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[Assistant] More parts of the lake were filled in so that stone buildings could be raised. Canals etched with stone channeled the water away from the foundations of the city.


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[Assistant] The canals also acted as streets. Often, the Aztecs traveled through their capital city by canoe. Smaller cities grew up around the edge of the lake.


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[Assistant] The people who lived in these cities grew corn, squash, tomatoes, and beans, paddled canoes full of food over to Tenochtitlan, and sold the food to the city dwellers.


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[Assistant] But the Aztecs of Tenochtitlan didn't rely on the shore for all their food. They learned how to grow crops in the lake.


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[Assistant] They wove reeds into huge mats and floated these mats in the water.


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[Assistant] They covered the surface of the mats with dirt and planted seeds in the dirt. When the plants spring up,


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[Assistant] Their roots grew down through the dirt, through the mats, and into the water.


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[Assistant] Sometimes the roots reached all the way down into the bottom of the lake.


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[Assistant] These crops never died from drought or sun. They always had plenty of water.


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[Assistant] Some Aztecs even built small houses on their floating garden mats.


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[Assistant] The Aztecs ate food from the lake as well. They caught fish, but they also cooked and ate water lizards, salamanders, frogs, and fish eggs. One Aztec delicacy was cakes made out of algae that had been pressed and dried.


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[Assistant] For meat, they hunted the ducks and birds that swam on the lake surface, as well as deer and rabbits that roamed on the lake shores.


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[Assistant] On special occasions, they drank fermented cactus juice. But getting drunk was against the Aztec laws. Anyone who got drunk could be put to death.


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[Assistant] The Aztecs also learned how to make a brand new food, chocolate.


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[Assistant] The rich dirt around the lake was a perfect place to grow cacao trees.


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[Assistant] Small fruit trees that bear fruit like melons, each almost a foot long.


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[Assistant] When the purple fruit of the cacao tree turned brown, the Aztecs would pick the fruit and scoop out the insides.


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[Assistant] But they weren't after the pulp inside the fruit. They wanted the seeds.


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[Assistant] Each cacao fruit might have 30 or 40 seeds in it.


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[Assistant] The Aztecs pounded these cacao beans into fine powder.


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[Assistant] Boiled them with corn flour into a soupy paste, strained the paste into a thin brown liquid, and then added vanilla and honey to it. The result? Chocolate.


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[Assistant] This chocolate was probably bitter and grainy, not smooth and creamy like the chocolate we have today.


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[Assistant] Today chocolate makers add milk, sugar, and extra butter to chocolate to make it sweeter and softer.


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[Assistant] But the Aztecs didn't think their chocolate was bitter. Chocolate was one of their favorite foods. Rich people drank it from golden cups. Cacao beans were as valuable as gold. The Aztecs even used them for money.


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[Assistant] Chocolate, they thought, was food worthy of the gods.


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[Assistant] Tinochtitlan could only be reached by three raised earthen roads that ran through the lake. And between each road and the gates of the city was a moat.


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[Assistant] Usually this moat was filled with heavy logs that allowed horses and carts to cross over into Tinochtitlan.


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[Assistant] But when the Aztecs were at war, they rolled the logs out of the moat. Then no one could cross into the city on foot. And the Aztecs needed to be able to defend their city because they fought with everyone around them. Even though they had a beautiful capital city and plenty to eat and drink,


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[Assistant] They raided nearby tribes and kidnapped men, women, and children to sacrifice to their gods.


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[Assistant] The Aztecs were prosperous, but they were also hated by the other tribes of Central America.


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[Assistant] She's the editor-in-chief of Runway, you know the fashion magazine?


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[Assistant] No, not the one for teenagers. It's most definitely for grown women. In theory, at least.


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[Assistant] If you could get back to me as soon as possible, I'd really appreciate it, I told Julia. And if a senior publicist gets in anytime soon, please have her call me.


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[Assistant] The fourth book in that wretched Harry Potter series was due to be released the next day, a Saturday, and Miranda's ten-year-old twin daughters each wanted one. The first copies wouldn't arrive in stores until Monday.


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[Assistant] But I had to have them in my hands on Saturday morning, mere minutes after they were released from the warehouse. After all, Harry had to catch a private flight to Paris.


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[Assistant] Emily walked in from a stroll around the office and asked me if she had called.


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[Assistant] Only three times and she didn't threaten to fire me during any of them. I said proudly, progress, no? She laughed in the way she did only when I made fun of myself and asked what Miranda had wanted. Just wanted me to switch around B Dad's lunch reservation. Mr. Blind, Deaf and Dumb was our nickname for Miranda's third husband.


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[Assistant] There was quite simply no other explanation for how a nice guy like him could tolerate living with her. Next, it was time to call B-Dad himself.


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[Assistant] He'd flown back from their vacation for a couple days of business meetings. B-Dad's real name was Hunter Tomlinson.


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[Assistant] He and Miranda had gotten married the summer before, after what I'd heard was a rather unique courtship.


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[Assistant] She left her second husband, the lead singer of one of the most famous bands from the late 60s and the twins' father,


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[Assistant] With absolutely no warning before her lawyer delivered the papers.


