Writing comparison essays
Essay Samples Of David And Goliath
Tuesday, August 25, 2020
training children and pets Essay
preparing kids and pets Essay preparing youngsters and pets Essay ââ¬Å"Training youngsters and petsââ¬Å" The fundamental goal of the primary case is to discover a strategy with fortification since we need positive conduct, as quick as could be expected under the circumstances. So as to get positive conduct, we need a boost or a thing. Above all else, we can utilize uplifting feedback to accomplish the conduct we are searching for little youngster. We will require an improvement to assist her with foregetting what she needs right now, and attempt to make her consider the circumstance. On the off chance that a youngster gets mindful of the improvement, it might stop her wrath to get the advantages. For instance I am utilizing circumstance, which had place in my life. During the previous summer I went with my mother and two little siblings to tennis training. After training our mom conclude that we are going to mall, since she have to purchase present for grandmotherââ¬â¢s birthday. Young men were drained after training and they began to yell ââ¬Å"We would prefer not to go to the stri p mall !ââ¬Å". Mother said that there is no conversation, since we need to purchase this blessing. Marek and Jaan were all the while yelling that they would prefer not to go there. They indicated unsuitable conduct. At that point mother stated, on the off chance that they will go back and forth with us, they would be albe to play on Ipad in transit home. They quickly halted their off-base conduct and went quietly to the mall with us. As I would see it is a genuine case of uplifting feedback, since when mother has proposed them reward they rapidly change conduct. In transit home I could watch case of negative support. As mother chose before as a prize they got Ipad to play during movement to home. Toward the starting young men were playing together, sharing Ipad like clockwork. yet... Following 20 minutes we had colossal war in the vehicle, Marek and Jaan were battling with one another and yelling so noisy. Mother couldn't drive, it was extremely risky circumstance so I chose to ta ke Ipad and attempt to stop their off-base conduct. As I would see it this is generally excellent case of negative fortification, in light of the fact that by taking Ipad I halted young men awful conduct. In the subsequent case, we need to consider that mutts can't reason like people do, so we need to utilize various techniques to shape their conduct. In the event that we need to change hounds behavaior we need to utilize positive reinforcer, we need to remunerate him for good conduct or executed order. For instance if hound begins to bark we should remain before him
Saturday, August 22, 2020
Complaint letter
Relieve she educated me that Ms. Portfolio shouldn't have left any longer have a decided to take the test at an other time, at that point returned to class take the MOA test 2. After I left the room from completing what I could do on the test understudies that were finished with their test had educated me that she had made an approach her mobile phone to Ms. Alleviate concerning me and permitting to talk unreservedly among the other understudy calling me ââ¬Å"malaria and grosserâ⬠and different libelous words towards me, which I thought was exceptionally amateurish of her to do. Additionally, she was exceptionally impolite to talk about me in that manner.I was confused by how discourteous Ms. Portfolio conduct was today. After I was educated about the episode that had recently happened I went down to her office to face her about it. She was talking with Ms Allay about me, I didn't hear precisely what was being said yet observed a look of alleviation all over that I was there, possibly she had figured we could talk things over. I told Ms. Portfolio that didn't acknowledge how she talked about me so discourteously before the class and that I trust next time in the event that she had a comment about an understudy it would be in private.She then got irritated and told Ms. Relieve to suspend me, I at that point got irritated also and talked a little firmly to her platitude ââ¬Å"On what ground would you be able to suspend me for on the off chance that I have done anything incorrectly other than revealing to you that your activities were amateurish, I have never affronted you in any capacity, have not loudly or genuinely manhandled youâ⬠She at that point hollered out â⬠If she despite everything remains her I can never again be hereâ⬠. This quarrel has disturbed me and humiliated me, caused me to feel debilitated to proceed with my stay at your program. Ms. Portfolio causes me to feel undesirable in the facility.Ultimately I am composing this letter with the expectation that my grumbling about Ms. Portfolio will be settled. I value the time you have taken to peruse this letter and consider the complaint that I have reached you about. In the event that you have any extra inquiries or might want to converse with me about goals choices. Can be reached at my email address Eva. Jove. [emailâ protected] Com or my wireless (415)635-9936. Might want to get this settled as fast as could be expected under the circumstances with the goal that I can better completely concentrate on my investigations and finishing the remainder of my multi month course here at MILS in solid condition.
Monday, August 10, 2020
Overcome Negative Thinking When You Have SAD
Overcome Negative Thinking When You Have SAD Social Anxiety Disorder Coping Print Overcome Negative Thinking When You Have SAD By Arlin Cuncic Arlin Cuncic, MA, is the author of Therapy in Focus: What to Expect from CBT for Social Anxiety Disorder and 7 Weeks to Reduce Anxiety. Learn about our editorial policy Arlin Cuncic Medically reviewed by Medically reviewed by Steven Gans, MD on August 05, 2016 Steven Gans, MD is board-certified in psychiatry and is an active supervisor, teacher, and mentor at Massachusetts General Hospital. Learn about our Medical Review Board Steven Gans, MD Updated on March 21, 2018 Social Anxiety Disorder Overview Symptoms & Diagnosis Causes Treatment Living With In Children Social anxiety grows with negative thoughts. Peopleimages / Getty Images Do you recognize any of the following types of negative thoughts? Mind Reading: I just know this person doesnt like me; she thinks what I am saying is boring. Overgeneralization: I panicked the last time I gave a speech; I know its going to happen again. Magnification: Im sure the bank teller saw my hands shaking; she must think there is something wrong with me. There are many other potential negative thoughts that people with social anxiety disorder (SAD) might have. Irrational thoughts contribute to feelings of panic in social and performance situations because they start a cycle of catastrophic thinking. In order to overcome your symptoms, it is helpful to learn how to deal with your negative thoughts. One way to do this is through a process known as cognitive restructuring, which is used during cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT). There are three essential steps involved in cognitive restructuring. Step 1: Identify and become aware of your negative thoughts. Step 2: Determine the accuracy of your negative thoughts. Step 3: Replace your negative thoughts with more helpful ones. Below is a brief description of how you would go about putting each of these steps into practice in order to modify your negative thought patterns. Step 1: Identify Negative Thoughts At first, it might be hard to identify your negative thoughts. Sometimes they happen so quickly and automatically that you barely even notice them on a conscious level. In order to really start paying attention, keep a notepad with you during the day and jot quick notes down about thoughts that you had in a situation that caused you to panic. Over time, it will become easier to notice and pick up on the automatic negative thoughts that you have through the day. Step 2: How Accurate Are Your Thoughts? At a time when you are not anxious and you are in a relaxed situation, take the time to ask yourself, Exactly how accurate are my thoughts? For example, is it possible that the person you were talking to was tired instead of bored? If the bank teller did notice your hands shaking, would she really think badly of you? It can be hard to battle with your thoughts and see that they are not always accurate because of how the situation feels to you. If you are having real difficulty with this exercise, imagine that the roles were reversed. If someone you knew was nervous giving a speech, would you think badly of her or that something was wrong with her? Most likely, you would feel sympathetic. Try giving yourself the same level of acceptance that you give to others. Step 3: Replace Negative Thoughts The last step is to gradually replace your negative thoughts with more helpful and positive ways of reacting to your anxious feelings. At first, this process will feel difficult and unnatural. It is something that you will need to practice daily for it to become a new automatic habit. Some examples of more positive and helpful thoughts than the above ones might be, This person I am talking to must just be tired; Just because I had trouble the last time I gave a speech doesnt mean it will happen again; and The teller probably didnt notice or care if my hands shake, she has too much else on her mind. Although it is a process that takes a lot of effort, learning how to replace your automatic negative thoughts with more positive and helpful ones will help to reduce feelings of hopelessness and increase your self-esteem. You should start to gradually notice that the positive thoughts become easier and the negative ones require more effort. Over time, the frequency of your negative thoughts will decline and so should your symptoms of social anxiety.
Saturday, May 23, 2020
The Connection Between The Bondage Of Mind And Of...
