Guess What_Base Stock_Walking to a Special Place_The Book
Catalog Guide:
Guess What
“Guess What?” You know the sound a shopping cart makes when one of its wheels is wonky? Wockata, wockata, wockata. Last year, my hoarder mother snagged one of those things from behind Walmart. Tiny as she was, she trundled that thing around like a ferret chasing a chicken.Our stinking house, next to the tired strip mall, was bulging with: ratty furniture, empty cans, funky clothes, hideous lamps, broken toasters, and crappy cardboard boxes. Moldering stuffed toys and bedraggled baby dolls were crammed into every crevice. Halloween masks dangled from the living room ceil...
Base Stock
In the steamy air of Mizuna’s kitchen, beads of sweat trickle down the 30-something Japanese job candidate’s face.“Which restaurants have you worked in in New York?” I am holding the afternoon interview to replace the fifth prep cook who’s left this year for higher pay elsewhere.“None.” He shakes his head. “In Japan. Soba.” He gestures kneading dough with his hands. In the kitchen the hiss of the gas burners is constant. With his limited English and my very basic Japanese, this conversation isn’t really going anywhere. I point toward the fry counter and raise my eyebrows.“Chahan. Gyoza,” he sa...
Walking to a Special Place
Bob, A New Employee Asks a Question“Where is the bowww.onedoor.ccss going? I just saw him rush out the front door of the building, and head down the road somewhere.”“You’re new here, aren’t you, Bob? You don’t know about the boss’ walks to his special place. He goes there whenever he has a hard time resolving some problem or other. He will come back when it is resolved. It seems to work every time. He comes back with a smile. Don’t worry”. The Boss’s Thoughts as He Walks‘I cannot resolve this mess without ‘the place’ helping me get through it. I know that. It has never failed me before. And on a cold day ...
The Book
The sun was shining brightly in an endless blue sky while Evaness and Verna were in front of their house giving away free books to anyone who walked by. Faun stood at the door keeping a watchful eye. She preferred that they sell the books to make some money, but her daughters were more of a donate type. As Evaness spoke to a lovely couple that stopped by to pick up some books for their children, Verna kneeled to pet their dog. Faun smiled at the young couple then was momentarily distracted by what seemed to be a homeless man approaching the small stand. Instead of stopping to look at the books...