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[Assistant] I was married again precisely 12 days after the divorce was finalized.


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[Assistant] Hi Martha, it's Andrea. Listen, I don't need to talk to Mr. Tomlinson. Can you just give him a message for me?


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[Assistant] He asked quietly in his deep, distinguished voice, Mr. Tomlinson is going to think you're avoiding him. It's been ages since I've had the pleasure of speaking with you.


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[Assistant] In addition to his blindness, deafness and dumbness, Mr. Tomlinson had the irritating habit of constantly referring to himself in the third person. I took a deep breath.


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[Assistant] Hello Mr. Tomlinson. Miranda asked me to let you know that lunch is at one today at Le Cirque. She said that you'd- Sweetheart. He said slowly, calmly. Enough with all that plan making for just a second.


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[Assistant] Give an old man a moment of pleasure and tell Mr. Tomlinson all about your life. Will you do that for him? So tell me dear, are you happy working for my wife? Was I happy working for his wife? Hmm.


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[Assistant] Let's see, are little baby mammals squealing with glee when a predator swallows them whole?


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[Assistant] Mr. Tomlinson, I love my job and I adore working for Miranda. I held my breath and prayed that he'd give it up. Well, Mr. T is just thrilled that things are working out.


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[Assistant] Sounds great, Mr. Tomlinson. Have a great lunch. I cut him off before he inevitably asked about my weekend plans and hung up.


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[Assistant] I sat back in my chair. The Harry Potter project loomed ahead of me and I had to get moving on it right away if I ever wanted to get away this weekend.


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[Assistant] Lily and I had planned a movie marathon weekend. We'd promised to spend the whole weekend parked on our couch and subsist solely on beer and Doritos. No snack wells, no diet coke, and absolutely no black pants.


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[Assistant] We'd been best friends since eighth grade. Lily just started at our school after it became clear that her parents weren't coming home anytime soon. They'd taken off to follow the dead.


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[Assistant] Leaving her behind to be watched over by their whacked out friends at the commune in New Mexico. When they hadn't returned almost a year later,


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[Assistant] We'd been inseparable through high school and had roomed together for all four years at Brown.


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[Assistant] I spent the rest of the day arranging for Harry Potter to jet his way to Paris. Acting under the assumption that Julia would pull through for me with a couple copies, I worked out some details. Dial, dial, and within an hour a plan had emerged.


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[Assistant] Brian, a cooperative editorial assistant at Scholastic, would take home two office copies of Harry that evening.


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[Assistant] Brian would leave the books with the doorman of his building, and I would have a car pick them up the following morning at 11.


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[Assistant] Miranda's driver, Yuri, would then call me on my cell phone to confirm that he'd received the package and was on his way to drop it at Teterboro Airport.


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[Assistant] Where the two books would be transferred to Mr Tomlinson's private jet and flown to Paris.


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[Assistant] If all went as planned, Little Cassidy and Caroline would wake up in their private Parisian suite on Sunday and enjoy their morning milk while reading about Harry's adventures a full day earlier than all of their friends. It warmed my heart. It really did.


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[Assistant] Around the time of World War I, Japan's Empire building got mixed up with China's ex-Emperor. When the young Qing Emperor, Henry Puyi, left the Forbidden Palace, he went first to Japan.


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[Assistant] Over in China, Sun Yishuan was forced to hand over power to a warlord named Yuan Shikai.


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[Assistant] Sun Yishuan fled to the city of Canton, while Yuan Shikai took over the new Chinese government and ruled as a military dictator.


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[Assistant] To keep his power, Yuan Shikai had to fight off other war leaders. While all this fighting was going on, Japan ordered Yuan Shikai to hand over not only Manchuria, but also the nearby provinces of Shantung and Inner Mongolia.


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[Assistant] Yuan had no choice. He couldn't resist Japan and fight against other warlords to keep his power in China. He agreed.


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[Assistant] A year later Yuan died. Now competing warlords and their bands of soldiers battled to rule the parts of China that hadn't been given over to the Japanese.


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[Assistant] Sun Yishuan, still in Canton, hadn't abandoned the hope of a united, peaceful China. He had organized a group of followers into a political party called the Nationalist Party, or the Kuomintang.


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[Assistant] The members of the Nationalist Party hope to get rid of the warlords and unite China again into a republic.


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[Assistant] Sun Yishuan and another Chinese revolutionary, Shanghai Shaq, asked Russia to send help so that the Nationalist Party could fight against the warlords when Russia agreed


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[Assistant] Shanghai Shack went to the Soviet Union to see how the Red Army worked.


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[Assistant] With the help of Soviet advisors and Soviet weapons, the Nationalist Party started its own military academy to train its own soldiers. Soviet officers came to China to help prepare the new National Revolutionary Army for battle.


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[Assistant] Shanghai Shek, now the Commander in Chief of the National Revolutionary Army, began to plan a campaign against the warlords of the North.


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[Assistant] A year later, the National Revolutionary Army began to march north. One by one, the army defeated the warlords that lay between Canton and Beijing.