The connection between the ââ¬Ëbondage of mindââ¬â¢ and the ââ¬Ëbondage of the bodyââ¬â¢ as found in the southern ideology justifying slavery; The notion of slavery seems foreign to the majority of people today, but for our ancestors and Frederick Douglass it was a very real part of life. The concept of slavery is one that people today find unfathomable, particularly in the justification of slavery and why people owned slaves. The institution of slavery is as old as civilization itself existing in various forms throughout the world, history and remarkably, continues to exist in some peopleââ¬â¢s lives today. The historical common denominator is that enslavement of another human being has been more often than not involuntary. Sometimes people sold themselves into slavery as a means of survival as is seen with English indentured servants coming from England to the ââ¬Å"New worldâ⬠in the early 1500ââ¬â¢s. These indentured servants would enter a contract with th eir master and after a period of time would fulfill their obligation and then be released to continue and pursue their lives. However, most forms of slavery were not voluntary and these people would be forced into enslavement via becoming prisoners of war, punishment for illegal or criminal conduct, failure to pay debts, sold by parents or chieftains, birthed by a slave, or transferred from one master to another through sale or inheritance. The first African slaves in North America arrived in the British colony of Virginia, from here theShow MoreRelatedDesire In The Symposium1508 Words à |à 7 Pagesthat addresses desire as a multifaceted concept, setting the tone for the novel. The Bhagavad-Gita, an ancient Indian text that is much revered in modern Hindu culture, considers the same concepts of desire and virtue, but is written as a dialogue between the warrior-prince Arjuna and his charioteer, the deity Krishna. Within the text, Krishna addresses Arjuna s concerns regarding his quest for honor, and explains how desire plays a role in his existence. In The Symposium, the desire of worldly objectsRead MoreHuman Trafficking : A Form Of Modern Slavery1601 Words à |à 7 Pagesand awful theme that needs conveyed to consideration and managed. At the point when people are controlled into work, sexual bondage, or monetary hardship, human trafficking is happening. Human trafficking transpires to be a highly committed crime thats, perpetrated throughout the world, affecting women and children that being put through abuse and rape damaging their minds and being for the remainder of their lives, which the government has been enforcing laws to this horrendous activity. SinceRead MoreNarrative Of The Life Of Frederick Douglass1796 Words à |à 8 Pagesbut eventually found his freedom by fleeing to a free state. Frederick Douglass shows the reader what life was like during the antebellum period of the United States and how harshly some treated the enslaved, which not only bonded their bodies but also their minds. Within his narrative we see the detrimental consequences of African slavery towards individuals and the African family as a whole. He also exposes how the institution of slavery corrupts not only the enslaved but also those who willinglyRead MoreThe Effects Of Pornography On The Individual And Society1639 Words à |à 7 Pagesthe jehovanist loose their spiritual and social confidence not knowing that sex has no basis. Materialization deals with the Naturalist having a good look at themselves and realizing that sex has no metaphysic (No connection with the spiritual). They identify the mind, self and the body and acknowledge that sex is no thing more than a physical behavior. The Biologist takes a different approaching by accepting the human behavior as synonymous to that of an animal. As they say be like water as nothingRead MorePlato s Symposium : A Glimpse Into Antiquity Of Some Philosophical Conversations On Love762 Words à |à 4 PagesPlatoââ¬â¢s Symposium is a glimpse into antiquity of some philosophical conversations on love. The focus here is on two different perspectives between Aristophanes and Socrates. Aristophanes gives us his view on love by telling a mythical account on how human nature came to be. There were once three types of beings, male-male, female-female and male-female, which the later would be known as androgynous. They were each round with four arms, four legs, and two faces on opposite sides of their being andRead MoreAnalysis Of The General Observation Is The Narrator Of Cane1288 Words à |à 6 Pagesto terms with himself and achieve wholeness as a person? How will a character find pride and acceptance in himself? Is there meaning, within this telling, for black people in either the North or the South? An unnamed Narrator navigates the space between reality and fable, enabling engagement with the characters. For the purposes of this paper, the general observation is that Toomer is the Narrator of Cane. Using a tone of authority, he narrates and judges his characters and their situations, as heRead MoreHarriet Jacobs : A Slave For Ten Years1184 Words à |à 5 Pagesnovel, prevalent fiction of the mid nineteenth century. It was composed for women that focused on home, family, womanly, unobtrusiveness, and marriage. Jacobs utilized nostalgic fiction to obtain white audiences. Jacob s works typify the strain between the clashing intentions that produced personal histories of slave life. Jacobs shows the circumstances that slaves were faced with. The narrator described that they were able to read and write which most slaves could not do at the time. The fervorRead MoreFilm Components in The Matrix993 Words à |à 4 PagesWill Neo be strong enough to start a war fighting for the humans ? Is Neo the only hope of all humanity? This is the empire of the hackers, the source and code welcome everyone to ââ¬Å"The Matrixâ⬠. The central theme of ââ¬Å"The Matrixâ⬠(1999) is narrating between the blurred boundaries of machines and humans. In the following, I will go through ââ¬Å"The Matrixâ⬠with three different aspects, location, set design and costumes to indicate what is this film communicating about reality and virtuality and how it communicatesRead MoreTranscendtalism Vs Transcendentalism1000 Words à |à 4 Pagesby occupation. This often results in the value of a human being diminished to nothing more than an employee who does only this or that. We live our lives caught between sleeping and eating, buying junk, and working for more money to buy more junk. Transcendentalists on the other hand believe, ââ¬Å"The beauty of Nature reforms itself in the mind, and not for barren contemplation, but for new creationâ⬠(Emerson, 499), and that it is our innate duty to constantly find inspiration and passion to create asRead MoreReview Of Child Labor And The Nation 1095 Words à |à 5 Pagesrobbed of intellect, health, character, of life itself. ââ¬Å"(Beveridge,116) According to Stephen L. Piott, ââ¬Å"Children worked in sweatshops, factories, cotton mills, coalmines, and shrimp canneries. According to the US Census of 1900, 1,750,000 children between the ages of 10 and 15 were part of the paid workforce.â⬠Every member of the working class family, inclusive of small children had to labor to maintain a standard of living. Many shared accounts of the lackluster life of the Progressive Era. In
Tuesday, May 12, 2020
Jesus Receives Honors Only From A Very Early Age Essay
Jesus receives HONORS only due to God In Jewish culture and religion, the only one worthy of honor and worship is God. Orthodox Jewish children memorize the Shema from a very early age. Shema is the first word in Deuteronomy 6:4-9 and Numbers 15:37-41 meaning ââ¬Å"Hear.â⬠In the main, it containes the core Jewish confession, Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, The Lord is one. Although the Shema was often used in prayers, it was a core confession of faith recited in the synagogue. Until Jesusââ¬â¢ coming on scene, for a monotheistic Jew to call someone else God or to attribute the honors and worship due to God to any other person, deity, or object was anathema, a crime punishable by death. The very first of the Ten Commandments is, ââ¬Å"You shall have no other gods before meâ⬠¦ You shall not bow down to them or serve them, for I the LORD your God am a jealous God.â⬠Yet, in Philippians 2:5-11, Paul, the ââ¬Å"Hebrew of Hebrewsâ⬠ââ¬âas he calls himself in the same epistle (3:5)ââ¬â, doctor of the Law, and a Pharisee, gives praise and honor to Jesus in a manner reserved only to God: Have this mind among yourselves, which is yours in Christ Jesus, who, though he was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped, but emptied himself, by taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men. And being found in human form, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross. Therefore God has highly exalted him and bestowed on him theShow MoreRelatedModern American And Ancient Jewish Social Hierarchy Essay1405 Words à |à 6 PagesChildren are a gift from God, in fact, one might say raising a child is the greatest pleasure anyone can have. However, children are often marginalized and considered lesser until they become a young adult. The disenfranchising of children occurred even back in the time of Jesus. One might question, what does God think about children. How does Godââ¬â¢s view of children fit within society? This paper will equate the human constructs of modern American and ancient J ewish social hierarchy, specificallyRead MoreSimilarities Between Christianity And Christianity1486 Words à |à 6 Pagesthat separates this religion from all others. Christianity is based on the fact that Jesus is the Messiah and is God in the flesh. He is the Son of God. ââ¬Å"I and the Father are oneâ⬠(John 10:30, NIV). Also, Christianity is unique for their belief in heaven and hell, the belief in the Holy Trinity, we can have a personal relationship with God, God is a forgiving God and salvation is through Jesus Christ only. One of the supreme aspect that separates Christianity from the rest of the world religionsRead MoreJoseph Smith and the Church of Jesus Christ and the Latter Day Saints1848 Words à |à 7 Pagesnear his house and prayed to God for the knowledge of what religion he should be apart of. Suddenly God the Father and His Son, Jesus Christ, appeared to him giving him the faith that was lost so long ago to be carried on. He was now given the faith from Jesus Christ himself to pass onto others that had once been lost. Joseph Smith was chosen to restore the Church of Jesus Christ. In the next decade ââ¬Å"Joseph Smith published the Book of Mormon, based on the golden plates that he said an angel had givenRead MoreA Mormon s Journey Through Life With God2310 Words à |à 10 Pagesthrough life with God and others. Question and Answers What is your faith story? The Samantha Thrasherââ¬â¢s faith story began in her life at the age of thirty-two. Samantha connection with God started out as being angry, because people were not living according to the word of God from her point of view. It was shared that she had a visitation from God at the age of six. Samantha share how she talked to God