. 358 00:21:24,040 --> 00:21:28,520 Speaker 2: Yeah, me too. And if you too want a cooler 359 00:21:28,600 --> 00:21:32,560 Speaker 2: full of gold, you just listen to these ads, And 360 00:21:32,640 --> 00:21:34,640 Speaker 2: if you don't want to hear ads, subscribe to Cooler 361 00:21:34,720 --> 00:21:37,120 Speaker 2: Zone Media, because then you get all this stuff. Without ads, 362 00:21:37,200 --> 00:21:39,600 Speaker 2: you just get our weird ad breaks and then immediately 363 00:21:40,080 --> 00:21:59,160 Speaker 2: it's my voice going and we're back. Needless to say, 364 00:21:59,359 --> 00:22:02,480 Speaker 2: I found it on Settling ten years later, when my 365 00:22:02,720 --> 00:22:06,560 Speaker 2: Edel developed a fixation with cars, all they wanted from 366 00:22:06,600 --> 00:22:09,640 Speaker 2: the library were books about cars. All the hollow games 367 00:22:09,680 --> 00:22:13,920 Speaker 2: they played were car racers. At nearly ten, I thought 368 00:22:14,040 --> 00:22:16,080 Speaker 2: Edel was getting a little too old to play with toys, 369 00:22:16,520 --> 00:22:20,159 Speaker 2: but they begged me for a toy car. Specifically, they 370 00:22:20,240 --> 00:22:23,960 Speaker 2: wanted a toy car from the Lawndale Orchard Swap. These 371 00:22:24,080 --> 00:22:27,160 Speaker 2: cars had working lights and horns and battery powered engines. 372 00:22:28,400 --> 00:22:31,640 Speaker 2: All the neighborhood kids had one, except Edel. I held 373 00:22:31,680 --> 00:22:36,119 Speaker 2: out for months, weathering Edel's tearful requests. Finally, one morning, 374 00:22:36,240 --> 00:22:38,439 Speaker 2: Sam and I were sitting on the front porch, drinking 375 00:22:38,520 --> 00:22:41,760 Speaker 2: coffee and watching the neighborhood kids playing beneath the citrus grove. 376 00:22:42,920 --> 00:22:45,240 Speaker 2: Edel had gotten hold of a neighbor kid's car and 377 00:22:45,359 --> 00:22:48,399 Speaker 2: was zooming it around like an airplane. Sam must have 378 00:22:48,480 --> 00:22:52,680 Speaker 2: caught me frowning. You know, the more you forbid them, 379 00:22:53,040 --> 00:22:56,680 Speaker 2: the more fascinating you make them. And what if toy 380 00:22:56,800 --> 00:22:59,320 Speaker 2: machine guns came in fashion? Huh would you tell me 381 00:22:59,400 --> 00:23:02,960 Speaker 2: to get Edel's one of those two that's different, and 382 00:23:03,040 --> 00:23:06,080 Speaker 2: you know it, Sam shook her head at me. Watch 383 00:23:06,119 --> 00:23:09,359 Speaker 2: how they play with them. Edel was making engine roaring 384 00:23:09,440 --> 00:23:11,760 Speaker 2: noises and charged at a group of younger kids playing 385 00:23:11,840 --> 00:23:16,280 Speaker 2: with dolls. The little one shrieked delightedly and scattered. It's 386 00:23:16,320 --> 00:23:19,760 Speaker 2: how we used to play with dinosaurs, isn't it. Dinosaurs 387 00:23:19,800 --> 00:23:22,520 Speaker 2: are extinct. There's no harm in glorifying them, I said, 388 00:23:23,000 --> 00:23:25,480 Speaker 2: But there are real people still trying to bring back cars, 389 00:23:26,800 --> 00:23:30,399 Speaker 2: just a handful of extremists, don't you see. Cars are 390 00:23:30,480 --> 00:23:35,560 Speaker 2: dinosaurs to this generation, ancient beasts, extinct monsters. It's natural 391 00:23:35,640 --> 00:23:38,320 Speaker 2: for the kids to be fascinated. It doesn't mean Edel's 392 00:23:38,320 --> 00:23:40,320 Speaker 2: going to grow up to be a car's rights wacko. 393 00:23:41,960 --> 00:23:45,119 Speaker 2: My heart pounded with anger, not at Sam, but at 394 00:23:45,160 --> 00:23:48,040 Speaker 2: the memory of Bruce's face. I'll be damned before I 395 00:23:48,080 --> 00:23:49,960 Speaker 2: get a kid of mine a toy car, I said, 396 00:23:51,119 --> 00:23:54,000 Speaker 2: I don't know about damned Samside, but you're on track 397 00:23:54,080 --> 00:23:57,760 Speaker 2: to destroy your relationship with your kid. The truth of 398 00:23:57,840 --> 00:24:00,960 Speaker 2: that took my breath away. Had been patting myself on 399 00:24:01,000 --> 00:24:04,160 Speaker 2: the back for stubbornness. A wall had sprung up between 400 00:24:04,200 --> 00:24:07,320 Speaker 2: me and Edel. Hugs and tickle fights in morning. Prairie 401 00:24:07,400 --> 00:24:11,040 Speaker 2: walks had vanished, replaced by sullen looks and slammed doors. 