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[Assistant] By 1928, the Nationalist Party had taken control of the city of Beijing and of China's government.


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[Assistant] But further away from the capital city, in the most distant provinces of China, warlords still reigned supreme.


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[Assistant] In Japan, meanwhile, a new emperor had just ascended the throne.


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[Assistant] For the last five years he had been the regent for his father, the emperor Yoshihito. Yoshihito had grown so old that he had begun to lose his wits.


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[Assistant] When Hirohito was twenty, Yoshihito went to a solemn meeting of Japan's government leaders. The meeting was long and dull. So the old man rolled up the papers on which his royal speech was written and amused himself by peering at all of the important men through it, like a telescope.


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[Assistant] At this, the leaders decided that Yoshihito was now too old to rule the country.


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[Assistant] Hirohito would take control of Japan and rule in his father's name.


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[Assistant] Five years later in 1926, Yoshihito died, and Hirohito became emperor in his own name.


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[Assistant] Hirohito governed a Japan that was torn by disagreement about who was really in charge.


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[Assistant] Like many other nations, Japan now had a constitution and an elected assembly that made and passed laws. The emperor was only supposed to make decisions after his cabinet, a group of advisors, told him what the people wanted.


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[Assistant] Hirohito was an energetic, well-educated young man. Before he became emperor, he had traveled in Europe.


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[Assistant] Gone fly fishing in Scotland and visited with the King of England. He didn't want to be a figurehead.


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[Assistant] He wanted to be a real emperor and all of his life. Hirohito had been taught that, like all emperors of Japan, he was part divine. A descendant of the sun goddess Amaterasu.


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[Assistant] Hirohito would not be content to simply sit and do as his advisors told him.


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[Assistant] Hirohito wasn't the only man who wanted to rule Japan.


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[Assistant] Japan's large army had become less and less willing to do as the government ordered.


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[Assistant] The Japanese army had already taken land away from China.


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[Assistant] Occupied Korea and seized Manchuria. It was a powerful, well-organized force, and many Japanese military officers didn't like the attitude of the Japanese assembly towards the armed forces. After the war with Russia, the assembly had reduced the size of the army.


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[Assistant] Five years after Hirohito ascended the throne, the Japanese soldiers posted in Manchuria took matters into their own hands.


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[Assistant] These soldiers were alarmed when the Nationalist Party took control of Beijing. If China grew strong and unified again, it might manage to reclaim Manchuria. So the soldiers in Manchuria accused Chinese soldiers of trying to bomb a train with Japanese soldiers on it. Was there really an explosion near the train? No one knows. But the train certainly arrived safely at its station. Still.


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[Assistant] Japanese soldiers started to invade and capture Chinese towns all over Manchuria in revenge. Other Japanese soldiers marched up from Korea to help.


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[Assistant] Back in Japan, the government knew nothing about this military action.


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[Assistant] When the Japanese assembly did find out that the Japanese soldiers had begun a small war in Manchuria, they were powerless to stop it.


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[Assistant] The army simply ignored all of the instructions coming out of Tokyo, Japan's capital city.


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[Assistant] Puyi accepted the offer at once, so the officers put him on a ship that would take him to Manchuria.


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[Assistant] Puyi didn't know it, but the Japanese had no intention of allowing him to fall back into Chinese hands. The boat was booby-trapped.


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[Assistant] If it were attacked by the Chinese, it would explode and Puyi would die.


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[Assistant] Fortunately the boat reached Manchuria safely.


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[Assistant] The Japanese army immediately announced that Puyi would be the chief executive of the new country, Manchukuo. No one was particularly happy about this.


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[Assistant] The Chinese said that Machuquah was an unreal country, a fairy tale, and that Puyi was a traitor.


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[Assistant] The Japanese government in Tokyo was unhappy with the army's actions, but was afraid of too much resistance.


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[Assistant] Then it would be obvious to everyone that the Japanese assembly and the emperor were helpless. So Hirohito and the Japanese government agreed to recognize Manchukuo as a legitimate country.


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[Assistant] Neither of which was very fond of the League of Nations agreed to recognize the new country of Machuquo as a real nation. The Japanese army, to keep Puyi happy, agreed to give him the title of Emperor.


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[Assistant] They gave him money, a palace, and no power. They made all of his decisions for him.


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[Assistant] Manchukuo would remain under Japanese power for many years. In time, Japan would use Manchukuo as a place to build naval and army bases. And the Japanese military would grow stronger yet.


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[Assistant] Logically, it would seem that a seven-hour flight in steerage decked out in a pair of skin-tight leather pants, open-toe strappy sandals, and a blazer over a tank top would be the utmost in hellish travel experiences. Not so.


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[Assistant] The seven hours in flight were the most relaxing I could remember. Since Miranda and I were both flying to Paris at the same time on different flights, she from Milan and me from New York, it appeared I'd stumbled on the single situation where she could not call me for seven straight hours. For one blessed day, my inaccessibility wasn't my fault.


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[Assistant] The baggage claim at De Gaulle was a nightmare, but I found the elegantly dressed driver who was waving a sign with my name on it when I exited customs, and the moment he closed his own door he handed me a cell phone.