and express that she was angry with adult and that if she died, she did not want to go to heavenRead MoreDeny Yourself: The Way Into the Kingdom of Heaven1996 Words à |à 8 Pagestime where such a bold proclamation would be considered radical or extreme. Who would want to live with the ridicule incurred by such a statement? Who is really going to lay their body at the gates of hell and permit no one to pass? In this day and age the answer may be no one. However, it is the exact position God has called each of us who call upon Him to put ourselves in. You may be alone in your stand here on earth, but you have all of heaven rallied behind you sounding the v ictory cry. It isRead MorePersecution In The Early Church3587 Words à |à 15 Pagesï » ¿ PERSECUTION IN THE EARLY CHURCH BEFORE CONSTANTINE TONNIE L. COLLINS DR. DAVE PEDERSON CHHI 520 B11 ââ¬â LUO CONTENTS Introductionâ⬠¦Ã¢â¬ ¦Ã¢â¬ ¦Ã¢â¬ ¦Ã¢â¬ ¦Ã¢â¬ ¦Ã¢â¬ ¦Ã¢â¬ ¦Ã¢â¬ ¦Ã¢â¬ ¦Ã¢â¬ ¦Ã¢â¬ ¦Ã¢â¬ ¦Ã¢â¬ ¦Ã¢â¬ ¦Ã¢â¬ ¦Ã¢â¬ ¦Ã¢â¬ ¦Ã¢â¬ ¦Ã¢â¬ ¦Ã¢â¬ ¦Ã¢â¬ ¦Ã¢â¬ ¦Ã¢â¬ ¦Ã¢â¬ ¦Ã¢â¬ ¦Ã¢â¬ ¦Ã¢â¬ ¦Ã¢â¬ ¦Ã¢â¬ ¦Ã¢â¬ ¦.....3 Persecution in the early churchâ⬠¦Ã¢â¬ ¦Ã¢â¬ ¦Ã¢â¬ ¦Ã¢â¬ ¦Ã¢â¬ ¦Ã¢â¬ ¦Ã¢â¬ ¦Ã¢â¬ ¦Ã¢â¬ ¦Ã¢â¬ ¦Ã¢â¬ ¦Ã¢â¬ ¦Ã¢â¬ ¦Ã¢â¬ ¦Ã¢â¬ ¦Ã¢â¬ ¦Ã¢â¬ ¦Ã¢â¬ ¦Ã¢â¬ ¦Ã¢â¬ ¦Ã¢â¬ ¦Ã¢â¬ ¦Ã¢â¬ ¦4-10 The growth of the Church ....................................................................................................10-14 Concludesâ⬠¦Ã¢â¬ ¦Ã¢â¬ ¦Ã¢â¬ ¦Ã¢â¬ ¦Ã¢â¬ ¦Ã¢â¬ ¦Ã¢â¬ ¦Ã¢â¬ ¦Ã¢â¬ ¦Ã¢â¬ ¦Ã¢â¬ ¦Ã¢â¬ ¦Ã¢â¬ ¦Ã¢â¬ ¦Ã¢â¬ ¦Ã¢â¬ ¦Ã¢â¬ ¦Ã¢â¬ ¦Ã¢â¬ ¦Ã¢â¬ ¦Ã¢â¬ ¦Ã¢â¬ ¦Ã¢â¬ ¦Ã¢â¬ ¦Ã¢â¬ ¦Ã¢â¬ ¦Ã¢â¬ ¦Ã¢â¬ ¦Ã¢â¬ ¦Ã¢â¬ ¦Ã¢â¬ ¦14-15 Bibliographyâ⬠¦Ã¢â¬ ¦Ã¢â¬ ¦Ã¢â¬ ¦Ã¢â¬ ¦Ã¢â¬ ¦Ã¢â¬ ¦Ã¢â¬ ¦Ã¢â¬ ¦Ã¢â¬ ¦Ã¢â¬ ¦Ã¢â¬ ¦Ã¢â¬ ¦Ã¢â¬ ¦Ã¢â¬ ¦Ã¢â¬ ¦Ã¢â¬ ¦Ã¢â¬ ¦Ã¢â¬ ¦Ã¢â¬ ¦Ã¢â¬ ¦Ã¢â¬ ¦Ã¢â¬ ¦Ã¢â¬ ¦Ã¢â¬ ¦Ã¢â¬ ¦Ã¢â¬ ¦Ã¢â¬ ¦Ã¢â¬ ¦Ã¢â¬ ¦Ã¢â¬ ¦.17-18 INTRODUCTION Read MoreNo Sacrifice Too Great Essay1995 Words à |à 8 Pagestime where such a bold proclamation would be considered radical or extreme. Who would want to live with the ridicule incurred by such a statement? Who is really going to lay their body at the gates of hell and permit no one to pass? In this day and age the answer may be no one. However, it is the exact position God has called each of us who call upon Him to put ourselves in. You may be alone in your stand here on earth, but you have all of heaven rallied behind you sounding the victory cry. It isRead MoreReligious, Moral And Political Progress1937 Words à |à 8 PagesReligious, Moral and Political Progress throughout Ancient Times How has the world changed from thousands of years ago? How did we become who we are today? In order for us to understand our present, we must understand our past. Throughout the ages, ideas popped up and people made various changes and reforms. From earlier civilizations like the ancient Greeks and Romans to the people in late antiquity like the Christians, certain aspects of peopleââ¬â¢s culture develop and progress into a more advancedRead MoreMatthew 7 : 7-11.the Book Of Matthew1805 Words à |à 8 Pages Most Christians are taught at a young age what prayer is and how they should pray. More than likely they were told to just talk to God about whatever was on their hearts. Is this a wrong way of thinking? How should we pray? What is the role of prayer in the life of faith? To analyze this question, contemplation of scripture and theologians is necessary. There are many different passages in the Bible that talk about various aspects of prayer. However concentration shall be focused on just one,Read MoreA History of Religion Essay2646 Words à |à 11 PagesPhoenix History of Western Civilization to the Middle Ages HIS/112 Whitney Bell June 20, 2009 A History of Religion When humans first became religious is unknown. What we do know is that religion has grown from carvings of rocks and paintings on cave walls into vast libraries of knowledge and magnificent structures of spiritual worship. We have gone from worshiping our ancestors to worshiping powerful deities and
Wednesday, May 6, 2020
Bag of Bones CHAPTER SIXTEEN Free Essays
The book was big, okay? The book was major. I was afraid to change rooms, let alone pack up the typewriter and my slim just-begun manuscript and take it back to Derry. That would be as dangerous as taking an infant out in a windstorm. We will write a custom essay sample on Bag of Bones CHAPTER SIXTEEN or any similar topic only for you Order Now So I stayed, always reserving the right to move out if things got too weird (the way smokers reserve the right to quit if their coughs get too heavy), and a week passed. Things happened during that week, but until I met Max Devore on The Street the following Friday the seventeenth of July, it would have been the most important thing was that I continued to work on a novel which would, if finished, be called My Childhood Friend. Perhaps we always think what was lost was the best . . . or would have been the best. I donââ¬â¢t know for sure. What I do know is that my real life that week had mostly to do with Andy Drake, John Shackleford, and a shadowy figure standing in the deep background. Raymond Garraty, John Shackle-fordââ¬â¢s childhood friend. A man who sometimes wore a baseball cap. During that week, the manifestations in the house continued, but at a lower level there was nothing like that bloodcurdling scream. Sometimes Bunterââ¬â¢s bell rang, and sometimes the fruit and vegetable magnets would re-form themselves into a circle . . . never with words in the middle, though; not that week. One morning I got up and the sugar cannister was overturned, making me think of Mattieââ¬â¢s story about the flour. Nothing was written in the spill, but there was a squiggle as though something had tried to write and failed. If so, I sympathized. I knew what that was like. My depo before the redoubtable Elmer Durgin was on Friday the tenth. On the following Tuesday I took The Street down to Warringtonââ¬â¢s softball field, hoping for my own peek at Max Devore. It was going on six oââ¬â¢clock when I got within hearing range of the shouts, cheers, and batted balls. A path marked with rustic signs (curlicued Wââ¬â¢s burned into oak arrows) led past an abandoned boathouse, a couple of sheds, and a gazebo half-buried in blackberry creepers. I eventually came out in deep center field. A litter of potato-chip bags, candy-wrappers, and beer cans suggested that others sometimes watched the games from this vantage-point. I couldnââ¬â¢t help thinking about Jo and her mysterious friend, the guy in the old brown sportcoat, the burly guy who had slipped an arm around her waist and led her away from the game, laughing, back toward The Street. Twice over the weekend Iââ¬â¢d come close to calling Bonnie Amudson, seeing if maybe I could chase that guy dow n, put a name on him, and both times I had backed off. Sleeping dogs, I told myself each time. Sleeping dogs, Michael. I had the area beyond deep center to myself that evening, and it felt like the right distance from home plate, considering the man who usually parked his wheelchair behind the backstop had called me a liar and I had invited him to store my telephone number where the sunshine grows dim. I neednââ¬â¢t have worried in any case. Devore wasnââ¬â¢t in attendance, nor was the lovely Rogette. I did spot Mattie behind the casually maintained chickenwire barrier on the first-base line. John Storrow was beside her, wearing jeans and a polo shirt, his red hair mostly corralled by a Mets cap. They stood watching the game and chatting like old friends for two innings before they saw me more than enough time for me to feel envious of Johnââ¬â¢s position, and a little jealous as well. Finally someone lofted a long fly to center, where the edge of the woods served as the only fence. The center fielder backed up, but it was going to be far over his head. It was hit to my depth, off to my right. I moved in that direction without thinking, high-footing through the shrubs that formed a zone between the mown outfield and the trees, hoping I wasnââ¬â¢t running through poison ivy. I caught the softball in my outstretched left hand, and laughed when some of the spectators cheered. The center fielder applauded me by tapping his bare right hand into the pocket of his glove. The batter, meanwhile, circled the bases serenely, knowing he had hit a ground-rule home run. I tossed the ball to the fielder and as I returned to my original post among the candy-wrappers and beer cans, I looked back in and saw Mattie and John looking at me. If anything confirms the idea that weââ¬â¢re just another species of animal, one with a slightly bigger brain and a much bigger idea of our own importance in the scheme of things, itââ¬â¢s how much we can convey by gesture when we absolutely have to. Mattie clasped her hands to her chest, tilted her head to the left, raised her eyebrows My hero. I held my hands to my shoulders and flipped the palms skyward Shucks, maââ¬â¢am, ââ¬Ëtââ¬â¢warnââ¬â¢t nothin. John lowered his head and put his fingers to his brow, as if something there hurt You lucky sonofabitch. With those comments out of the way, I pointed at the backstop and shrugged a question. Both Mattie and John shrugged back. An inning later a little boy who looked like one giant exploding freckle ran out to where I was, his oversized Michael Jordan jersey churning around his shins like a dress. ââ¬ËGuy down there gimme fifty cent to say you should call im later on at his hotel over in the Rock,ââ¬â¢ he said, pointing at John. ââ¬ËHe say you gimme another fifty cent if there was an answer.ââ¬â¢ ââ¬ËTell him Iââ¬â¢ll call him around nine-thirty,ââ¬â¢ I said. ââ¬ËI donââ¬â¢t have any change, though. Can you take a buck?ââ¬â¢ ââ¬ËHey, yeah, swank.ââ¬â¢ He snatched it, turned away, then turned back. He grinned, revealing a set of teeth caught between Act I and Act II. With the softball players in the background, he looked like a Norman Rockwell archetype. ââ¬ËGuy also say tell you that was a bullshit catch.ââ¬â¢ ââ¬ËTell him people used to say the same thing about Willie Mays all the time.ââ¬â¢ ââ¬ËWillie who?ââ¬â¢ Ah, youth. Ah, mores. ââ¬ËJust tell him, son. Heââ¬â¢ll know.ââ¬â¢ I stayed another inning, but by then the game was getting drunk, Devore still hadnââ¬â¢t shown, and I went back home the way I had come. I met one fisherman standing out on a rock and two young people strolling along The Street toward Warringtonââ¬â¢s, their hands linked. They said hi and I hiââ¬â¢d them back. I felt lonely and content at the same time. I believe that is a rare kind of happiness. Some people check their phone answering machines when they get home; that summer I always checked the front of the fridge. Eenie-meenie-chili-beanie, as Bullwinkle Moose used to say, the spirits are about to speak. That night they hadnââ¬â¢t, although the fruit and vegetable magnets had re-formed into a sinuous shape like a snake or perhaps the letter S taking a nap: A little later I called John and asked him where Devore had been, and he repeated in words what he had already told me, and much more economically, by gesture. ââ¬ËItââ¬â¢s the first game heââ¬â¢s missed since he came back,ââ¬â¢ he said. ââ¬ËMattie tried asking a few people if he was okay, and the consensus seemed to be that he was . . . at least as far as anyone knew.