402 00:24:13,040 --> 00:24:16,040 Speaker 2: The next Sunday morning, Edel and I boarded a maglev 403 00:24:16,520 --> 00:24:21,080 Speaker 2: the Lawndale Orchard. Most of the swap meat was set 404 00:24:21,160 --> 00:24:25,000 Speaker 2: up in the block's paved square, produced stalls artisan goods 405 00:24:25,359 --> 00:24:29,159 Speaker 2: and homemade medicinals. The toy maker wasn't there, but a 406 00:24:29,200 --> 00:24:31,879 Speaker 2: shop was easy to spot, and Edel took off running 407 00:24:31,920 --> 00:24:36,160 Speaker 2: for it. Unlike most folks who planted natives or grew 408 00:24:36,240 --> 00:24:39,400 Speaker 2: food in every patch of sun, the toy maker kept 409 00:24:39,440 --> 00:24:43,480 Speaker 2: a short lawn of monoculture bermuda grass decorated with hundreds 410 00:24:43,520 --> 00:24:47,960 Speaker 2: of scrap metal and plastic toys. There were pinwheels, whirligigs, 411 00:24:48,040 --> 00:24:51,480 Speaker 2: and a menagerie of mechanical animals that croaked, roared, hopped, 412 00:24:51,920 --> 00:24:56,080 Speaker 2: and slithered. After the delighted kids swarming the yard, a 413 00:24:56,200 --> 00:24:59,600 Speaker 2: paved path led up to a darkened garage, gaping like 414 00:24:59,640 --> 00:25:03,560 Speaker 2: an open mouth that too a relic. Most folks had 415 00:25:03,600 --> 00:25:07,639 Speaker 2: converted their garages into living spaces long ago. The scene 416 00:25:07,680 --> 00:25:10,720 Speaker 2: reminded me of the fable of Hansel and Gretel, except 417 00:25:10,760 --> 00:25:13,600 Speaker 2: instead of luring kids in with candy, this guy used 418 00:25:13,600 --> 00:25:18,600 Speaker 2: tacky little robots. Inside the garage, a ceiling fan stirred 419 00:25:18,640 --> 00:25:21,080 Speaker 2: the dust motes above the tables crowded with hundreds of 420 00:25:21,160 --> 00:25:25,040 Speaker 2: toy vehicles. A toy maker sat at the cluttered work 421 00:25:25,119 --> 00:25:28,280 Speaker 2: bench at the back, a fringe of white hair bent 422 00:25:28,400 --> 00:25:31,359 Speaker 2: to his work, soldering a circuit board at a table 423 00:25:31,440 --> 00:25:36,520 Speaker 2: piled a scrap metal edel ran their hand lovingly over 424 00:25:36,600 --> 00:25:40,480 Speaker 2: the candy colored cars, popping up tiny hoods to inspect 425 00:25:40,560 --> 00:25:44,680 Speaker 2: battery powered engines. Names half remembered from my childhood came 426 00:25:44,720 --> 00:25:50,960 Speaker 2: back to me. Beetle, thunderbird, mustang extinct species. Now we 427 00:25:51,160 --> 00:25:54,720 Speaker 2: traded them back for flesh and blood animals, and good riddance, 428 00:25:55,920 --> 00:26:00,440 Speaker 2: oh this one. Edel reverently picked up a black truck 429 00:26:00,560 --> 00:26:03,680 Speaker 2: with flames painted down the sides and monster truck tires. 430 00:26:04,480 --> 00:26:06,200 Speaker 2: It was the kind of truck that would have had 431 00:26:06,280 --> 00:26:09,760 Speaker 2: a sabotaged exhaust system back in the day, spewing toxic 432 00:26:09,800 --> 00:26:13,840 Speaker 2: clouds of black smoke on purpose. Rolling coal they used 433 00:26:13,840 --> 00:26:17,200 Speaker 2: to call it. But I bit back my sneer, remembering 434 00:26:17,280 --> 00:26:20,639 Speaker 2: Sam's caution, the more you forbid them, the more fascinating 435 00:26:20,720 --> 00:26:24,240 Speaker 2: you make them. I approached the toy maker and back, 436 00:26:25,200 --> 00:26:27,359 Speaker 2: we're looking to swap for this, I said, placing the 437 00:26:27,400 --> 00:26:30,480 Speaker 2: truck on the table. I opened my bag, displaying dozens 438 00:26:30,520 --> 00:26:33,320 Speaker 2: of ripe liquots and a quart of wild rice stored 439 00:26:33,359 --> 00:26:36,080 Speaker 2: in a jar i'd blown and fired myself with the glassworks. 440 00:26:37,280 --> 00:26:41,040 Speaker 2: Is this enough, sure, he said, not even glancing up. 441 00:26:41,600 --> 00:26:43,480 Speaker 2: Leave it over there. He just s were to a 442 00:26:43,560 --> 00:26:47,399 Speaker 2: table piled high with all manner of food and homemade goods. 443 00:26:49,240 --> 00:26:51,160 Speaker 2: Can you tell me the make and model of this truck? 444 00:26:51,600 --> 00:26:55,920 Speaker 2: Adel asked? The man grinned and looked up. That, my dear, 445 00:26:56,280 --> 00:26:59,080 Speaker 2: is a two thousand Ford f one fifty super Cab 446 00:26:59,240 --> 00:27:03,439 Speaker 2: Excel t Edel repeated the name in a reverent whisper. 447 00:27:04,040 --> 00:27:05,919 Speaker 2: I had to fight the urge to grab Edel by 448 00:27:05,960 --> 00:27:10,240 Speaker 2: the hand and drag them out of there. The toymaker 449 00:27:10,280 --> 00:27:12,520 Speaker 2: glanced at me for the first time and narrowed his eyes. 450 00:27:13,600 --> 00:27:18,240 Speaker 2: You've been here before, he said, no, I began, But 451 00:27:18,359 --> 00:27:21,640 Speaker 2: something about the guy snagged in my memory. He was familiar. 