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[Assistant] But before I could dial, the phone bleated and flashed in a frightening red color.


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[Assistant] Hello, this is Andrea Sachs. Andrea, what time does your watch read at this moment?


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[Assistant] Uhm, let me see. Actually, it says it's 5.15 in the morning, but obviously I haven't switched it yet to Paris time.


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[Assistant] Thank you for that never ending narrative, Andrea.


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[Assistant] And may I ask what exactly you've been doing for the past 35 minutes?


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[Assistant] Well Miranda, the flight landed a few minutes late and then I still had- Because according to the itinerary you created for me, I'm reading that your flight arrived 10.35 this morning.


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[Assistant] Yes, that's when it was scheduled to arrive, but you see- I'll not have you tell me what I see, Andrea.


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[Assistant] That is most certainly not acceptable behavior for the next week. Do you understand me? Yes, of course. I'm sorry.


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[Assistant] My heart began pounding and I could feel my face grow hot with humiliation. I had just apologized for not being able to make my international flight land at the correct time, and then for not being savvy enough to figure out how to avoid French customs entirely.


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[Assistant] I pressed my face against the window and watched as the limo weaved its way through Paris's bustling streets. I'd only been to Paris once before, but living out of a backpack in a hostel on the wrong side of town didn't quite have the same feel as watching the chic little clothing boutiques and adorable sidewalk cafes from the backseat of a limousine. I could get used to this, I thought.


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[Assistant] When the car pulled up to the hotel entrance, a distinguished looking gentleman opened the back door for me.


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[Assistant] Mademoiselle Sax, what a pleasure to finally meet you. I'm Gerard Renault. Monsieur Renault, it's great to finally meet you. Mademoiselle Andrea, Madame Priestie would like to see you in her room immediately. Before you've settled into yours, I'm afraid.


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[Assistant] He had an apologetic expression on his face. Clearly he didn't enjoy conveying this news. I plastered on a winning smile. Where may I find Miranda?


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[Assistant] She is in her suite, and from what I can gather, very eager to see you. When I looked over at Monsieur Renaud, I thought I detected a slight eye roll, and even though I'd always found him oppressively proper over the phone, I considered that he might loathe Miranda as much as I did.


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[Assistant] The bellman led me to Miranda's suite. He knocked on the door and then fled, leaving me to face Miranda alone.


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[Assistant] A pretty uniformed maid opened the door and ushered me inside, her sad eyes moist and staring directly at the floor.


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[Assistant] Andrea. I heard from somewhere in the deep recesses of the most magnificent living room I'd ever seen.


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[Assistant] Andrea, I'll need my Chanel suit pressed for tonight since it was practically ruined with wrinkles on the flight over.


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[Assistant] Also, call Horace Mann and confirm that the girls made it to school. Make sure you speak to both Caroline and Cassidy each night.


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[Assistant] And write out a list of their homework assignments and upcoming exams. I'll expect a written report in the morning, right before breakfast.


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[Assistant] Oh, and get Senator Schumer on the phone immediately. It's urgent.


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[Assistant] Lastly, I need you to contact that idiot Renaud and tell him I expect him to supply me with competent staff during my stay. That girl he sent me is mentally challenged.


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[Assistant] Will do, I called in the general direction of her voice, past the baby grand piano and the seventeen separate flower arrangements. It was undoubtedly the plushest, most luxurious place I'd ever seen, with its brocade curtains, thick cream-colored carpeting, and richly woven damask bedspread on the king-sized bed.


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[Assistant] I ducked past the quaking maid and into the hallway. The terrified bellman had reappeared.


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[Assistant] Could you show me to my room, please? I asked as kindly as I could, but he clearly thought that I would be abusing him as well, and so once again he scurried ahead of me.


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[Assistant] About 20 yards down the hall was a door without a separate number on it.


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[Assistant] It opened to a mini suite, nearly an exact replica of Miranda's but with a smaller living room and a queen size bed instead of a king.


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[Assistant] A large mahogany desk outfitted with a multi-line, corporate-style phone, sleek desktop computer, laser printer, scanner, and fax machine had taken the place of the baby grand piano.


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[Assistant] But otherwise, the rooms were remarkably similar in their rich, soothing decor.


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[Assistant] I figured I had a few moments to rest my head on the 400 thread count pillowcase, but the phone rang the moment I closed my eyes.


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[Assistant] Andrea, come to my room immediately. She barked before slamming down the phone. Yes, of course, Miranda. Thank you for asking so nicely. It'd be my pleasure. I said to absolutely nobody. I heaved my jet-lagged body off the bed.


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[Assistant] One of Bridget's assistants just rang me to see how long my speech is for today's brunch, she announced. She was paging through a copy of Women's Wear Daily, and two beautiful men were working on her hair and makeup.


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[Assistant] Why the hell was I not informed that I'd be receiving some nonsense award at today's luncheon? She hissed, her face contorting with a hatred I'd never seen before.