ââ¬â¢ ââ¬ËWhat do you mean she tried asking a few people?ââ¬â¢ ââ¬ËI mean that several wouldnââ¬â¢t even talk to her. ââ¬Å"Cut her dead,â⬠my parentsââ¬â¢ generation would have said.ââ¬â¢ Watch it, buddy, I thought but didnââ¬â¢t say, thatââ¬â¢s only half a step from my generation. ââ¬ËOne of her old girlfriends spoke to her finally, but thereââ¬â¢s a general attitude about Mattie Devore. That man Osgood may be a shitty salesman, but as Devoreââ¬â¢s Mr. Moneyguy heââ¬â¢s doing a wonderful job of separating Mattie from the other folks in the town. Is it a town, Mike? I donââ¬â¢t quite get that part.ââ¬â¢ ââ¬ËItââ¬â¢s just the TR,ââ¬â¢ I said absently. ââ¬ËThereââ¬â¢s no real way to explain it. Do you actually believe Devoreââ¬â¢s bribing everyone? That doesnââ¬â¢t say much for the old Wordsworthian idea of pastoral innocence and goodness, does it?ââ¬â¢ ââ¬ËHeââ¬â¢s spreading money and using Osgood maybe Footman, too to spread stories. And the folks around here seem at least as honest as honest politicians.ââ¬â¢ ââ¬ËThe ones who stay bought?ââ¬â¢ ââ¬ËYeah. Oh, and I saw one of Devoreââ¬â¢s potential star witnesses in the Case of the Runaway Child. Royce Merrill. He was over by the equipment shed with some of his cronies. Did you happen to notice him?ââ¬â¢ I said I had not. ââ¬ËGuy must be a hundred and thirty,ââ¬â¢ John said. ââ¬ËHeââ¬â¢s got a cane with a gold head the size of an elephantââ¬â¢s asshole.ââ¬â¢ ââ¬ËThatââ¬â¢s a Boston Post cane. The oldest person in the area gets to keep it.ââ¬â¢ ââ¬ËAnd I have no doubt he came by it honestly. If Devoreââ¬â¢s lawyers put him on the stand, Iââ¬â¢ll debone him.ââ¬â¢ There was something chilling in Johnââ¬â¢s gleeful confidence. ââ¬ËIââ¬â¢m sure,ââ¬â¢ I said. ââ¬ËHow did Mattie take getting cut dead by her old friends?ââ¬â¢ I was thinking of her saying that she hated Tuesday nights, hated to think of the softball games going on as they always had at the field where she had met her late husband. ââ¬ËShe did okay,ââ¬â¢ John said. ââ¬ËI think sheââ¬â¢s given most of them up as a lost cause, anyway.ââ¬â¢ I had my doubts about that I seem to remember that at twenty-one lost causes are sort of a specialty but I didnââ¬â¢t say anything. ââ¬ËSheââ¬â¢s hanging in. Sheââ¬â¢s been lonely and scared, I think that in her own mind she might already have begun the process of giving Kyra up, but sheââ¬â¢s got her confidence back now. Mostly thanks to meeting you. Talk about your fantastically lucky breaks.ââ¬â¢ Well, maybe. I flashed on Joââ¬â¢s. brother Frank once saying to me that he didnââ¬â¢t think there was any such thing as luck, only fate and inspired choices. And then I remembered that image of the TR criss-crossed with invisible cables, connections that were unseen but as strong as steel. ââ¬ËJohn, I forgot to ask the most important question of all the other day, after I gave my depo. This custody case weââ¬â¢re all so concerned about . . . has it even been scheduled?ââ¬â¢ ââ¬ËGood question. Iââ¬â¢ve checked three ways to Sunday, and Bissonette has, too. Unless Devore and his people have pulled something really slippery, like filing in another court district, I donââ¬â¢t think it has been.ââ¬â¢ ââ¬ËCould they do that? File in another district?ââ¬â¢ ââ¬ËMaybe. But probably not without us finding out.ââ¬â¢ ââ¬ËSo what does it mean?ââ¬â¢ ââ¬ËThat Devoreââ¬â¢s on the verge of giving up,ââ¬â¢ John said promptly. ââ¬ËAs of now I see no other way of explaining it. Iââ¬â¢m going back to New York first thing tomorrow, but Iââ¬â¢ll stay in touch. If anything comes up here, you do the same.ââ¬â¢ I said I would and went to bed. No female visitors came to share my dreams. That was sort of a relief. When I came downstairs to recharge my iced-tea glass late Wednesday morning, Brenda Meserve had erected the laundry whirligig on the back stoop and was hanging out my clothes. This she did as her mother had no doubt taught her, with pants and shirts on the outside and undies on the inside, where any passing nosyparkers couldnââ¬â¢t see what you chose to wear closest to your skin. ââ¬ËYou can take these in around four oââ¬â¢clock,ââ¬â¢ Mrs. M. said as she prepared to leave. She looked at me with the bright and cynical eye of a woman who has been ââ¬Ëdoing forââ¬â¢ well-off men her entire life. ââ¬ËDonââ¬â¢t you forget and leave em out all night dewy clothes donââ¬â¢t ever feel fresh until theyââ¬â¢re warshed again.ââ¬â¢ I told her most humbly that I would remember to take in my clothes. I then asked her feeling like a spy working an embassy party for information if the house felt all right to her. ââ¬ËAll right how?ââ¬â¢ she asked, cocking one wild eyebrow at me. ââ¬ËWell, Iââ¬â¢ve heard funny noises a couple of times. In the night.ââ¬â¢ She sniffed. ââ¬ËItââ¬â¢s a log house, ennit? Built in relays, so to speak. It settles, one wing against tââ¬â¢other. Thatââ¬â¢s what you hear, most likely.ââ¬â¢ ââ¬ËNo ghosts, huh?ââ¬â¢ I said, as if disappointed. ââ¬ËNot that Iââ¬â¢ve ever seen,ââ¬â¢ she said, matter-of-fact as an accountant, ââ¬Ëbut my ma said thereââ¬â¢s plenty down here. She said this whole lake is haunted. By the Micmacs that lived here until they was driven out by General Wing, by all the men who went away to the Civil War and died there over six hundred went from this part of the world, Mr. Noonan, and less than a hundred and fifty came back . . . at least in their bodies. Ma said this side of Dark Scoreââ¬â¢s also haunted by the ghost of that Negro boy who died here, poor tyke. He belonged to one of the Red-Tops, you know.ââ¬â¢ ââ¬ËNo I know about Sara and the Red-Tops, but not this.ââ¬â¢ I paused. ââ¬ËDid he drown?ââ¬â¢ ââ¬ËNawp, caught in an animal trap. Struggled there for most of a whole day, screaming for help. Finally they found him. They saved the foot, but they shouldnââ¬â¢t have. Blood-poisoning set in, and the boy died. Summer of ought-one, that was. Itââ¬â¢s why they left, I guess it was too sad to stay. But my ma used to claim the little fella, he stayed. She used to say that heââ¬â¢s still on the TR.ââ¬â¢ I wondered what Mrs. M. would say if I told her that the little fella had very likely been here to greet me when I arrived from Derry, and had been back on several occasions since. ââ¬ËThen there was Kenny Austerââ¬â¢s father, Normal,ââ¬â¢ she said. ââ¬ËYou know that story, donââ¬â¢t you? Oh, thatââ¬â¢s a terrible story.ââ¬â¢ She looked rather pleased either at knowing such a terrible story or at having the chance to tell it. ââ¬ËNo,ââ¬â¢ I said. ââ¬ËI know Kenny, though. Heââ¬â¢s the one with the wolfhound. Blueberry.ââ¬â¢ ââ¬ËAyuh. He carpenters a tad and caretakes a tad, just like his father before him. His dad caretook many of these places, you know, and back just after the Second World War was over, Normal Auster drownded Kennyââ¬â¢s little brother in his back yard. This was when they lived on Wasp Hill, down where the road splits, one side going to the old boat-landin and the other to the marina. He didnââ¬â¢t drown the tyke in the lake, though. He put him on the ground under the pump and just held him there until the baby was full of water and dead.ââ¬â¢ I stood there looking at her, the clothes behind us snapping on their whirligig. I thought of my mouth and nose and throat full of that cold mineral taste that could have been well-water as well as lakewater; down here all of it comes from the same deep aquifers. I thought of the message on the refrigerator: help im drown. ââ¬ËHe left the baby laying right under the pump. He had a new Chevrolet, and he drove it down here to Lane Forty-two. Took his shotgun, too.ââ¬â¢ ââ¬ËYou arenââ¬â¢t going to tell me Kenny Austerââ¬â¢s dad committed suicide in my house, are you, Mrs. Meserve?ââ¬â¢ She shook her head. ââ¬ËNawp. He did it on the Brickersââ¬â¢ lakeside deck. Sat down on their porch glider and blew his damned baby-murdering head off.ââ¬â¢ ââ¬ËThe Brickers? I donââ¬â¢t ââ¬Ë ââ¬ËYou wouldnââ¬â¢t. Hasnââ¬â¢t been any Brickers on the lake since the sixties. They were from Delaware. Quality folks. Youââ¬â¢d think of it as the Warshburn place, I guess, although theyââ¬â¢re gone, now, too. Place is empty. Every now and then that stark naturalborn fool Osgood brings someone down and shows it off, but heââ¬â¢ll never sell it at the price heââ¬â¢s asking. Mark my words.ââ¬â¢ The Washburns I had known had played bridge with them a time or two. Nice enough people, although probably not what Mrs. M., with her queer backcountry snobbishness, would have called ââ¬Ëquality.ââ¬â¢ Their place was maybe an eighth of a mile north of mine along The Street. Past that point, thereââ¬â¢s nothing much the drop to the lake gets steep, and the woods are massed tangles of second growth and blackberry bushes. The Street goes on to the tip of Halo Bay at the far north end of Dark Score, but once Lane Forty-two curves back to the highway, the path is for the most part used only by berry-picking expeditions in the summer and hunters in the fall. Normal, I thought. Hell of a name for a guy who had drowned his infant son under the backyard pump. ââ¬ËDid he leave a note? Any explanation?ââ¬â¢ ââ¬ËNawp. But youââ¬â¢ll hear folks say he haunts the lake, too. Little towns are most likely full of haunts, but I couldnââ¬â¢t say aye, no, or maybe myself; I ainââ¬â¢t the sensitive type. All I know about your place, Mr. Noonan, is that it smells damp no matter how much I try to get it aired out. I ââ¬Ëmagine thatââ¬â¢s logs. Log buildins donââ¬â¢t go well with lakes. The damp gets into the wood.ââ¬â¢ She had set her purse down between her Reeboks; now she bent and picked it up. It was a countrywomanââ¬â¢s purse, black, styleless (except for the gold grommets holding the handles on), and utilitarian. She could have carried a good selection of kitchen appliances in there if she had wanted to. ââ¬ËI canââ¬â¢t stand here natterin all day long, though, much as I might like to. I got one more place to go before I can call it quits. Summerââ¬â¢s haââ¬â¢vest time in this part of the world, you know. Now remember to take those clothes in before dark, Mr. Noonan. Donââ¬â¢t let em get all dewy.ââ¬â¢ ââ¬ËI wonââ¬â¢t.ââ¬â¢ And I didnââ¬â¢t. But when I went out to take them in, dressed in my bathing trunks and coated with sweat from the oven Iââ¬â¢d been working in (I had to get the air conditioner fixed, just had to), I saw that something had altered Mrs. M.ââ¬â¢s arrangements. My jeans and shirts now hung around the pole. The underwear and socks, which had been decorously hidden when Mrs. M. drove up the driveway in her old Ford, were now on the outside. It was as if my unseen guest one of my unseen guests was saying ha ha ha. I went to the library the next day, and made renewing my library card my first order of business. Lindy Briggs herself took my four bucks and entered me into the computer, first telling me how sorry she had been to hear about Joââ¬â¢s death. And, as with Bill, I sensed a certain reproach in her tone, as if I were to blame for such improperly delayed condolences. I supposed I was. ââ¬ËLindy, do you have a town history?