452 00:27:22,080 --> 00:27:24,280 Speaker 2: But for a few moments I couldn't place those watery 453 00:27:24,320 --> 00:27:27,200 Speaker 2: blue eyes. I might never have figured it out. The 454 00:27:27,280 --> 00:27:31,760 Speaker 2: neighbor hadn't ducked inside just then shouting just made some 455 00:27:31,840 --> 00:27:37,400 Speaker 2: low quat smoothies. Bruce want one? Bruce? Suddenly I saw 456 00:27:37,480 --> 00:27:40,800 Speaker 2: it his face, ten years younger, wearing a black goateee 457 00:27:40,840 --> 00:27:44,080 Speaker 2: instead of a graying beard. Thanks, I'm all right, the 458 00:27:44,160 --> 00:27:47,960 Speaker 2: toymaker said, got too many myself already. Indeed the table 459 00:27:48,080 --> 00:27:51,840 Speaker 2: was heaped with baskets of the in seasoned loquats. My 460 00:27:51,960 --> 00:27:56,399 Speaker 2: heart started pounding, my blood heating like fire. Bruce, are 461 00:27:56,440 --> 00:28:01,119 Speaker 2: you by any chance? Bruce welborn me at a curious smile. 462 00:28:01,880 --> 00:28:03,920 Speaker 2: Now you have the advantage of me. How do we 463 00:28:04,000 --> 00:28:08,919 Speaker 2: know each other? Demolition day, I said, my voice shaking 464 00:28:09,000 --> 00:28:13,720 Speaker 2: with anger. I was a cleaner. Bruce's face went slack, 465 00:28:13,840 --> 00:28:18,159 Speaker 2: then paled. No swap, he said. Edel let out a 466 00:28:18,240 --> 00:28:21,080 Speaker 2: cry like a herd animal, fighting back the urge to 467 00:28:21,160 --> 00:28:25,520 Speaker 2: punch the guy. I turned to leave instead, No, Bruce said, 468 00:28:25,960 --> 00:28:29,200 Speaker 2: I mean take the truck, no swap, no charge. You 469 00:28:29,280 --> 00:28:31,679 Speaker 2: can have any car you want. Child of a cleaner. 470 00:28:33,280 --> 00:28:35,959 Speaker 2: I took his meaning maliciously, thinking that because I'd been 471 00:28:36,000 --> 00:28:39,000 Speaker 2: a cleaner, he was more eager than ever to corrupt 472 00:28:39,080 --> 00:28:42,960 Speaker 2: my kid with his vehicular idols. Let's go, I grabbed 473 00:28:43,080 --> 00:28:47,400 Speaker 2: Edel's hand. It was a mistake coming here. Edel slipped 474 00:28:47,400 --> 00:28:50,800 Speaker 2: out of my grip and clutched the truck to their chest. Tuta, please, 475 00:28:52,320 --> 00:28:55,000 Speaker 2: it was my mistake, the old toy maker said softly. 476 00:28:55,840 --> 00:28:58,600 Speaker 2: My life was so small back then, and my truck 477 00:28:58,680 --> 00:29:02,000 Speaker 2: a big part of it. I couldn't see, couldn't begin 478 00:29:02,080 --> 00:29:04,880 Speaker 2: to imagine this world you've made. He swept his hands 479 00:29:04,920 --> 00:29:08,160 Speaker 2: towards the garage, opening, the kids squealing with delight at 480 00:29:08,200 --> 00:29:11,360 Speaker 2: the toys clattering in his yard. The bustling swap meet 481 00:29:11,760 --> 00:29:14,920 Speaker 2: in the paved square, and beyond a herd of wild 482 00:29:15,040 --> 00:29:18,760 Speaker 2: horses grazing atop the prairie covered mag left tunnel. I 483 00:29:18,920 --> 00:29:23,440 Speaker 2: was lonely and angry, and I was wrong. I met 484 00:29:23,480 --> 00:29:26,840 Speaker 2: his gaze, still searching for some trick. You expect me 485 00:29:26,920 --> 00:29:28,720 Speaker 2: to believe that you make all this, But you're not 486 00:29:28,760 --> 00:29:32,240 Speaker 2: a car's rights person anymore. Not since the day they 487 00:29:32,280 --> 00:29:34,920 Speaker 2: shot those poor cleaners. I've had nothing to do with 488 00:29:35,040 --> 00:29:39,600 Speaker 2: them since then. He sat down the soldering iron gently. Sure, 489 00:29:40,360 --> 00:29:43,120 Speaker 2: I still love cars, but they're just toys now, aren't 490 00:29:43,120 --> 00:29:47,480 Speaker 2: they toys and relics in a museum Teuta. Edel swung 491 00:29:47,560 --> 00:29:51,280 Speaker 2: my hand, Please can I have the truck? Their eyes 492 00:29:51,320 --> 00:29:53,960 Speaker 2: were wide and pleading, brimming with tears, and again I 493 00:29:54,040 --> 00:29:56,960 Speaker 2: heard Sam's voice in my head. I don't know about damned, 494 00:29:57,040 --> 00:29:59,560 Speaker 2: but you're on track to destroy your relationship with your kid. 495 00:30:00,800 --> 00:30:02,960 Speaker 2: I dropped a bag of food on Bruce's swap table, 496 00:30:03,000 --> 00:30:05,760 Speaker 2: whether he wanted it or not, and Edel squealed and 497 00:30:05,880 --> 00:30:08,800 Speaker 2: danced out of the garage, cradling the monster truck like 498 00:30:08,880 --> 00:30:12,720 Speaker 2: a baby. As we walked back to the mag left station, 499 00:30:13,360 --> 00:30:17,000 Speaker 2: I started feeling embarrassed from my anger. Sternly, I told 500 00:30:17,080 --> 00:30:19,440 Speaker 2: myself that it was the least that Bruce deserved for 501 00:30:19,520 --> 00:30:22,040 Speaker 2: having stood in the way of the mission he'd thrown 502 00:30:22,120 --> 00:30:24,840 Speaker 2: in with those murderous cars. Rights people, even if he 503 00:30:24,880 --> 00:30:27,600 Speaker 2: hadn't pulled a gun's trigger. I hoped it'd be the 504 00:30:27,720 --> 00:30:31,160 Speaker 2: last time I ever saw him. But a few months later, 505 00:30:31,400 --> 00:30:33,960 Speaker 2: it was Edel's birthday and all they wanted was to 506 00:30:34,000 --> 00:30:37,400 Speaker 2: pick out another car a friend for their monster truck. 