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[Assistant] Uhm, Miranda, I'm so sorry, but it was actually Bridget's office that RSVP'd you to the event today, and they never-


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[Assistant] Stop speaking. Stop speaking this instant. All you ever offer me are excuses. You are my assistant. You are the person I designated to work things out in Paris. You are the one who should be keeping me abreast of these things.


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[Assistant] She was nearly shouting now. One of the makeup guys asked softly in English if we would like a moment alone, but Miranda ignored him entirely.


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[Assistant] If you cannot accomplish this, see yourself home. Permanently. That's all.


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[Assistant] Do you remember the first Virginia colonists who grew so hungry that they begged to come home?


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[Assistant] They had settled on an island called Roanoke Island. Today, that island is part of North Carolina.


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[Assistant] Storms from the sea often blew across the island, and the Native Americans there had begun to threaten the English settlers.


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[Assistant] So when the colonists went back to England, they left 15 soldiers behind to guard their little town. When Raleigh's second band of colonists set out for Virginia, they decided to abandon Roanoke Island. Instead, they planned to land further north near the Chesapeake Bay.


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[Assistant] But they did convince the commander of their ships to stop at Roanoke Island to pick up the fifteen soldiers who had stayed behind.


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[Assistant] The ships anchored in the water nearby, and the colonists rode over to the island in small boats. But the fifteen soldiers had disappeared. The settlement was deserted.


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[Assistant] The house is overgrown by vines and weeds.


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[Assistant] Deer wandered through the village poking their heads into windows.


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[Assistant] The colonists searched, but found only the skeleton of a single soldier.


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[Assistant] They've all been killed by Indians, the colonists muttered. Let's get out of here.


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[Assistant] But the commander who was in charge of the colonist ships was tired of having the colonists on board.


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[Assistant] They were seasick all the time, and they complained about how uncomfortable the ships were.


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[Assistant] And the commander had already argued with John White, the colony leader.


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[Assistant] So he ordered the ships to leave the colonists on Roanoke Island and go back to England. The colonists were horrified.


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[Assistant] They had only a few boats, so they couldn't get off the island.


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[Assistant] It was July in Virginia, hot and very muggy.


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[Assistant] Bugs were everywhere and the settlement was falling down around them. But the colonists did their best.


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[Assistant] They cleaned out the abandoned houses and fenced in the deserted gardens.


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[Assistant] They tried to make friends with the Native Americans again, and for a little while,


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[Assistant] Friendly Native Americans help them to trap fish and grow corn and beans.


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[Assistant] Less than a month after the colonists were stranded on Roanoke Island, John White's daughter Eleanor had a baby girl. She and her husband, Ananias Dare, named the little girl Virginia.


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[Assistant] For a little while it seemed that the Roanoke Island colony might survive.


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[Assistant] But then the colonists attacked a group of friendly Native Americans because they thought that the Native Americans were dangerous. They were wrong.


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[Assistant] But after this disastrous mistake, the Indians refuse to help the colonists find any more food.


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[Assistant] The colonists were afraid they would starve when winter came.


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[Assistant] So the colony voted to send John White back to England in one of the small boats. If he could make it back alive, he could get help, food, supplies and more ships.


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[Assistant] If he left right away, perhaps he could even be back before winter was over.


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[Assistant] Then the colonists could go to the Chesapeake Bay as they had originally planned.


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[Assistant] John White didn't want to leave his daughter and granddaughter on Roanoke Island, but the other colonists insisted.


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[Assistant] So John White began the long, rough journey back across the Atlantic Ocean. Three months later, he arrived in London.


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[Assistant] At once he asked to see Sir Walter Raleigh and told the great man what had happened.


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[Assistant] Raleigh began to collect supplies and ships to help the colonists, but his efforts took time. The winter dragged slowly by.


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[Assistant] Finally, he begged to be taken aboard a warship which was headed to South America to raid Spanish colonies.


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[Assistant] John White spent months on this ship, waiting for it to head north.


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[Assistant] Finally the ship made its way up to the Virginia coast to Roanoke Island.


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[Assistant] John White hoped to be greeted by the colonists at the shore, but the island was empty and still.


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[Assistant] He walked warily along the overgrown paths toward the settlement. But when he arrived, he found only gardens filled with weeds and the foundations of the houses. The wood windows and doors were completely gone. The colony had disappeared. John White was frantic with worry.


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[Assistant] But he saw no signs of fighting and no bones or bodies. And since there were no ruins, it seemed clear that the colonists had taken the houses down and moved them to another place.


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[Assistant] He had told the colonists to carve a cross in a tree if they began to get into trouble to serve as a message. But there was no cross anywhere. Finally, he found his only clue, the word Croatoan.


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[Assistant] Quiddled into the thick trunk of a tree at the settlement's edge.


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[Assistant] Perhaps the settlers had gone to nearby Croatoan Island.


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[Assistant] Using their small boats to travel across the water a few at a time.


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[Assistant] But Croatoan Island was too small for the whole colony, and when his ship had passed it just days earlier, he had seen no sign of life.


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[Assistant] Still, John White planned to go search Croatoan Island. But as his ship set out for the island,


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[Assistant] A hurricane blew up from the south and almost drowned everyone on board.