ââ¬â¢ I asked when we had finished the proprieties concerning my wife. ââ¬ËWe have two,ââ¬â¢ she said, then leaned toward me over the desk, a little woman in a violently patterned sleeveless dress, her hair a gray puffball around her head, her bright eyes swimming behind her bifocals. In a confidential voice she added, ââ¬ËNeither is much good.ââ¬â¢ ââ¬ËWhich one is better?ââ¬â¢ I asked, matching her tone. ââ¬ËProbably the one by Edward Osteen. He was a summer resident until the mid-fifties and lived here full-time when he retired. He wrote Dark Score Days in 1965 or ââ¬â¢66. He had it privately published because he couldnââ¬â¢t find a commercial house that would take it. Even the regional publishers passed.ââ¬â¢ She sighed. ââ¬ËThe locals bought it, but thatââ¬â¢s not many books, is it?ââ¬â¢ ââ¬ËNo, I suppose not,ââ¬â¢ I said. ââ¬ËHe just wasnââ¬â¢t much of a writer. Not much of a photographer, either those little black-and-white snaps of his make my eyes hurt. Still, he tells some good stories. The Micmac Drive, General Wingââ¬â¢s trick horse, the twister in the eighteen-eighties, the fires in the nine-teen-thirties . . . ââ¬Ë ââ¬ËAnything about Sara and the Red-Tops?ââ¬â¢ She nodded, smiling. ââ¬ËFinally got around to looking up the history of your own place, did you? Iââ¬â¢m glad to hear it. He found an old photo of them, and itââ¬â¢s in there. He thought it was taken at the Fryeburg Fair in 1900. Ed used to say heââ¬â¢d give a lot to hear a record made by that bunch.ââ¬â¢ ââ¬ËSo would I, but none were ever made.ââ¬â¢ A haiku by the Greek poet George Seferis suddenly occurred to me: Are these the voices of our dead friends / or just the gramophone? ââ¬ËWhat happened to Mr. Osteen? I donââ¬â¢t recall the name.ââ¬â¢ ââ¬ËDied not a year or two before you and Jo bought your place on the lake,ââ¬â¢ she said. ââ¬ËCancer.ââ¬â¢ ââ¬ËYou said there were two histories?ââ¬â¢ ââ¬ËThe other one you probably know A History of Castle County and Castle Rock. Done for the county centennial, and dry as dust. Eddie Osteenââ¬â¢s book isnââ¬â¢t very well written, but he wasnââ¬â¢t dry. You have to give him that much. You should find them both over there.ââ¬â¢ She pointed to shelves with a sign over them which read of OF MAINE INTEREST. ââ¬ËThey donââ¬â¢t circulate.ââ¬â¢ Then she brightened. ââ¬ËAlthough we will happily take any nickels you should feel moved to feed into our photocopy machine.ââ¬â¢ Mattie was sitting in the far corner next to a boy in a turned-around baseball cap, showing him how to use the microfilm reader. She looked up at me, smiled, and mouthed the words Nice catch. Referring to my lucky grab at Warringtonââ¬â¢s, presumably. I gave a modest little shrug before turning to the OF MAINE INTEREST shelves. But she was right lucky or not, it had been a nice catch. ââ¬ËWhat are you looking for?ââ¬â¢ I was so deep into the two histories Iââ¬â¢d found that Mattieââ¬â¢s voice made me jump. I turned around and smiled, first aware that she was wearing some light and pleasant perfume, second that Lindy Briggs was watching us from the main desk, her welcoming smile put away. ââ¬ËBackground on the area where I live,ââ¬â¢ I said. ââ¬ËOld stories. My housekeeper got me interested.ââ¬â¢ Then, in a lower voice: ââ¬ËTeacherââ¬â¢s watching. Donââ¬â¢t look around.ââ¬â¢ Mattie looked startled and, I thought, a little worried. As it turned out, she was right to be worried. In a voice that was low-pitched yet still designed to carry at least as far as the desk, she asked if she could reshelve either book for me. I gave her both. As she picked them up she said in what was almost a conââ¬â¢s whisper: ââ¬ËThat lawyer who represented you last Friday got John a private detective. He says they may have found something interesting about the guardian ad litem.ââ¬â¢ I walked over to the OF MAINE INTEREST shelves with her, hoping I wasnââ¬â¢t getting her in trouble, and asked if she knew what the something interesting might be. She shook her head, gave me a professional little librarianââ¬â¢s smile, and I went away. On the ride back to the house, I tried to think about what Iââ¬â¢d read, but there wasnââ¬â¢t much. Osteen was a bad writer who had taken bad pictures, and while his stories were colorful, they were also pretty thin on the ground. He mentioned Sara and the Red-Tops, all right, but he referred to them as a ââ¬ËDixie-Land octet,ââ¬â¢ and even I knew that wasnââ¬â¢t right. The Red-Tops might have played some Dixieland, but they had primarily been a blues group (Friday and Saturday nights) and a gospel group (Sunday mornings). Osteenââ¬â¢s two-page summary of the Red-Topsââ¬â¢ stay on the TR made it clear that he had heard no one elseââ¬â¢s covers of Saraââ¬â¢s tunes. He confirmed that a child had died of blood-poisoning caused by a traphold wound, a story which sounded like Brenda Meserveââ¬â¢s . . . but why wouldnââ¬â¢t it? Osteen had likely heard it from Mrs. M.ââ¬â¢s father or grandfather. He also said that the boy was Son Tidwellââ¬â¢s only child, and that the guitar-playerââ¬â¢s real name was Reginald. The Tidwells had supposedly drifted north from the whorehouse district of New Orleans the fabled crib-and-club streets which had been known around the turn of the century as Storyville. There was no mention of Sara and the Red-Tops in the more formal history of Castle County, and no mention of Kenny Austerââ¬â¢s drownded little brother in either book. Not long before Mattie came over to speak to me, Iââ¬â¢d had a wild idea: that Son Tidwell and Sara Tidwell were man and wife, and that the little boy (not named by Osteen) had been their son. I found the picture Lindy had mentioned and studied it closely. It showed at least a dozen black people standing in a stiff group in front of what looked like a cattle exhibition. There was an old-fashioned Ferris wheel in the background. It could well have been taken at the Fryeburg Fair, and as old and faded as it was, it had a simple, elemental power that all Osteenââ¬â¢s own photos put together could not match. You have seen photographs of western and Depression-era bandidos that have that same look of eerie truth stern faces above tight ties and collars, eyes not quite lost in the shadows of antique hatbrims. Sara stood front and center, wearing a black dress and her guitar. She was not outright smiling in this picture, but there seemed to be a smile in her eyes, and I thought they were like the eyes in some paintings, the ones that seem to follow you wherever you move in the room. I studied the photo and thought of her almost spiteful voice in my dream: What do you want to know, sugar? I suppose I wanted to know about her and the others who they had been, what they were to each other when they werenââ¬â¢t singing and playing, why theyââ¬â¢d left, where theyââ¬â¢d gone. Both of her hands were clearly visible, one posed on the strings of her guitar, the other on the frets, where she had been making a G-chord on an October Fair-day in the year 1900. Her fingers were long, artistic, bare of rings. That didnââ¬â¢t necessarily mean that she and Son Tidwell werenââ¬â¢t married, of course, and even if they hadnââ¬â¢t been, the little boy whoââ¬â¢d been caught in the trap could have been born on the wrong side of the blanket. Except the same ghost of a smile lurked in Son Tidwellââ¬â¢s eyes. The resemblance was remarkable. I had an idea that the two of them had been brother and sister, not man and wife. I thought about these things on my way home, and I thought about cables that were felt rather than seen . . . but mostly I found myself thinking about Lindy Briggs the way she had smiled at me, the way, a little later on, she had not smiled at her bright young librarian with the high-school certification. That worried me. Then I got back to the house, and all I worried about was my story and the people in it bags of bones which were putting on flesh daily. Michael Noonan, Max Devore, and Rogette Whitmore played out their horrible little comedy scene Friday evening. Two other things which bear narrating happened before that. The first was a call from John Storrow on Thursday night. I was sitting in front of the TV with a baseball game running soundlessly in front of me (the MUTE button with which most remote controls come equipped may be the twentieth centuryââ¬â¢s finest invention). I was thinking about Sara Tidwell and Son Tidwell and Son Tidwellââ¬â¢s little boy. I was thinking about Storyville, a name any writer just had to love. And in the back of my mind I was thinking about my wife, who had died pregnant. ââ¬ËHello?ââ¬â¢ I said. ââ¬ËMike, I have some wonderful news,ââ¬â¢ John said. He sounded near to bursting. ââ¬ËRomeo Bissonette may be a weird name, but thereââ¬â¢s nothing weird about the detective-guy he found for me. His name is George Kennedy, like the actor. Heââ¬â¢s good, and heââ¬â¢s fast. This guy could work in New York.ââ¬â¢ ââ¬ËIf thatââ¬â¢s the highest compliment you can think of, you need to get out of the city more.ââ¬â¢ He went on as if he hadnââ¬â¢t heard. ââ¬ËKennedyââ¬â¢s real job is with a security firm the other stuff is strictly in the moonlight. Which is a great loss, believe me. He got most of this on the phone. I canââ¬â¢t believe it.ââ¬â¢ ââ¬ËWhat specifically canââ¬â¢t you believe?ââ¬â¢ ââ¬ËJackpot, baby.ââ¬â¢ Again he spoke in that tone of greedy satisfaction which I found both troubling and reassuring. ââ¬ËElmer Durgin has done the following things since late May: paid off his car; paid off his camp in Rangely Lakes; caught up on about ninety years of child support ââ¬Ë ââ¬ËNobody pays child support for ninety years,ââ¬â¢ I said, but I was just running my mouth to hear it go . . . to let off some of my own building excitement, in truth. â⬠Tââ¬â¢ainââ¬â¢t possible, Mcgee.ââ¬â¢ ââ¬ËIt is if you have seven kids,ââ¬â¢ John said, and began howling with laughter. I thought of the pudgy self-satisfied face, the cupid-bow mouth, the nails that looked polished and prissy. ââ¬ËHe donââ¬â¢t,ââ¬â¢ I said. ââ¬ËHe do,ââ¬â¢ John said, still laughing. He sounded like a complete lunatic manic, hold the depressive. ââ¬ËHe really do! Ranging in ages from f-fourteen to th-th-three! What a b-busy p-p-potent little prick he must have!ââ¬â¢ More helpless howls. And by now I was howling right along with him Iââ¬â¢d caught it like the mumps. ââ¬ËKennedy is going to f-f-fax me p-pictures of the whole . . . famââ¬â¢ . . . damily!ââ¬â¢ We broke up completely, laughing together long-distance. I could picture John Stor-row sitting alone in his Park Avenue office, bellowing like a lunatic and scaring the cleaning ladies. ââ¬ËThat doesnââ¬â¢t matter, though,ââ¬â¢ he said when he could talk coherently again. ââ¬ËYou see what matters, donââ¬â¢t you?ââ¬â¢ ââ¬ËYes,ââ¬â¢ I said. ââ¬ËHow could he be so stupid?ââ¬â¢ Meaning Durgin, but also meaning Devore. John understood, I think, that we were talking about both heââ¬â¢s at the same time. ââ¬ËElmer Durginââ¬â¢s a little lawyer from a little township tucked away in the big woods of western Maine, thatââ¬â¢s all. How could he know that some guardian angel would come along with the resources to smoke him out? He also bought a boat, by the way. Two weeks ago. Itââ¬â¢s a twin outboard. A big ââ¬Ëun. Itââ¬â¢s over, Mike. The home team scores nine runs in the bottom of the ninth and the fucking pennant is ours.