duty？to make this asshole read。 He stood up。 ？Follow me。？
He led the mindless goth kid into a small back room full of leather…bound classics and found a
beautiful Everyman？s Library copy of Joyce？s masterpiece。 Dan began to read aloud from a
random page： ？Touch me。 Soft eyes。 Soft soft soft hand。 I am lonely here。 O； touch me soon； now。
What is that word known to all men？ I am quiet here alone。 Sad too。 Touch； touch me。？ Dan
paused and looked up。 ？e on； you know you want to；？ he urged。
The kid looked terrified； probably suspecting Dan was some sort of Strand…lurking literary
pervert。 He dropped his Batman lunch box and bolted。
Dan sat down on the floor to finish the page。 He had to admit that James Joyce did always sort of
turn him on。
Yes； it？s going to be an interesting summer indeed。
helmets are almost as important as condoms
Nate stood up on the pedals of his vintage Schwinn； pushing them up and down with his feet； and
then eased himself back onto the unfortable； unpadded leather seat。 He liked to bike this
way？pedaling as hard as he could and then sitting down to feel the warm summer breeze on his
face。 To the right； the waves rippled off the beach。 On his left was a vine…yard full of Chardonnay
grapes。 The air smelled like salt and gas…grilled steak。 He listened to the satisfying crunch of the
gravelly road under his wheels and grinned lazily。
His morning joint had done just the trick； and by the end of the day； he？d been kind of grooving
on what was supposed to be his summer punishment。 There was something soothing about
physical labor。 He？d spent the summer after tenth grade helping his dad build their sailboat；
t