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[Assistant] For days, wind and rain lashed the ship which almost sank. When the wind finally died down,


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[Assistant] John White tried to convince Walter Raleigh to send another expedition to find out what had happened. But Raleigh couldn't find anyone willing to go.


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[Assistant] It was 20 years before another Englishman set foot on Roanoke Island.


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[Assistant] By then, the traces of the settlement were fading and Croatoan Island was empty.


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[Assistant] Many years afterwards, other English settlers heard different stories from the tribes near Roanoke Island. Some said that the colonists had been killed, although no bodies were ever seen.


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[Assistant] Others claimed that they had gone to live with nearby Native Americans.


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[Assistant] Rumors started that a blonde-haired child had been seen living with a tribe near the Chesapeake Bay.


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[Assistant] But no one has ever solved this mystery for sure.


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[Assistant] The lost colony will always remain a puzzle.


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[Assistant] It was hard when she'd started at Stanford when I was a mere nine years old, but it was even harder when she'd followed her boyfriend, now husband, to Houston. Houston! The whole place seemed drenched in humidity and infested with mosquitoes to the point of unbearability. And as if that wasn't bad enough, my sophisticated, beautiful big sister had developed a southern accent.


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[Assistant] I had yet to forgive Kyle for dragging her to that wretched place, and it didn't help when he opened his mouth.


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[Assistant] Hey there Andy darling, you're looking more beautiful every time I see you.


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[Assistant] I wanted to stick a tennis ball in his mouth to keep him from talking anymore, but he smiled at me and I walked over and hugged him.


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[Assistant] He might sound like a hick and grin a little too openly and often, but he tried really hard and he clearly adored my sister.


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[Assistant] I vowed to make a sincere effort not to visibly cringe when he spoke.


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[Assistant] Kyle, you look great yourself. Keeping my sister busy in the city of misery, I hope?


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[Assistant] Andy, you're here. Jay, the big New York City career girl is here. Come say hi. My mom called as she rounded the corner coming from the kitchen.


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[Assistant] Andy, you look dynamite. Come here and give your old man a hug.


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[Assistant] My dad, tall and still very handsome in his mid-fifties, smiled from the hallway.


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[Assistant] He was holding a scrabble box behind his back that he only let me see by flashing it quickly by the side of his leg. He waited until everyone looked away from him and pointed to the box and mouthed, I'll kick your ass. I smiled.


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[Assistant] Contrary to all common sense, I found myself looking forward to the next 48 hours with my family. Thanksgiving was my favorite holiday, and this year I was set to enjoy it more than ever.


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[Assistant] Bagels and lox and cream cheese and whitefish and latkes all professionally arranged on rigid disposable serving platters.


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[Assistant] My mother smiled lovingly as her brood dug in with a look of pride on her face as if she'd been cooking for a week.


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[Assistant] I tried as best as I could to describe a job that I didn't fully understand myself.


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[Assistant] Well, Andy, you think you'll be happy there for your year? My mom asked while smearing cream cheese on her salt bagel.


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[Assistant] In signing my contract at Elias Clark, I had agreed to stay with Miranda for a year, if I didn't get fired, which at this point seemed like a big if. And if I fulfilled my obligation with class and enthusiasm and some level of competence, and this part was not in writing but inferred, then I would be in a position to name the job I'd like next.


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[Assistant] It was expected, of course, that Job would be at Runway, or at the very least at Elias Clark.


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[Assistant] Emily's a little, um, well, committed, but otherwise it's been great.


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[Assistant] Who else gets to drive around in a chauffeured car on their first day? I mean, really. So yeah, I think it'll be a great year. And I'm excited for Miranda to come back. I think I'm ready.


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[Assistant] Jill rolled her eyes and shot me a look as if to say, cut the bullshit, Andy. But instead she said, it sounds great Andy, it really does. Amazing opportunity. We have some great news too, she continued.


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[Assistant] Jill got out of her chair and walked over to Kyle, where she plopped herself in his lap. She wrapped her arm around the back of his neck and leaned her face next to his, whispering in his ear.


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[Assistant] They giggled and turned toward the table and announced unanimously, We're going to have a baby!


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[Assistant] And then there was light. My mother flew out of her seat so fast she knocked it over. My dad grabbed Jill and kissed her on both cheeks and top of her head. And for the first time I could remember since their wedding day, he kissed Kyle too.


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[Assistant] I wrapped my Dr. Brown's black cherry can with a plastic fork. Please raise your glasses, everyone. To Kyle and Jill.


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[Assistant] Future perfect parents to the world's most perfect child.


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[Assistant] We clinked soda cans and coffee mugs and toasted the grinning couple and my sister's 24 inch waist.


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[Assistant] I cleaned up by throwing the entire contents of the table directly into a garbage bag while my mom tried to pressure Jill to name the baby after various dead relatives. Kyle sipped coffee and looked pleased with himself.


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[Assistant] And just before midnight, my dad and I sneaked off to his study for a game.