507 00:30:38,200 --> 00:30:41,040 Speaker 2: So he visited Bruce again, and this time Edel came prepared, 508 00:30:41,440 --> 00:30:44,920 Speaker 2: peppering him with questions about internal combustion engines until he 509 00:30:45,000 --> 00:30:47,640 Speaker 2: unearthed a stack of old magazines for them to take home. 510 00:30:48,960 --> 00:30:50,920 Speaker 2: Edel looked like they had been handed a treasure map, 511 00:30:51,040 --> 00:30:54,600 Speaker 2: and spent weeks rereading the things, gingerly turning the yellowed 512 00:30:54,640 --> 00:30:58,160 Speaker 2: paper on the floor of their room. Then they asked 513 00:30:58,160 --> 00:31:00,440 Speaker 2: Sam to teach them to bake so that they'd be 514 00:31:00,440 --> 00:31:02,800 Speaker 2: able to make their own goodies to swap for more cars. 515 00:31:04,080 --> 00:31:07,480 Speaker 2: After a year, Edel had accumulated more of Bruce's toy 516 00:31:07,600 --> 00:31:11,160 Speaker 2: vehicles than any other kid in the neighborhood. A few times, 517 00:31:11,200 --> 00:31:13,840 Speaker 2: at Sam's encouragement, I tried to talk to Edel about 518 00:31:13,840 --> 00:31:16,520 Speaker 2: why I didn't like cars. I wanted to explain what 519 00:31:16,640 --> 00:31:19,080 Speaker 2: being a cleaner had meant to me, how vicious a 520 00:31:19,160 --> 00:31:21,760 Speaker 2: world full of cars had been, and how I grieved 521 00:31:21,800 --> 00:31:24,600 Speaker 2: for my friends who'd been murdered by cars rights protesters. 522 00:31:25,920 --> 00:31:27,720 Speaker 2: But every time I tried to get the words out, 523 00:31:28,400 --> 00:31:32,160 Speaker 2: I'd wind up stammering and tearing up. Edel would pat 524 00:31:32,240 --> 00:31:36,640 Speaker 2: my cheek, looking a little bored. They'd say, I know, Teuta, 525 00:31:36,920 --> 00:31:39,960 Speaker 2: I know, in a voice so sweet it broke my heart, 526 00:31:40,520 --> 00:31:42,360 Speaker 2: and then they turned back to the city of cars 527 00:31:42,440 --> 00:31:46,720 Speaker 2: they'd lovingly set up on the forest floor. I hoped 528 00:31:46,760 --> 00:31:49,840 Speaker 2: the fascination would pass as Edel grew, but their interest 529 00:31:49,920 --> 00:31:52,680 Speaker 2: only shifted. When they were twelve years old. I found 530 00:31:52,800 --> 00:31:55,160 Speaker 2: Edel crying in the midst of what looked like an explosion, 531 00:31:55,560 --> 00:31:59,280 Speaker 2: A zillion pieces of monster truck scattered around them. They'd 532 00:31:59,320 --> 00:32:02,320 Speaker 2: taken the thing up, drawing careful diagrams at each step, 533 00:32:02,760 --> 00:32:04,560 Speaker 2: but now they couldn't figure out how to put it 534 00:32:04,640 --> 00:32:09,080 Speaker 2: back together together. We collected all the tiny circuit boards 535 00:32:09,160 --> 00:32:11,160 Speaker 2: and screws in a pouch and visited Bruce at the 536 00:32:11,200 --> 00:32:15,280 Speaker 2: next swap meet that day. He took Edel on as 537 00:32:15,280 --> 00:32:18,640 Speaker 2: an apprentice. Other kids went to dance classes, or played 538 00:32:18,720 --> 00:32:23,200 Speaker 2: instruments or sports, but my Edel became a toymaker. Every 539 00:32:23,320 --> 00:32:26,120 Speaker 2: Sunday I'd read a book in that dusty garage while 540 00:32:26,160 --> 00:32:30,040 Speaker 2: Bruce taught Edel to solder circuit boards and install tiny headlights. 541 00:32:31,320 --> 00:32:33,959 Speaker 2: He was always patient and soft spoken, but I never 542 00:32:34,080 --> 00:32:36,880 Speaker 2: let them alone together. I remembered his rage from all 543 00:32:36,920 --> 00:32:40,080 Speaker 2: those years ago, and I never quite trusted that he'd changed. 544 00:32:41,680 --> 00:32:44,480 Speaker 2: It was Edel's idea at sixteen to petition the local 545 00:32:44,560 --> 00:32:48,800 Speaker 2: council for the historical restoration project. To my dismay, the 546 00:32:48,880 --> 00:32:52,920 Speaker 2: project was approved, Edel started riding Maglev trains all over 547 00:32:52,960 --> 00:32:56,440 Speaker 2: the country, scouring scrap metal yards for a tailpipe or 548 00:32:56,480 --> 00:32:59,720 Speaker 2: a passenger side door. They'd haul their findings onto the 549 00:32:59,760 --> 00:33:02,560 Speaker 2: maglove zipping all the way back to the Lawndale station, 550 00:33:03,160 --> 00:33:05,880 Speaker 2: where an ancient Ford truck was gradually taking shape in 551 00:33:05,960 --> 00:33:10,440 Speaker 2: Bruce's yard. When the truck was completed, all the adjoining 552 00:33:10,440 --> 00:33:13,480 Speaker 2: neighborhoods came out to marvel at it, hundreds of people. 