Gather

by Kenneth M. Cadow

Stories we tell come out like the way you walk the woods if you want to know it—zigzagging, doubling back, maybe tripling, sometimes enough to find out that the parts you know the least about are the parts closest to home. You don’t just make some frigging beeline to some hill like you’re trying to get your steps in. I just don’t understand people like that. I don’t think they’re from around here.

And the ones who matter, they listen. They gather on your side and at least they try to help you, even if it might not all work out. I know that for a fact.

Mom went inside while I spliced the power cord being as how goddam squirrels had eaten through it. That took a half hour due to looking for the electrical tape and wire strippers, but finally, I ran a cord and plugged it

His self-sufficiency reminds me of a former student who left school every day to do the cooking and cleanjng for his family

It feels pretty good when the right people fall in love with your dog.

Just so you know, there are a lot of people like that, actually, the ones who gather around you. There are a lot of them.