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[Assistant] The blissful day I'd been waiting for, dreaming of, had finally, finally arrived. Miranda had not only departed the office, but she'd left the country as well. She jumped into her Concorde seat less than an hour before to meet with a few of the European designers, making me, at present, the indisputably happiest girl on the planet.


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[Assistant] Emily kept trying to convince me that Miranda was even more demanding when she was abroad, but I wasn't buying it.


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[Assistant] I was in the middle of mapping out exactly how I was going to spend every ecstatic moment of the next two weeks when I got an email from Alex. Hey babe, how are you? You must be loving that she left, right? Enjoy it.


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[Assistant] Anyway, I just wanted to see if you think you'll be able to call me around 3.30 today. I have a free hour then and I need to talk to you. Nothing major, but I would like to talk. Love, Alex.


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[Assistant] I made a mental note to call him at exactly 3.30, but just in case, I wrote, call Alex, 3.30pm today, and taped it to the side of my monitor. Just as I was going to call a friend who'd left a message on my home machine a week earlier, the phone rang.


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[Assistant] Miranda Priestly's office. Emily, is that you? Emily? The unmistakable voice seemed to seep into the air in the office. Even though she couldn't have possibly heard from across the suite, Emily looked up at me. Hello Miranda, this is Andrea. May I help you with something?


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[Assistant] I quickly checked the itinerary Emily had typed and saw that her flight had taken off a mere six minutes before.


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[Assistant] Well, I should hope so. I've looked at my itinerary and I just noticed that hair and makeup for Thursday is not confirmed. Uhm, well, Miranda, that's because Monsieur Renault


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[Assistant] Particularly interested in the rules and regulations regarding the use of electronics, and to please bore someone else with them.


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[Assistant] Ma'am, I'm going to have to ask that you disconnect your call until we've reached a cruising altitude. It's simply unsafe. The flight attendant said beseechingly. Andrea, can you hear me? Are you listening?


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[Assistant] Ma'am, I'm going to have to insist, now please hang up the phone. My mouth was starting to ache from smiling so widely.


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[Assistant] I could only imagine how much Miranda was hating being addressed as ma'am, which as everyone knows, connotes old lady all the way.


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[Assistant] Andrea, the stewardess is forcing me to end this call. I'll call you back when the stewardess allows me to do so. In the meantime, I want my hair and makeup confirmed.


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[Assistant] I'd like you to begin interviewing new girls for the nanny position. That's all.


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[Assistant] Oh, and she said something about interviewing for a new nanny? I must have misunderstood that one.


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[Assistant] Mariana thought Kara might be happier working for someone else.


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[Assistant] Emily said, in what I'm sure was much more diplomatic phrasing than Miranda herself had used,


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[Assistant] I gathered from Caroline that Kara had grounded the girls in their rooms after they talked back to her.


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[Assistant] Yeah, I see your point. I said nodding solemnly. Kara was out of line there.


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[Assistant] Emily not only didn't react to my dripping sarcasm, but didn't seem to detect so much as a hint of it. Exactly. It's going to be your responsibility to find the girls a new nanny.


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[Assistant] Here's the number of the agency we work with. She said, sending it to me in an email.


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[Assistant] At the same time I pulled away from the friends I'd always known.


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[Assistant] They were breaking into cliques, based primarily on what movies they were going to see or the latest shirts they bought from the mall, and I found myself on the outside looking in.


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[Assistant] Screw them, I thought. In high school, there's always a place for everyone. And I began falling in with the wrong sort of crowd.


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[Assistant] A crowd that didn't give a damn about anything. Which left me not giving a damn either.


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[Assistant] I began to cut classes and smoke and was suspended for fighting on three occasions. I gave up sports too.


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[Assistant] I'd played football and basketball and run track until I was a sophomore, and though my dad sometimes asked how I did when I got home,


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[Assistant] He seemed uncomfortable if I went into detail, since it was obvious he didn't know a thing about sports. He'd never been on a team in his life.


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[Assistant] He showed up for a single basketball game during my sophomore year.


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[Assistant] He sat in the stands, an odd, balding guy wearing a worn sport jacket and socks that didn't match.


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[Assistant] Though he wasn't obese, his pants nipped at the waist, making him look as if he were three months pregnant. And I knew I wanted nothing to do with him.


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[Assistant] During my senior year my rebellion reached a high point.


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[Assistant] My grades had been slippin' for two years more from laziness and lack of care than intelligence, I like to think.


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[Assistant] And more than once my dad caught me sneaking in late at night with booze on my breath.


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[Assistant] I was escorted home by the police after being found at a party where drugs and drinking were evident and when my dad grounded me.


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[Assistant] I stayed at a friend's house for a couple of weeks after raging at him to mind his own business. He said nothing upon my return, instead scrambled eggs, toast and bacon were on the table in the mornings as usual.


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[Assistant] I barely passed my classes and I suspect the school let me graduate simply because it wanted me outta there. I know my dad was worried.


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[Assistant] And he would sometimes in his own shy way broach the subject of college. But by then I'd made up my mind not to go.


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[Assistant] I wanted a job, I wanted a car, I wanted those material things I'd lived 18 years without. I said nothing to him about it one way or the other until the summer after graduation.