553 00:33:14,200 --> 00:33:16,920 Speaker 2: The wheels were blocked so it would never drive anywhere 554 00:33:17,040 --> 00:33:20,720 Speaker 2: or hurt anyone. Still, kids loved climbing up in the cab, 555 00:33:20,840 --> 00:33:24,520 Speaker 2: honking the horn and flicking the turning indicators. The local 556 00:33:24,600 --> 00:33:28,000 Speaker 2: news stations even interviewed Bruce and Edel, watching my kid 557 00:33:28,120 --> 00:33:31,120 Speaker 2: passionately explain their hard work. On the seven PM news. 558 00:33:31,600 --> 00:33:34,920 Speaker 2: Something inside me melted. I let go of the resentment 559 00:33:35,000 --> 00:33:37,840 Speaker 2: I'd been carrying all those years, and my heart swelled 560 00:33:37,920 --> 00:33:42,400 Speaker 2: with an uncomplicated pride for my brilliant kid. Edel soon 561 00:33:42,520 --> 00:33:45,560 Speaker 2: left home to study mechanical engineering and took a job 562 00:33:45,640 --> 00:33:49,320 Speaker 2: improving the efficiency of Maglov lines. They zipped all over 563 00:33:49,360 --> 00:33:52,200 Speaker 2: the continent for work, rarely stopping home for a visit. 564 00:33:52,880 --> 00:33:55,560 Speaker 2: Their absence never stopped feeling like someone had carved a 565 00:33:55,600 --> 00:33:59,920 Speaker 2: hole in my chest. Sundays in particular, felt howlingly empty, 566 00:34:00,680 --> 00:34:03,360 Speaker 2: and one day I stepped off the maglev and at 567 00:34:03,440 --> 00:34:07,280 Speaker 2: Londale Orchard, out of an old habit. My feet took 568 00:34:07,360 --> 00:34:11,880 Speaker 2: me to Bruce's garage. He looked pleasantly surprised, offered me coffee, 569 00:34:12,239 --> 00:34:15,120 Speaker 2: and we sat and watched kids play with his latest creations. 570 00:34:15,880 --> 00:34:17,919 Speaker 2: I filled him in on the latest news from Edel, 571 00:34:18,200 --> 00:34:21,200 Speaker 2: and our talk drifted to the olden days. I was 572 00:34:21,239 --> 00:34:23,800 Speaker 2: surprised to find that there was joy in remembering that 573 00:34:23,960 --> 00:34:27,320 Speaker 2: long gone world with someone else. We named little things 574 00:34:27,400 --> 00:34:30,840 Speaker 2: now extinct, like waiting at a crosswalk, or the smell 575 00:34:30,880 --> 00:34:34,399 Speaker 2: of gasoline, or the sound of passing cars in the rain. 576 00:34:37,080 --> 00:34:41,000 Speaker 2: When I got the call from Bruce's estate manager Edel 577 00:34:41,160 --> 00:34:43,680 Speaker 2: was working on an urgent job on the European continent 578 00:34:43,719 --> 00:34:45,879 Speaker 2: and wouldn't be able to return for at least a month. 579 00:34:46,960 --> 00:34:49,319 Speaker 2: Sam offered to come with me, but she had only 580 00:34:49,400 --> 00:34:52,120 Speaker 2: met Bruce once or twice, so I preferred to go alone. 581 00:34:53,200 --> 00:34:55,920 Speaker 2: Long after his eyesight went and his hands started shaking 582 00:34:56,280 --> 00:34:58,440 Speaker 2: and he could no longer make toys. I continued to 583 00:34:58,520 --> 00:35:02,360 Speaker 2: visit with Bruce most Sundays. Yet no biological family, but 584 00:35:02,440 --> 00:35:05,319 Speaker 2: he was often invited into the homes of neighbors, many 585 00:35:05,360 --> 00:35:08,200 Speaker 2: of whom had grown up plaining with his creations. So 586 00:35:08,280 --> 00:35:10,120 Speaker 2: I was surprised to get the call from his estate 587 00:35:10,239 --> 00:35:12,960 Speaker 2: manager to learn that I was the person entrusted with 588 00:35:13,040 --> 00:35:17,040 Speaker 2: his last request. I just had knee surgery, an old 589 00:35:17,120 --> 00:35:19,399 Speaker 2: injury for my year as a cleaner, so I rode 590 00:35:19,400 --> 00:35:22,640 Speaker 2: a motorized wheelchair on to the Maglev. The appointment with 591 00:35:22,719 --> 00:35:25,800 Speaker 2: the estate manager didn't take long. Leaving his office, I 592 00:35:25,920 --> 00:35:30,920 Speaker 2: cradled an impossibly small wooden box on my lap. Disembarking 593 00:35:30,960 --> 00:35:35,800 Speaker 2: at Calcotte, I found the block transformed beyond recognition. Mature 594 00:35:35,840 --> 00:35:38,520 Speaker 2: Pekan trees shaded a forest floor where once I'd shoveled 595 00:35:38,600 --> 00:35:41,239 Speaker 2: up a road. The path. I drove down, skirted or 596 00:35:41,280 --> 00:35:44,640 Speaker 2: restored stream bed, emptying into a pond choked with lilies. 