Jeri Smith-Ready

This time of year," she said, "people__ consciences gnaw at them. They give away truckloads of canned goods and quote Dickens and wring their hands over the __ess fortunate._" We boarded the Metro and took seats perpendicular to each other. "But God forbid anyone should address why they__e poor in the first place, or try to change the structures that keep them poor. Then the __ess fortunate_ turn into __elfare queens_ and __erelicts._ But if I were a lobbyist whoring on behalf of some transnational corporation, I__ never hear the word __erelict._""So when it comes to taking care of poor people," I said, "if Mother Teresa is the Hallmark card, then you__e the electric bill.

I'm more of a dog person. But I admire cats and their ability to take so much while giving so little.

Go ahead, God, you fat, filthy motherfucker, lightning-bolt my ass into oblivion if you're so tough!

Sorry," she said. "I have a psychological disorder that prevents me from keeping thoughts inside my head where they belong.

Beautiful doesn't begin to describe it. A flower is beautiful. But this is beautiful the way that a person is beautiful- terrifying with its jagged edges, yet seductive with its crevices that hide so many secrets.

Aura," he whispered, "I wish I could wipe away just one of your tears. Then I'dfeel like a person again. Like I'm something more than a bunch of light.

Aura, I'm really patient, but I'm not a bloody saint.

I promise I'll never tell.""Don't promise that," he said in an ultraserious voice. "If they try to hurt you and the only way to protect yourself is to tell them what you know about me, then you tell them. Straight off, okay?""No." "Promise me.""No!""I will possess your heart."Heat flared along the back of my neck. "What did you say?""My favorite song. 'I Will Possess Your Heart.'""By Death Cab for Cutie?"He snorted. "No, the little known T.I. Hip-hop remix. Yes, Death Cab for Cutie."... "Why? What's wrong with it?""Nothing, but it doesn't seem to fit you. It's kind of a sad song." "No it's pure confident. It's not 'I want' or 'I need', none of that crap." He slipped his hand over mine. "It's 'I will.'"A nervous laugh bubbled up. "You will, huh?"His fingers brushed my cheek, then slid into my hair. "I will.

Ignorance is the world's most curable affliction.