The following is the sort of email I send A. on a fairly regular basis.
Nerd? Of course.
Hi sweetness,
So, I was sitting here, working on something, and the pod started talking about those two kids that died in Millet and began speculating about the nature of evil (in their own halting, ham-fisted way). I stayed out of the conversation, even when it got into pseudo-history of this type and that type, including ignorant conversations about people who put to death their own children in order to spare them the evil that was to descend upon them.
I tried ignoring this train of thought, but then, of all things, Blood Meridian entered my mind. Specifically, the last part, the words of one of the major characters began rattling around in my mind, sending me reeling. I had to take a walk, a frown on my face, and found myself sort of lost. This, by the way, is the sign of a extremely talented writer – not only did I remember the text, its musicality, its content, but I remembered how I felt when I read those words a couple of days ago. And I grew very sad, and angry, and helpless.
After my little break, I came back to work. I set up some meetings. I started writing something, but I was still troubled.
Then D. (ed. note: my cousin, who is taking the same class I am taking) called, in all his questioning, confused, lisping glory, asking this and that about our assignment and, without me even knowing it, I forgot my troubles. I forgot what I was thinking. The phrase that was rattling in my brain lifted, and its implications floated away.
And I thought, I have to tell A. about this.
Love,
T.