597 00:35:45,160 --> 00:35:48,520 Speaker 2: Beyond the path disappeared into a blue stream prairie where 598 00:35:48,520 --> 00:35:51,960 Speaker 2: a herd of buffalo grazed among clouds of dragonflies. For 599 00:35:52,040 --> 00:35:54,800 Speaker 2: two hundred years, while this place was named Houston, no 600 00:35:54,920 --> 00:35:58,759 Speaker 2: buffalo had ever visited the shores of Buffalo by you now. 601 00:35:58,840 --> 00:36:01,239 Speaker 2: The herds returned every year from the great Plains up 602 00:36:01,320 --> 00:36:04,680 Speaker 2: north to winter along our mild coast, enriching our soils 603 00:36:05,080 --> 00:36:08,200 Speaker 2: and our souls with their powerful presence. I loved the 604 00:36:08,280 --> 00:36:11,800 Speaker 2: annual festival we threw to celebrate their approach, the children 605 00:36:11,920 --> 00:36:15,239 Speaker 2: running atop the grassy maglev tunnels waving streamers. As the 606 00:36:15,320 --> 00:36:18,840 Speaker 2: first dust clouds appeared on the horizon, I parked my 607 00:36:19,040 --> 00:36:21,879 Speaker 2: chair in the last stretch of shade beside the pond 608 00:36:22,600 --> 00:36:26,239 Speaker 2: in no rush. As dust came on, a secession of 609 00:36:26,320 --> 00:36:29,719 Speaker 2: animals visited the stream, rabbits, ducks, a herd of deer, 610 00:36:30,239 --> 00:36:33,320 Speaker 2: even a fox and her kits. There were two herds 611 00:36:33,320 --> 00:36:35,920 Speaker 2: of human children moving through the area as well, an 612 00:36:35,960 --> 00:36:39,320 Speaker 2: older group and a younger one. They disappear in and 613 00:36:39,360 --> 00:36:42,160 Speaker 2: out of their homes once single family houses now converted 614 00:36:42,200 --> 00:36:46,280 Speaker 2: into multigenerational villas with their quilt like additions, each successive 615 00:36:46,360 --> 00:36:50,600 Speaker 2: room built with different recycled materials. The children laughed and 616 00:36:50,680 --> 00:36:54,000 Speaker 2: called to one another, climbing and jumping from trees. Adults 617 00:36:54,120 --> 00:36:56,680 Speaker 2: tended to use the paths rather than venturing through the 618 00:36:56,760 --> 00:37:00,279 Speaker 2: thick carpet of undergrowth. Sometimes one would stop an asked 619 00:37:00,280 --> 00:37:03,160 Speaker 2: me if I was lost or needed help. I thanked them, 620 00:37:03,360 --> 00:37:08,000 Speaker 2: waving off their slightly condescending concern. A firefly flickered in 621 00:37:08,040 --> 00:37:12,440 Speaker 2: the gloom, and then ten minutes later, thousands the children 622 00:37:12,520 --> 00:37:15,160 Speaker 2: re emerged from their homes, catching the insects and jars 623 00:37:15,239 --> 00:37:19,520 Speaker 2: and playing ghosts in the graveyard. Finally, adults appeared in doorways, 624 00:37:19,640 --> 00:37:22,960 Speaker 2: calling the children to sleep. The moon emerged from the 625 00:37:23,000 --> 00:37:26,879 Speaker 2: tree tops, gilding everything in silver, and still I sat there, 626 00:37:27,120 --> 00:37:30,640 Speaker 2: unable to bring myself to complete my task. At last, 627 00:37:31,160 --> 00:37:35,719 Speaker 2: a deep voice, asking who who are you? Drew my 628 00:37:35,800 --> 00:37:38,080 Speaker 2: eyes up to a break in the canopy, where a 629 00:37:38,160 --> 00:37:41,440 Speaker 2: live oak had been struck by lightning. Its lower branches 630 00:37:41,480 --> 00:37:44,960 Speaker 2: were lush with leaves, but above a blackened trunk scraped 631 00:37:45,000 --> 00:37:48,960 Speaker 2: the sky. A large shadow perched there too, tufted ears 632 00:37:49,120 --> 00:37:54,320 Speaker 2: silhouetted against the indigo sky, a great horned owl. I 633 00:37:54,400 --> 00:37:56,759 Speaker 2: peered through the dark, judging the distance back to the 634 00:37:56,840 --> 00:38:00,040 Speaker 2: maglev station. Was this the right place the a This 635 00:38:00,040 --> 00:38:04,080 Speaker 2: owl seemed to be a good omen close enough. I 636 00:38:04,160 --> 00:38:06,440 Speaker 2: took a deep breath and opened the box, not sure 637 00:38:06,480 --> 00:38:09,200 Speaker 2: what to expect. It was a relief to see a dry, 638 00:38:09,440 --> 00:38:15,239 Speaker 2: crumbly substance, just soil. Fifty years ago, Bruce had parked 639 00:38:15,239 --> 00:38:18,120 Speaker 2: a truck here on an asphalt street because he wanted 640 00:38:18,160 --> 00:38:21,960 Speaker 2: to stop us from tearing up the roads. Now fulfilling 641 00:38:22,000 --> 00:38:24,879 Speaker 2: his last wish, I scattered the composts that had once 642 00:38:24,960 --> 00:38:27,680 Speaker 2: been his body at the base of the lightning struck tree. 643 00:38:28,840 --> 00:38:31,960 Speaker 2: The next rain would dissolve Bruce's matter into the soil, 644 00:38:32,120 --> 00:38:35,320 Speaker 2: where his minerals would be absorbed by the trees, grassroots, fungus, 645 00:38:35,400 --> 00:38:40,200 Speaker 