Alphabetical stories

Assiduity Eleven

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Uzma accepts my invitation for dinner.

Assiduity Fifteen

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I'm in love with Uzma Goef, a beautiful young woman less than half my age.

Assiduity Five

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. . . my situation.

Assiduity Four

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Her clothing style varies from grunge to glamor and . . . she always looks good.

Assiduity Fourteen

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Don reports everything to Uzma and Rasheed, I'm aware of that. It doesn't bother me. I'm not hiding anything from them or anyone else.

Assiduity Nine

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Don and I return to Rasheed's room on the top floor of the middle house where Uzma sits waiting to speak her piece. I'm feeling blessed listening to their enthusiastic chatter. It's like the world is opening up to me again, allowing me to experience a rush of…

Assiduity Nineteen

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Luv walks around touching everything with her little hands. Uzma follows behind her, talking sweetly, saying: "This is going to be your new home for a while, darling."

Assiduity Seven

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Uzma dashes up the stairs ahead of me . . .

Assiduity Seventeen

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In the darkness, as I awaken, an orange glowing 3:45 greets me . . .

Assiduity Six

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"Every generation is a new generation, isn't it? What's so different about your generation?"

Assiduity Sixteen

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I'm fascinated by Don's evolution . . .

Assiduity Ten

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I'm using a 16mm motion picture camera with sound on film, equipped with a magazine holding six hundred feet, giving me approximately fifteen minutes of continuous shooting. Uzma has changed her cloths again. She's dressed for working in the garden, wearing a white…

Assiduity Thirteen

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My relationship with Uzma exists on several levels, from basic to abstract, from animal magnetism to spiritual journey.

Assiduity Three

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Everybody needs a flaw or two. It builds character.

Assiduity Twelve

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Rasheed changes his mind about working for me. He can't bring himself to break with Uzma. The bond between them is too strong. I admire his loyalty, to her and to her parents. Don turns out to be my most reliable ally. Plus, he brings a ragtag security force with…

Assiduity Twenty

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I experience a presence when walking through the forest . . .

Assiduity Twenty Five

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" . . . it's overcast with scattered rain along the Wabash River as I approach the federal correctional complex . . . "

Assiduity Twenty Four

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The grand piano, . . .

Assiduity Twenty One

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Blue skies greet us as we exit the forest . . .

Assiduity Twenty Seven

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" . . . with twinges of dread and pangs guilt, I worry . . . "

Assiduity Twenty Six

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Uzma and Luv are . . .

Assiduity Twenty Three

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The outside world will intrude . . .

Assiduity Twenty Two

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Warning: reader beware, there's sex in the air.

Assiduity Two

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I'm old enough to be her father.

Assless

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I heard on WUSF,

astral ages

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Life in astral circles

Astrology for a Better Future

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Nobody looks for Gina between the hours of four and five. Her father is on swing shift for the rest of the summer; his two o'clock- dinner plates are soaking in a sinkful of scummy water. Her mother is fanning herself in the shade of the wisteria, most of her…

At a loss

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I used to charm you, hold you in my hand.

At A Loss

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“We need to figure out dad’s funeral arrangements.” Jack’s voice was monotone, as if it wasn’t sure whether it really existed. He paused for a moment; it lasted either a split second or a day. He couldn’t tell.

At a Reading

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His wife leans her head against a beam with her eyes closed while he reads out loud. Her mouth shut tightly, almost twisted shut. She's so weary. She raises her collar and sinks further into her neck. When he shouts, or explodes — nothing. Not