ââ¬â¢ ââ¬ËIf you say so.ââ¬â¢ But my hand went off on its own expedition, made a loose fist, and knocked on the good solid wood of the coffee-table. ââ¬ËAnd hey, the softball game wasnââ¬â¢t a total loss.ââ¬â¢ John was still talking between little giggling outbursts like helium balloons. ââ¬ËNo?ââ¬â¢ ââ¬ËIââ¬â¢m taken with her.ââ¬â¢ ââ¬ËHer?ââ¬â¢ ââ¬ËMattie,ââ¬â¢ he said patiently. ââ¬ËMattie Devore.ââ¬â¢ A pause, then: ââ¬ËMike? Are you there?ââ¬â¢ ââ¬ËYeah,ââ¬â¢ I said. ââ¬ËPhone slipped. Sorry.ââ¬â¢ The phone hadnââ¬â¢t slipped as much as an inch, but it came out sounding natural enough, I thought. And if it hadnââ¬â¢t, so what? When it came to Mattie, I would be in Johnââ¬â¢s mind, at least below suspicion. Like the country-house staff in an Agatha Christie. He was twenty-eight, maybe thirty. The idea that a man twelve years older might be sexually attracted to Mattie had probably never crossed his mind . . . or maybe just for a second or two there on the common, before he dismissed it as ludicrous. The way Mattie herself had dismissed the idea of Jo and the man in the brown sportcoat. ââ¬ËI canââ¬â¢t do my courtship dance while Iââ¬â¢m representing her,ââ¬â¢ he said, ââ¬Ëwouldnââ¬â¢t be ethical. Wouldnââ¬â¢t be safe, either. Later, though . . . you can never tell.ââ¬â¢ ââ¬ËNo,ââ¬â¢ I said, hearing my voice as you sometimes do in moments when you are caught completely fiat-footed, hearing it as though it were coming from someone else. Someone on the radio or the record-player, maybe. Are these the voices of our dead friends, or just the gramophone? I thought of his hands, the fingers long and slender and without a ring on any of them. Like Saraââ¬â¢s hands in that old photo. ââ¬ËNo, you can never tell.ââ¬â¢ We said goodbye, and I sat watching the muted baseball game. I thought about getting up to get a beer, but it seemed too far to the refrigerator a safari, in fact. What I felt was a kind of dull hurt, followed by a better emotion: rueful relief, I guess youââ¬â¢d call it. Was he too old for her? No, I didnââ¬â¢t think so. Just about right. Prince Charming No. 2, this time in a three-piece suit. Mattieââ¬â¢s luck with men might finally be changing, and if so I should be glad. I would be glad. And relieved. Because I had a book to write, and never mind the look of white sneakers flashing below a red sundress in the deepening gloom, or the ember of her cigarette dancing in the dark. Still, I felt really lonely for the first time since I saw Kyra marching up the white line of Route 68 in her bathing suit and flip-flops. ââ¬ËYou funny little man, said Strickland,ââ¬â¢ I told the empty room. It came out before I knew I was going to say anything, and when it did, the channel on the TV changed. It went from baseball to a rerun of All in the Family and then to Ren Stimpy. I glanced down at the remote control. It was still on the coffee-table where Iââ¬â¢d left it. The TV channel changed again, and this time I was looking at Humphrey Bogart and Ingrid Bergman. There was an airplane in the background, and I didnââ¬â¢t need to pick up the remote and turn on the sound to know that Humphrey was telling Ingrid that she was getting on that plane. My wifeââ¬â¢s all-time favorite movie. She bawled at the end without fail. ââ¬ËJo?ââ¬â¢ I asked. ââ¬ËAre you here?ââ¬â¢ Bunterââ¬â¢s bell rang once. Very faintly. There had been several presences in the house, I was sure of it . . . but tonight, for the first time, I was positive it was Jo who was with me. ââ¬ËWho was he, hon?ââ¬â¢ I asked. ââ¬ËThe guy at the softball field, who was he?ââ¬â¢ Bunterââ¬â¢s bell hung still and quiet. She was in the room, though. I sensed her, something like a held breath. I remembered the ugly, gibing little message on the refrigerator after my dinner with Mattie and Ki: blue rose liar ha ha. ââ¬ËWho was he?ââ¬â¢ My voice was unsteady, sounding on the verge of tears. ââ¬ËWhat were you doing down here with some guy? Were you . . . ââ¬Ë But I couldnââ¬â¢t bring myself to ask if she had been lying to me, cheating on me. I couldnââ¬â¢t ask even though the presence I felt might be, letââ¬â¢s face it, only in my own head. The TV switched away from Casablanca and here was everybodyââ¬â¢s favorite lawyer, Perry Mason, on Nick at Nite. Perryââ¬â¢s nemesis, Hamilton Burger, was questioning a distraught-looking woman, and all at once the sound blared on, making me jump. ââ¬ËI am not a liar!ââ¬â¢ some long-ago TV actress cried. For a moment she looked right out at me, and I was stunned breathless to see Joââ¬â¢s eyes in that black-and-white fifties face. ââ¬ËI never lied, Mr. Burger, never!ââ¬â¢ ââ¬ËI submit that you did!ââ¬â¢ Burger responded. He moved in on her, leering like a vampire. ââ¬ËI submit that you ââ¬Ë The TV suddenly went off. Bunterââ¬â¢s bell gave a single brisk shake, and then whatever had been here was gone. But I felt better. I am not a liar . . . I never lied, never. I could believe that if I chose to. If I chose. I went to bed, and there were no dreams. I had taken to starting work early, before the heat could really get a hold on the study. Iââ¬â¢d drink some juice, gobble some toast, then sit behind the IBM until almost noon, watching the Courier ball dance and twirl as the pages floated through the machine and came out with writing on them. That old magic, so strange and wonderful. It never really felt like work to me, although I called it that; it felt like some weird kind of mental trampoline I bounced on. Those were springs that took away all the weight of the world for awhile. At noon Iââ¬â¢d break, drive down to Buddy Jellisonââ¬â¢s greaseatorium for something nasty, then return and work for another hour or so. After that I would swim and take a long dreamless nap in the north bedroom. I had barely poked my head into the master bedroom at the south end of the house, and if Mrs. M. thought this was odd, she kept it to herself. On Friday the seventeenth, I stopped at the Lakeview General on my way back to the house to gas up my Chevrolet. There are pumps at the All-Purpose Garage, and the go-juice was a penny or two cheaper, but I didnââ¬â¢t like the vibe. Today, as I stood in front of the store with the pump on automatic feed, looking off toward the mountains, Bill Deanââ¬â¢s Dodge Ram pulled in on the other side of the island. He climbed down and gave me a smile. ââ¬ËHowââ¬â¢s it going, Mike?ââ¬â¢ ââ¬ËPretty fair.ââ¬â¢ ââ¬ËBrenda says youââ¬â¢re writin up a storm.ââ¬â¢ ââ¬ËI am,ââ¬â¢ I said, and it was on the tip of my tongue to ask for an update on the broken second-floor air conditioner. The tip of my tongue was where it stayed. I was still too nervous about my rediscovered ability to want to change anything about the environment in which I was doing it. Stupid, maybe, but sometimes things work just because you think they work. Itââ¬â¢s as good a definition of faith as any. ââ¬ËWell, Iââ¬â¢m glad to hear it. Very glad.ââ¬â¢ I thought he was sincere enough, but he somehow didnââ¬â¢t sound like Bill. Not the one who had greeted me back, anyway. ââ¬ËIââ¬â¢ve been looking up some old stuff about my side of the lake,ââ¬â¢ I said. ââ¬ËSara and the Red-Tops? You always were sort ofintââ¬â¢rested in them, I remember.ââ¬â¢ ââ¬ËThem, yes, but not just them. Lots of history. I was talking to Mrs. M., and she told me about Normal Auster. Kennyââ¬â¢s father.ââ¬â¢ Billââ¬â¢s smile stayed on, and he only paused a moment in the act of unscrewing the cap on his gas tank, but I still had a sense, quite clear, that he had frozen inside. ââ¬ËYou wouldnââ¬â¢t write about a thing like that, would you, Mike? Because thereââ¬â¢s a lot of people around here thatââ¬â¢d feel it bad and take it wrong. I told Jo the same thing.ââ¬â¢ ââ¬ËJo?ââ¬â¢ I felt an urge to step between the two pumps and over the island so I could grab him by the arm. ââ¬ËWhatââ¬â¢s Jo got to do with this?ââ¬â¢ He looked at me cautiously and long. ââ¬ËShe didnââ¬â¢t tell you?ââ¬â¢ ââ¬ËWhat are you talking about?ââ¬â¢ ââ¬ËShe thought she might write something about Sara and the Red-Tops for one of the local papers.ââ¬â¢ Bill was picking his words very slowly. I have a clear memory of that, and of how hot the sun was, beating down on my neck, and the sharpness of our shadows on the asphalt. He began to pump his gas, and the sound of the pumpââ¬â¢s motor was also very sharp. ââ¬ËI think she even mentioned Yankee magazine. I cââ¬â¢d be wrong about that, but I donââ¬â¢t think I am.ââ¬â¢ I was speechless. Why would she have kept quiet about the idea to try her hand at a little local history? Because she might have thought she was poaching on my territory? That was ridiculous. She had known me better than that . . . hadnââ¬â¢t she? ââ¬ËWhen did you have this conversation, Bill? Do you remember?ââ¬â¢ ââ¬ËCoss I do,ââ¬â¢ he said. ââ¬ËSame day she come down to take delivery of those plastic owls. Only I raised the subject, because folks had told me she was asking around.ââ¬â¢ ââ¬ËPrying?ââ¬â¢ ââ¬ËI didnââ¬â¢t say that,ââ¬â¢ he said stiffly, ââ¬Ëyou did.ââ¬â¢ True, but I thought prying was what he meant. ââ¬ËGo on.ââ¬â¢ ââ¬ËNothing to go on about. I told her there were sore toes here and there on the TR, same as there are anyplace, and ast her not to tread on any corns if she could help it. She said she understood. Maybe she did, maybe she didnââ¬â¢t. All I know is she kepââ¬â¢ on asking questions. Listenin to stories from old fools with more time than sense.ââ¬â¢ ââ¬ËWhen was this?ââ¬â¢ ââ¬ËFall of ââ¬â¢93, winter and spring of ââ¬â¢94. Went all around town, she did even over to Motton and Harlow with her notebook and little tape-recorder. Anyway, thatââ¬â¢s all I know.ââ¬â¢ I realized a stunning thing: Bill was lying. If youââ¬â¢d asked me before that day, Iââ¬â¢d have laughed and told you Bill Dean didnââ¬â¢t have a lie in him. And he must not have had many, because he did it badly. I thought of calling him on it, but to what end? I needed to think, and I couldnââ¬â¢t do it here my mind was roaring. Given time, that roar might subside and Iââ¬â¢d see it was really nothing, no big deal, but I needed that time. When you start finding out unexpected things about a loved one whoââ¬â¢s been dead awhile, it rocks you. Take it from me, it does. Billââ¬â¢s eyes had shifted away from mine, but now they shifted back. He looked both earnest and I could have sworn it a little scared. ââ¬ËShe ast about little Kerry Auster, and thatââ¬â¢s a good example of what I mean about steppin on sore toes. Thatââ¬â¢s not the stuff for a newspaper story or a magazine article. Normal just snapped. No one knows why. It was a terrible tragedy, senseless, and thereââ¬â¢s still people who could be hurt by it. In little towns things are kind of connected under the surface ââ¬Ë Yes, like cables you couldnââ¬â¢t quite see. ââ¬Ë and the past dies slower. Sara and those others, thatââ¬â¢s a little different. They were just . . . just wanderers . . . from away. Jo could have stuck to those folks and it wouldââ¬â¢ve been all right. And say for all I know, she did. Because I never saw a single word she ever wrote. If she did write.