2: and worms. Cycling through the food chain, he'd feed insects, amphibians, owls, 646 00:38:40,280 --> 00:38:43,960 Speaker 2: and squirrels. BlackBerry vine twined through the undergrowth, and I 647 00:38:44,040 --> 00:38:47,799 Speaker 2: hoped Bruce's molecules would find their way there. When those 648 00:38:47,880 --> 00:38:50,759 Speaker 2: berries ripened in midsummer, the kids of the neighborhood would 649 00:38:50,800 --> 00:38:52,560 Speaker 2: be the first to devour them, and in that way, 650 00:38:53,200 --> 00:38:55,600 Speaker 2: Bruce might get a second childhood, or dozens of them. 651 00:38:56,480 --> 00:38:59,440 Speaker 2: These would be childhoods freer and happier than ours had been. 652 00:39:00,080 --> 00:39:03,200 Speaker 2: Buckled as we were into back seats are play trapped 653 00:39:03,239 --> 00:39:06,840 Speaker 2: between strips of sidewalk. These kids would grow up with 654 00:39:06,960 --> 00:39:10,440 Speaker 2: their toes sunk in stream beds, befriending jack rabbits and 655 00:39:10,520 --> 00:39:13,759 Speaker 2: wild horses, beating off the fruits of the land, and 656 00:39:13,920 --> 00:39:16,840 Speaker 2: growing in the loving embrace of a multi species family. 657 00:39:17,840 --> 00:39:21,480 Speaker 2: Their lives stretched ahead, not a paved road to armageddon, 658 00:39:21,800 --> 00:39:25,040 Speaker 2: but a winding path besides the clear stream, where the 659 00:39:25,120 --> 00:39:29,280 Speaker 2: path disappeared behind a copse of blooming dogwoods. The future 660 00:39:29,320 --> 00:39:33,080 Speaker 2: remained a mystery, but whatever lay beyond, these children could 661 00:39:33,120 --> 00:39:36,120 Speaker 2: trust it would be beautiful and free and bursting with life. 662 00:39:37,920 --> 00:39:44,120 Speaker 3: The end, well, that was such a beautiful way to 663 00:39:44,400 --> 00:39:47,320 Speaker 3: build a world. For some reason, I really enjoyed that. 664 00:39:47,760 --> 00:39:48,600 Speaker 3: It was really nice. 665 00:39:49,120 --> 00:39:56,720 Speaker 2: Yeah, I really, I'm really struck by the the grace 666 00:39:56,800 --> 00:39:58,799 Speaker 2: of it, the earnestness of it, the like mm hm, 667 00:40:00,239 --> 00:40:02,680 Speaker 2: the attempt to understand even as you're like painting, like 668 00:40:02,760 --> 00:40:07,080 Speaker 2: ah's damn angry guys yelling, you know, like it's the 669 00:40:07,200 --> 00:40:12,040 Speaker 2: most like Okay, it's like the most prison abolitionist thing 670 00:40:12,080 --> 00:40:16,759 Speaker 2: I've ever read. It's the most like let's make each 671 00:40:16,800 --> 00:40:19,360 Speaker 2: other better thing, And it also like even has like 672 00:40:20,080 --> 00:40:24,160 Speaker 2: the protagonist also getting needlessly angry, right and like. 673 00:40:27,239 --> 00:40:35,319 Speaker 3: No, you're right. It's every character is whole and complicated 674 00:40:35,520 --> 00:40:38,040 Speaker 3: and has and has afforded grace and I think, I, 675 00:40:38,719 --> 00:40:42,360 Speaker 3: I don't know, it's human. Yeah, it's a very human story. 676 00:40:42,719 --> 00:40:43,360 Speaker 3: I really liked that. 677 00:40:44,000 --> 00:40:47,400 Speaker 2: Thanks, Yeah, I am. I made Ian have to go 678 00:40:47,480 --> 00:40:49,520 Speaker 2: back and cut it out because it cut pieces out 679 00:40:49,520 --> 00:40:52,080 Speaker 2: because I started crying while I was reading it, which 680 00:40:52,160 --> 00:40:57,360 Speaker 2: is like really not what I expected, you know. But 681 00:40:57,480 --> 00:41:01,279 Speaker 2: it's like, I mean, this is like there's almost like 682 00:41:01,719 --> 00:41:03,960 Speaker 2: some of it's like so earnest that I'm almost like, ah, 683 00:41:04,040 --> 00:41:06,080 Speaker 2: I don't know, it was like pretty earnest. And then 684 00:41:06,120 --> 00:41:09,160 Speaker 2: I'm like, that's because this is just kind of what 685 00:41:09,280 --> 00:41:10,960 Speaker 2: I want. Like, even if it's like a little bit 686 00:41:11,040 --> 00:41:14,319 Speaker 2: like it's very utopian, it's very like oh it'll work out, right, 687 00:41:14,800 --> 00:41:19,400 Speaker 2: but it's like, yeah, we need stories that remind us 688 00:41:19,440 --> 00:41:21,880 Speaker 2: that things can get better, you know. 689 00:41:22,040 --> 00:41:24,480 Speaker 3: Yeah, it's all like a future where everyone is like 690 00:41:24,600 --> 00:41:27,400 Speaker 3: apocalyptic and struggling and whatever. It's it's a future that 691 00:41:28,360 --> 00:41:29,120 Speaker 3: we can make better. 