He lay stunned in the snow and shook his head. Rickie heard the others laughing wildly at him. Tears came to his crotch in the tree where the three main branches’ extended. — He reached and grabbed tightly onto the last step before the crotch. He hesitated and thought of what his mother would do if he got caught in the tree. He froze. He felt as if he were roasting under his coat. He looked at the hut— How much farther and higher it was! Thoughts swirled in his head. “I can’t do it,” he screamed and let go of the board. He dropped six feet. His legs crumpled under him when he hit the backwards into ground, the and he fell frozen snow. THE The sheet-like As dawn-blue eyes and cheeks. clouds are branches whining win this soft scene Through clearing skies. muddy winds. slush; warmth-filled Into a The lasting The flushing cold the tree a laced sunset. now “Mama.” black. gone; the mountain peaks tree- artfully morning light The pak that snow leaks melts limbs to seeming gracefully lie bleak. diminishes with Thin and bate, again. The night will now is scarted and 10 yellow with silence day by The frost limbs to Exy to compensate Designs cried, a winter falls of f gnarled The Gouns, he sliced displays By On his flushed up and tree has sublime for TQNE lost its light. LANA by THOMPSON Pat “I’m Lewis reached up and stroked a lock of her bangs and stared at the door across ‘tthe room. A few dim rays of light from the arc light formed a grey patch on the floor of the dark room. Monica leaned against the wall and felt the edge of the window her back, just above sill press into her against the door to close His rough voice sounded when he said “Monica?’ Monica stood in front of the narrow window. She pulled a lock of her bangs down in front of her eyes and stared at her black hair. She let go and felt it brush her forehead. She folded her arms on the window sill and felt the coldness from the tile. She looked down the street at the arc light. It’s yellow glow was dimmed by the soft grey fog. She saw a Volkswagen creeping up _ the street. It was like a giant insect picking its way around ‘the garbage and beer cans. The car moved directly under Monica’s window before she heard its straining motor. The sound was softened by the fog. She watched the car roll to a stop at the curb. The door opened and she saw a ttall young man get out. He looked up at her window and slammed the car door. Monica felt the beating of her heart speed up and she turned her back to the window. ig She time leaned kicked down the path. A snowball stung him in the ear. Others made thuds as they hit the snow around him. The roaring laughter pounded on his brain. He ran wildly down the path and through the barren apple trees. He shivered as the cold wind whipped at his tear stained cheeks, and softly snow MOST REY, TO/SUCCERD the tree in anger and began running To freely down jumped UNVEILING White-swollen And streamed He A thin line of yellow heght tell across the floor as the door opened. The tall young man stepped in anc waist. Monica heard footsteps on the thread-bare carpet outside the door. She rubbed her damp palms up and down the rough wall. Her heart pounded faster and she felt a hollowness in her stomach when she heard the click of the lock. over here, Chad.” it. puzzled Monica’s soft voice shook in the stillness of ithe room. | He took off his dark rain coat anc tossed it on the arm of the overstuffed chair. He walked across the room and stood in front of Monica. She was aware of the smeli of cigarette smoke that always surrounded him. Chad framed her face in his hands and she felt his cool fingers against her neck. | She looked up at him. His bushy eyebrows were so thick they formed a line almost completely across his forehead. His lips parted and she saw his yellow smoke-stained teeth); ) Chad bent and kissed her. She: could taste the beer on his breath and pulled away from him. “What’s a matter, baby?’ Chad’s deep voice almost whined the words. “I’m through, Chad. I don’t want to live like this any more.” He put his arms around her and she felt his hands stroke her back under the heavy sweater she was wearing. “Baby, what da ya mean ‘live like this?’ Youve got a good place to sleep and me to sleep with ya.” Chad purred into her ear. “That’s just exactly what I mean. I haven't been out of this room with you in over six months. Are you ashamed of me?” “Well, baby, just rather I’d with you, it’s not come that here at all. and be alone.” Monica felt Chads hands moving up her back and his fingers fumbling with her bra. “No, I told you