ââ¬â¢ About that he was telling the truth, I felt. But I knew something else, knew it as surely as Iââ¬â¢d known Mattie had been wearing white shorts when she called me on her day off. Sara and those others were just wanderers from away, Bill had said, but he hesitated in the middle of his thought, substituting wanderers for the word which had come naturally to mind. Niggers was the word he hadnââ¬â¢t said. Sara and those others were just niggers from away. All at once I found myself thinking of an old story by Ray Bradbury, ââ¬ËMars Is Heaven.ââ¬â¢ The first space travellers to Mars discover itââ¬â¢s Green Town, Illinois, and all their well-loved friends and relatives are there. Only the friends and relatives are really alien monsters, and in the night, while the space travellers think they are sleeping in the beds of their long-dead kinfolk in a place that must be heaven, they are slaughtered to the last man. ââ¬ËBill, youââ¬â¢re sure she was up here a few times in the off-season?ââ¬â¢ ââ¬ËAyuh. ââ¬ËTââ¬â¢wasnââ¬â¢t just a few times, either. Might have been a dozen times or more. Day-trips, donââ¬â¢t you know.ââ¬â¢ ââ¬ËDid you ever see a fellow with her? Burly guy, black hair?ââ¬â¢ He thought about it. I tried not to hold my breath. At last he shook his head. ââ¬ËFew times I saw her, she was alone. But I didnââ¬â¢t see her every time she came. Sometimes I only heard sheââ¬â¢d been on the TR after she ââ¬Ëus gone again. Saw her in June of ââ¬â¢94, headed up toward Halo Bay in that little car a hers. She waved, I waved back. Went down to the house later that evenin to see if she needed anythin, but sheââ¬â¢d gone. I didnââ¬â¢t see her again. When she died later on that summer, me and ââ¬ËVette were so shocked.ââ¬â¢ Whatever she was looking for, she must never have written any of it down. I would have found the manuscript. Was that true, though? She had made many trips down here with no apparent attempts at concealment, on one of them she had even been accompanied by a strange man, and I had only found out about these visits by accident. ââ¬ËThis is hard to talk about,ââ¬â¢ Bill said, ââ¬Ëbut since weââ¬â¢ve gotten started hard, we might as well go the rest of the way. Livin on the TR is like the way we used to sleep four or even five in a bed when it was January and true cold. If everyone rests easy, you do all right. But if one person gets restless, gets tossing and turning, no one can sleep. Right now youââ¬â¢re the restless one. Thatââ¬â¢s how people see it.ââ¬â¢ He waited to see what Iââ¬â¢d say. When almost twenty seconds passed without a word from me (Harold Oblowski would have been proud), he shuffled his feet and went on. ââ¬ËThere are people in town uneasy about the interest youââ¬â¢ve taken in Mattie Devore, for instance. Now Iââ¬â¢m not sayin thereââ¬â¢s anythin going on between the two of you although thereââ¬â¢s folks who do say it but if you want to stay on the TR youââ¬â¢re makin it tough on yourself.ââ¬â¢ ââ¬ËWhy?ââ¬â¢ ââ¬ËComes back to what I said a week and a half ago. Sheââ¬â¢s trouble.ââ¬â¢ ââ¬ËAs I recall, Bill, you said she was in trouble. And she is. Iââ¬â¢m trying to help her out of it. Thereââ¬â¢s nothing going on between us but that.ââ¬â¢ ââ¬ËI seem to recall telling you that Max Devore is nuts,ââ¬â¢ he said. ââ¬ËIf you make him mad, we all pay the price.ââ¬â¢ The pump clicked off and he racked it up. Then he sighed, raised his hands, dropped them. ââ¬ËYou think this is easy for me to say?ââ¬â¢ ââ¬ËYou think itââ¬â¢s easy for me to listen to?ââ¬â¢ ââ¬ËAll right, ayuh, weââ¬â¢re in the same skiff. But Mattie Devore isnââ¬â¢t the only person on the TR livin hand-to-mouth, you know. Thereââ¬â¢s others got their woes, as well. Canââ¬â¢t you understand that?ââ¬â¢ Maybe he saw that I understood too much and too well, because his shoulders slumped. ââ¬ËIf youââ¬â¢re asking me to stand aside and let Devore take Mattieââ¬â¢s baby without a fight, you can forget it,ââ¬â¢ I said. ââ¬ËAnd I hope thatââ¬â¢s not it. Because I think Iââ¬â¢d have to be quits with a man whoââ¬â¢d ask another man to do something like that.ââ¬â¢ ââ¬ËI wouldnââ¬â¢t ask it now anywise,ââ¬â¢ he said, his accent thickening almost to the point of contempt. ââ¬ËItââ¬â¢d be too late, wouldnââ¬â¢t it?ââ¬â¢ And then, unexpectedly, he softened. ââ¬ËChrist, man, Iââ¬â¢m worried about you. Let the rest of it go hang, all right? Hang high where the crows can pick it.ââ¬â¢ He was lying again, but this time I didnââ¬â¢t mind so much, because I thought he was lying to himself. ââ¬ËBut you need to have a care. When I said Devore was crazy, that was no figure of speech. Do you think heââ¬â¢ll bother with court if court canââ¬â¢t get him what he wants? Folks died in those summer fires back in 1933. Good people. One related to me. They burned over half the goddam county and Max Devore set em. That was his going-away present to the TR. It could never be proved, but he did it. Back then he was young and broke, not yet twenty and no law in his pocket. What do you think heââ¬â¢d do now?ââ¬â¢ He looked at me searchingly. I said nothing. Bill nodded as if I had spoken. ââ¬ËThink about it. And you remember this, Mike: no man who didnââ¬â¢t care for you would ever talk to you straight as I have.ââ¬â¢ ââ¬ËHow straight was that, Bill?ââ¬â¢ I was faintly aware of some tourist walking from his Volvo to the store and looking at us curiously, and when I replayed the scene in my mind later on, I realized we must have looked like guys on the verge of a fistfight. I remember that I felt like crying out of sadness and bewilderment and an incompletely defined sense of betrayal, but I also remember being furious with this lanky old man him in his shining-clean cotton undershirt and his mouthful of false teeth. So maybe we were close to fighting, and I just didnââ¬â¢t know it at the time. ââ¬ËStraight as I could be,ââ¬â¢ he said, and turned away to go inside and pay for his gas. ââ¬ËMy house is haunted,ââ¬â¢ I said. He stopped, back to me, shoulders hunched as if to absorb a blow. Then, slowly, he turned back. ââ¬ËSara Laughs has always been haunted, Mike. Youââ¬â¢ve stirred em up. Pââ¬â¢raps you should go back to Derry and let em settle. That might be the best thing.ââ¬â¢ He paused, as if replaying this last to see if he agreed with it, then nodded. He nodded as slowly as he had turned. ââ¬ËAyuh, that might be best all around.ââ¬â¢ When I got back to Sara I called Ward Hankins. Then I finally made that call to Bonnie Amudson. Part of me was rooting for her not to be in at the travel agency in Augusta she co-owned, but she was. Halfway through my talk with her, the fax began to print out xeroxed pages from Joââ¬â¢s appointment calendars. On the first one Ward had scrawled, ââ¬ËHope this helps.ââ¬â¢ I didnââ¬â¢t rehearse what I was going to say to Bonnie; I felt that to do so would be a recipe for disaster. I told her that Jo had been writing something maybe an article, maybe a series of them about the township where our summerhouse was located, and that some of the locals had apparently been cheesed off by her curiosity. Some still were. Had she talked to Bonnie? Perhaps showed her an early draft? ââ¬ËNo, huh-uh.ââ¬â¢ Bonnie sounded honestly surprised. ââ¬ËShe used to show me her photos, and more herb samples than I honestly cared to see, but she never showed me anything she was writing. In fact, I remember her once saying that sheââ¬â¢d decided to leave the writing to you and just ââ¬Ë ââ¬Ë take a little taste of everything else, right?ââ¬â¢ ââ¬ËYes.ââ¬â¢ I thought this was a good place to end the conversation, but the guys in the basement seemed to have other ideas. ââ¬ËWas she seeing anyone, Bonnie?ââ¬â¢ Silence from the other end. With a hand that seemed at least four miles down my arm, I plucked the fax sheets out of the basket. Ten of them November of 1993 to August of 1994. Jottings everywhere in Joââ¬â¢s neat hand. Had we even had a fax before she died? I couldnââ¬â¢t remember. There was so fucking much I couldnââ¬â¢t remember. ââ¬ËBonnie? If you know something, please tell me. Joââ¬â¢s dead, but Iââ¬â¢m not. I can forgive her if I have to, but I canââ¬â¢t forgive what I donââ¬â¢t underst ââ¬Ë ââ¬ËIââ¬â¢m sorry,ââ¬â¢ she said, and gave a nervous little laugh. ââ¬ËItââ¬â¢s just that I didnââ¬â¢t understand at first. ââ¬Å"Seeing anyone,â⬠that was just so . . . so foreign to Jo . . . the Jo I knew . . . that I couldnââ¬â¢t figure out what you were talking about. I thought maybe you meant a shrink, but you didnââ¬â¢t, did you? You meant seeing someone like seeing a guy. A boyfriend.ââ¬â¢ ââ¬ËThatââ¬â¢s what I meant.ââ¬â¢ Thumbing through the faxed calendar sheets now, my hand not quite back to its proper distance from my eyes but getting there, getting there. I felt relief at the honest bewilderment in Bonnieââ¬â¢s voice, but not as much as Iââ¬â¢d expected. Because Iââ¬â¢d known. I hadnââ¬â¢t even needed the woman in the old Perry Mason episode to put in her two cents, not really. It was Jo we were talking about, after all. Jo. ââ¬ËMike,ââ¬â¢ Bonnie was saying, very softly, as if I might be crazy, ââ¬Ëshe loved you. She loved you. ââ¬ËYes. I suppose she did.ââ¬â¢ The calendar pages showed how busy my wife had been. How productive. S-Ks of Maine . . . the soup kitchens. WomShel, a county-to-county network of shelters for battered women. TeenShel. Friends of Me. Libes. She had been at two or three meetings a month two or three a week at some points and Iââ¬â¢d barely noticed. I had been too busy with my women in jeopardy. ââ¬ËI loved her too, Bonnie, but she was up to something in the last ten months of her life. She didnââ¬â¢t give you any hint of what it might have been when you were riding to meetings of the Soup Kitchens board or the Friends of Maine Libraries?ââ¬â¢ Silence from the other end. ââ¬ËBonnie?ââ¬â¢ I took the phone away from my ear to see if the red LOW BATTERY light was on, and it squawked my name. I put it back. ââ¬ËBonnie, what is it?ââ¬â¢ ââ¬ËThere were no long drives those last nine or ten months. We talked on the phone and I remember once we had lunch in Waterville, but there were no long drives. She quit.ââ¬â¢ I thumbed through the fax-sheets again. Meetings noted everywhere in Joââ¬â¢s neat hand, Soup Kitchens of Maine among them. ââ¬ËI donââ¬â¢t understand. She quit the Soup Kitchens board?ââ¬â¢ Another moment of silence. Then, speaking carefully: ââ¬ËNo, Mike. She quit all of them. She finished with Woman Shelters and Teen Shelters at the end of ââ¬â¢93 her term was up then. The other two, Soup Kitchens and Friends of Maine Libraries . . . she resigned in October or November of 1993.ââ¬â¢ Meetings noted on all the sheets Ward had sent me. Dozens of them. Meetings in 1993, meetings in 1994. Meetings of boards to which sheââ¬â¢d no longer belonged. She had been down here. On all those supposed meeting-days, Jo had been on the TR. I would have bet my life on it. But why? How to cite Bag of Bones CHAPTER SIXTEEN, Essay examples
Saturday, May 2, 2020
Financial Evaluation Of The Hypothetical Company SSS