692 00:41:29,280 --> 00:41:37,200 Speaker 2: Yeah, Yeah, Yeah, Well I'm gonna read the bio. Sim Kern. 693 00:41:38,960 --> 00:41:41,719 Speaker 2: Sim Kern is the USA Today best selling author of 694 00:41:41,800 --> 00:41:45,080 Speaker 2: The Free People's Village and Indie Next Pick. Their debut 695 00:41:45,200 --> 00:41:48,920 Speaker 2: horror novella, Depart. Depart has an exclamation mark at the end, 696 00:41:49,480 --> 00:41:51,759 Speaker 2: was selected for the Honor List of the twenty twenty 697 00:41:51,840 --> 00:41:55,239 Speaker 2: Otherwise Award, and their short story collection Real Sugar Is 698 00:41:55,280 --> 00:41:57,560 Speaker 2: Hard to Find was hailed in a starred review by 699 00:41:57,600 --> 00:42:02,359 Speaker 2: Publishers Weekly as a urgent but still achingly tender work 700 00:42:02,440 --> 00:42:06,200 Speaker 2: that will wow any reader of speculative fiction. As a journalist, 701 00:42:06,320 --> 00:42:11,399 Speaker 2: they report on petrochemical polluters and drag space billionaires. Sim 702 00:42:11,520 --> 00:42:14,280 Speaker 2: spent ten years teaching English to middle and high schoolers 703 00:42:14,320 --> 00:42:17,719 Speaker 2: in Houston, Texas before shifting to writing full time. Find 704 00:42:17,760 --> 00:42:20,359 Speaker 2: them all over the Internet, but especially on TikTok at 705 00:42:20,520 --> 00:42:25,040 Speaker 2: Sim Kern is SI M K E r N, and 706 00:42:25,200 --> 00:42:28,480 Speaker 2: also find them on It could happen here like a 707 00:42:28,560 --> 00:42:31,920 Speaker 2: couple weeks ago, possibly more. I don't know. 708 00:42:32,120 --> 00:42:33,960 Speaker 4: I really liked them. I'm trying to convince you all 709 00:42:34,000 --> 00:42:36,480 Speaker 4: to have them on more. I mean I want I 710 00:42:36,520 --> 00:42:38,120 Speaker 4: would love to have them on more. I told them 711 00:42:38,160 --> 00:42:39,800 Speaker 4: after we were done, I was I was like, this 712 00:42:39,920 --> 00:42:43,359 Speaker 4: is not the end. Yeah, you're gonna have to come back. 713 00:42:43,480 --> 00:42:47,319 Speaker 3: Yeah, they're so knowledgeable and I don't know, you can 714 00:42:47,400 --> 00:42:49,920 Speaker 3: tell I feel like with someone's writing style, like the 715 00:42:51,719 --> 00:42:53,800 Speaker 3: maybe earnestness is the word I'm thinking of because you 716 00:42:53,920 --> 00:42:55,800 Speaker 3: kept saying it, but like that's what I mean, Like 717 00:42:55,880 --> 00:42:57,719 Speaker 3: you know what I mean, Like the writing of a 718 00:42:57,760 --> 00:43:02,600 Speaker 3: person really indicates a deeper level of them. Does that 719 00:43:02,680 --> 00:43:04,759 Speaker 3: make sense? Am I making sense? It's been a long day. 720 00:43:04,840 --> 00:43:08,600 Speaker 2: Yeah, no, you can twelve pm it like it reflects 721 00:43:08,640 --> 00:43:12,600 Speaker 2: something about you know, obviously, like people write in styles 722 00:43:12,680 --> 00:43:15,800 Speaker 2: that are not like you know, you can't tell everything 723 00:43:15,800 --> 00:43:18,479 Speaker 2: about an author based on just like what they write 724 00:43:18,560 --> 00:43:20,719 Speaker 2: or whatever, but you could you could tell something. And 725 00:43:20,920 --> 00:43:23,760 Speaker 2: like you can tell like on the details they focus 726 00:43:23,880 --> 00:43:27,719 Speaker 2: on and what they choose to describe about a person. Yeah, 727 00:43:28,000 --> 00:43:30,400 Speaker 2: it seems awesome and they will definitely be on. It 728 00:43:30,480 --> 00:43:33,319 Speaker 2: could happen here more. But the first episode they were 729 00:43:33,360 --> 00:43:37,000 Speaker 2: on came out a couple of weeks ago about anti Zionism, 730 00:43:37,120 --> 00:43:40,439 Speaker 2: So I would recommend that if you want to listen. Yeah, 731 00:43:41,360 --> 00:43:44,080 Speaker 2: all right, well that's going to do it for book 732 00:43:44,200 --> 00:43:47,359 Speaker 2: Club Cool Zone Media book Club catches next Sunday when 733 00:43:47,400 --> 00:43:51,480 Speaker 2: we read you more stories of the arcane and positive 734 00:43:51,640 --> 00:43:55,120 Speaker 2: and sometimes not positive and all kinds of things. That's 735 00:43:55,200 --> 00:44:00,440 Speaker 2: the official tagline. I got it approved by corporate see 736 00:44:00,480 --> 00:44:01,120 Speaker 2: you all seen. 737 00:44:03,680 --> 00:44:06,040 Speaker 1: It Could Happen here as a production of cool Zone Media. 738 00:44:06,280 --> 00:44:08,920 Speaker 1: For more podcasts from coal Zone Media, visit our website 739 00:44:09,000 --> 00:44:11,160 Speaker 1: cool zonemedia dot com or check us out on the 740 00:44:11,239 --> 00:44:14,640 Speaker 1: iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you listen to podcasts. 741 00:44:15,080 --> 00:44:17,160 Speaker 1: You can find sources for It Could Happen Here, updated 742 00:44:17,280 --> 00:44:21,280 Speaker 1: monthly at cool zonemedia dot com slash sources. Thanks for listening.