Question: Discuss about the Essay for Financial Evaluation of The Hypothetical Company SSS? Answer: Introduction The assignment is about the Financial Evaluation Of The Hypothetical Company Sss. The financial performance measurement will be done using the ratio analysis. The balance sheet and the income statement of the company will be prepared using the data from the trial balance of the company. Additionally, the statement changes due to using IAS 1 like comprehensive income and position of the income statement will be critically analysed in this paper. The change in the ratios and the financial performance of Golfy and Tenniswise will be prepared in this study and the comparative analysis for investment decision for the investor will be recommended in this assignment.Final accounts of Sunny Soccer Sports for the year end 31st October, 2013 Profit and Loss a/c of SSS as at 31st October, 2013 Income Sales 120000 cost of goods sold 40000 Gross income 80000 wages 17000 Heat 2000 Advertising 5000 postage 500 Rates 700 Petrol 2300 Total o/h 27500 Income from Rent 300 Net profit before tax 52800 Table 1: Profit and Loss a/c of SSS as at 31st October, 2013 Balance sheet of SSS as at 31st October, 2013 Current assets Bank 22000 cash 500 Debtors 8000 closing stock 80000 Balance 80000 Rates Total CA 110500 Current liabilities Trade creditors 11000 Additional creditors 1200 Total CL 12200 Working capital 98300 Fixed assets Premises 200000 Vehicles 25000 Total fixed Assets 225000 323300 Capital 270500 Add: PAT 52800 Total equity 323300 Table 2: Balance sheet of SSS as at 31st October, 2013 Statement on changes to reporting standards under IAS for profit statement and financial position The 1st standard of IAS provides the information of the general application of providing the financial statement according to the reporting style mentioned in IFRS. The objective of the international accounting standard is to provide information about the financial performance, financial position of the entity and cash flow of the firm. The report consists of statements of assets, liabilities, equity, income and expenses and cash flows mainly. Further, the statement also provides the information regarding the attributed profit to the shareholders on an annual basis (ey.com 2011). The IAS 1 has changed the reporting style of the accounts of an entity balance sheet as statement of financial position and income statement as statement of comprehensive income. The comprehensive income of the entity requires to be disclosed in a separate statement so that the surplus of the asset revaluation can be understood from the accounting statement. Additionally, the actuarial gains are also added in the comprehensive income statement. The gains or losses from foreign entitys translation selling the firms assets and hedging of the commodities or foreign currency are reflected in this statement too (Iasplus.com 2016). The financial position of the companies is expressed in the fair value of the assets and liabilities. The change in the balance sheet of the firms has been taken place lately where the changes in the financial position of the different attributes are observed except changes in the equity. Additionally, the current assets are presented in fair value of the market to present in a materialistic way (Ifrs.org 2016). The financial position of the firms must be classified into four parameters mainly current and non- current liabilities ad assets. However, the current value of the equity and reserve of the firm is also disclosed here. Change in the shares, the portion of the shares in the subsidiaries are required for the companies to be disclosed in the statement of the financial position (Lole 2014). Meaning of financial ratios There are many financial ratios present in the market under which we can measure the financial performance of a short-cut method. The method of ratio analysis provides the direction to the different stakeholders for analysing the performance of the firm in point of view of profitability, position of liquidity in the company as well as the efficiency of the management. According to McKeown et al. (2014), ratio analysis provides the analysts the understanding of financial performance as well as the financial position of the company on an accrual basis. Profitability ratios provide information about profit margin as well as the return to the investors. Gross profit and net profit margin provide the information regarding the profitability from the revenue of the business. However, the return on equity is the measurement of the return to the shareholders on the basis of their investment in the company. The capital is invested in the business and the return is the profit after tax for the firms (Nicholls 2013). The profitability margin shows good result due to the high value of the financial statements from time to time. The analysis can show that profit and return on the business due to change in different activities of the firm. Gross profit margin = gross profit / sales Net profit margin = Net profit / sales ROCE = Net profit / capital employed in business Liquidity ratio of the company can provide the information regarding the liquid present in the company's balance sheet. The liquid assets are the backbone of the business to run the operation smoothly to get better performance from the daily activities of different aspects of the business. Further, measurement of the liquidity may show that the capacity of the firms to pay its obligations regarding the operations. The daily activities of the business always require the liquid assets and cash to run the operation without hazards (Parmar 2014). However, he saw that higher liquidity may reduce the efficiency of the funds as the cash may become idle due to lack of many actions in the business. In this context, the analysts prefer two tests mainly - current ratio and acid test ratio. The test of the liquid assets in the firm's financial position may be judged using the current assets where the relative measurement of current assets is done with the current liabilities. However, the invent ory is not much liquid as observed by many analysts (Ross 2012; Taillard 2013). Thereby, the change in the method is applied by deducting the inventory from the entire current assets and measure the current ratio of quick responding assets those can be liquidised fast. Current ratio = current assets / current liabilities Quick ratio = (current assets inventory) / current liabilities Management efficiency is very crucial to the performance of the firms as they are depended on the efficient decision-making ability of the management. It is clear that the management of the companies is responsible for delivering the better performance to the business from time to time. Therefore, the main concerned issue for the analysts is to measure the efficiency of the measurement (Velez-Pareja and Davila n.d.). However, the decisions made by the management of the firms could not be disclosed in public as it may reveal the strategy of the company in the outside world. So, it is customary to measure the efficiency of the management by measuring their efficiency and effectiveness in managing the working capital of the business as well as the change in the payables and receivables position of the business (Vickerstaff and Johal 2014). Inventory turnover ratio = Sales / Inventory Days of collection = Receivables / (sales/365) Days of payable = Payables / (sales /365) Report on comparative analysis of financial performance and position Profitability measurement The profitability measurement of Golfy and Tenniswise was done here where the gross margin from the business observed. Golfy had almost half the gross margin of Tenniswise in the current period. However, the difference in net margin of the two companies reduced havoc as the operating cost of the former was low in the concerned period (Zaimah et al. 2013). The same picture was observed for measuring the return on equity whereas both the company yielded almost negligible difference to return the shareholders from the annual financial performance. Thereby, from the ROCE point of view, it can be said that Golfy had used the lesser capital to return more comparatively with Tenniswise. SSS had better profit margin as well as yielded better return to the shareholders in the current year. Liquidity Liquidity measurement of the two companies showed that Golfy had the better position of liquid assets in the company as it had better ratio compare to Tenniswise. In this context, the liquidity ratio of SSS was better than these two companies (McKeown et al. 2014). Efficiency The efficiency ratio of the companies showed that Golfy's management was more efficient in collecting the debt and managing the creditors. However, the payment days of the creditors for Golfy was lower than Tenniswise; the creditor management was better for the first company. However, the inventory turnover ratio of Golfy was poor compared to Tenniswise as seen in the calculation. Thereby, it can be said that the later one has performed well in turning over the inventory into sales faster than the former one (Hillier 2013). Comparing with SSS, the working capital management of Golfy and Tenniswise was poor. Conclusion In power point The efficiency ratio of the companies showed that Golfy's management was more efficient in collecting the debt and managing the creditors. However, the payment days of the creditors for Golfy was lower than Tenniswise; the creditor management was better for the first company. References Ahmed, A. (n.d.). Financial Ratio Analysis of Square Pharmaceuticals Limited.SSRN Electronic Journal. Berk, J., DeMarzo, P. and Harford, J. (2012).Fundamentals of corporate finance. Boston: Prentice Hall. Beyersdorff, M. (2014).International GAAP 2014. Chichester, UK: J. Wiley Sons. Beyersdorff, M. (n.d.).International GAAP 2014. Brealey, R., Myers, S. and Marcus, A. (2012).Fundamentals of corporate finance. New York: McGraw-Hill/Irwin. Collings, S. (n.d.).Corporate finance for dummies. Dr.Vani R Kamath, D. (2013). 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Kingston upon Thames: Wolters Kluwer [for] the Institute of Chartered Accountants in England and Wales. McKeown, W., Kerry, M., Olynyk, M. and Beal, D. (2014).Financial Planning. Milton: Wiley. Nicholls, C. (2013).Corporate finance and Canadian law. Toronto, Ont.: Carswell. Parmar, V. (2014).Analysis Of Financial Statements. SaarbruÃÅ'Ãâ cken: LAP LAMBERT Academic Publishing. Ross, S. (2012).Fundamentals of corporate finance. New York: McGraw-Hill. Taillard, M. (2013).Corporate finance for dummies. Hoboken, N.J.: John Wiley Sons, Inc. Velez-Pareja, I. and Davila, M. (n.d.). Financial Analysis and Control - Financial Ratio Analysis (In Spanish).SSRN Electronic Journal. Vickerstaff, B. and Johal, P. (2014).Financial Accounting. Hoboken: Taylor and Francis. Zaimah, R., Masud, J., Haron, S., Othman, M., Awang, A. and Sarmila, M. (2013). Financial Well-Being: Financial Ratio Analysis of Married Public Sector Workers in Malaysia.Asian Social Science, 9(14).
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