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[Assistant] But when he realized I hadn't even applied to junior college, he locked himself in his den for the rest of the night.


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[Assistant] And said nothing to me over our eggs and bacon the next morning.


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[Assistant] Later that evening, he tried to engage me in another discussion about coins.


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[Assistant] As if grasping for the companionship that had somehow been lost between us.


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[Assistant] Do you remember when we went to Atlanta and you were the one who found that buffalo head nickel we'd been looking for for years? He started. The one where we had our picture taken. I'll never forget how excited you were. It reminded me of my father and me.


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[Assistant] I shook my head, all the frustration of life with my dad coming to the surface. I'm sick and tired of hearing about coins. I shouted at him. I never want to hear about them again. You should sell the damn collection and do something else, anything else. My dad said nothing.


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[Assistant] But to this day I'll never forget his pained expression.


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[Assistant] When at last he turned and trudged back to his den.


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[Assistant] I'd heard him, and though I told myself I hadn't wanted to, deep down I knew I was lying to myself.


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[Assistant] It became a yawning gulf between us and it left us with nothing to say to each other.


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[Assistant] A few days later, I realized that the only photograph of us was gone as well.


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[Assistant] As if he believed that even the slightest reminder of coins would offend me.


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[Assistant] At the time it probably would have, and even though I assumed that he'd thrown it away, the realization didn't bother me at all.


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[Assistant] Growing up, I'd never even considered entering the military. It had never crossed my mind.


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[Assistant] Despite the fact that eastern North Carolina is one of the most militarily dense areas of the country, there are seven bases within a few hours driving time from Wilmington.


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[Assistant] I used to think that military life was for losers.


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[Assistant] Who wanted to spend his life getting ordered around by a bunch of crew cut flunkies? Not me.


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[Assistant] And aside from the ROTC guys, not many people in my high school either.


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[Assistant] Instead, most of the kids who'd been good students headed off to the University of North Carolina or North Carolina State, while the kids who hadn't been good students stayed behind.


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[Assistant] Bumming around from one lousy job to the next, drinking beer and hanging out, and pretty much avoiding anything that might require a shred of responsibility.


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[Assistant] On arriving at the depot, my nerve failed me. I was afraid to go in. I didn't know what I was scared of, but I was scared. Before going around to the front, I peeked in a window. The stationmaster was in his office, looking at some papers. He was wearing a funny little cap that had no top in it.


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[Assistant] He looked friendly enough, but I still couldn't muster up enough courage to go in.


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[Assistant] Anyone that is kind to birds surely wouldn't be mean to a boy.


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[Assistant] With my courage built up, I walked around to the front and eased myself past the office. He glanced at me and turned back to the papers. I walked clear around the depot and again walked slowly past the office.


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[Assistant] Yes sir, it is hot and we sure could do with a good rain. We need one bad up where I come from. He asked me where I lived. I told him, up the river ways. You know, he said,


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[Assistant] I have some puppies in there for a boy that lives up on the river. His name is Billy Coleman. I know his dad, but never have seen the boy. I figured he would be in after them today. On hearing this remark my heart jumped clear up in my throat.


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[Assistant] I thought surely it was going to hop right out on the depot platform.


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[Assistant] I looked up and tried to tell him who I was, but something went wrong.


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[Assistant] When the words finally came out, they sounded like the squeaky old pulley on our well when mama drew up a bucket of water. I could see a twinkle in the stationmaster's eyes. He came over and laid his hand on my shoulder. In a friendly voice, he said, So you're Billy Coleman. How's your dad?


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[Assistant] I told him Papa was fine and handed him the slip my grandpa had given me. There you are, fine looking pups, he said. You'll have to go around to the freight door. I'm sure my feet never touched the ground as I flew around the building.


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[Assistant] I guess dogs can be carried that way, same as anything else, but...


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[Assistant] We'll have to cut a couple of holes to stick their heads through so that they won't smother.


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[Assistant] Getting a claw hammer, he started tearing off the top of the box. As nails gave way and boards splintered, I heard several puppy wimples. I didn't walk over, I just stood and waited. After what seemed like hours, the box was open. He reached in, lifted the pups out, and set them down on the floor. Well, there they are, he said. What do you think of them? That didn't answer. I couldn't. All I could do was stare at them.


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[Assistant] They seemed to be blinded by the light and kept blinking their eyes. One sat down on his little rear and started crying. The other one was waddling around and whimpering.


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[Assistant] I tried to swallow and couldn't. My Adam's apple wouldn't work. One pup started my way. I held my breath. On he came until I felt a scratchy little foot on mine. The other pup followed. A warm puppy tongue caressed my sore foot. I heard the station master say, they already know you. I knelt down and gathered them in my arms.


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[Assistant] I buried my face between their wriggling bodies and cried.


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[Assistant] The stationmaster sensing something more than just two dogs and a boy waited in silence. Rising with the two pups held close to my chest, I asked if I owed anything. He said,


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[Assistant] There is a small fee, Bill, but I'll take care of it. It's not much anyway. Taking his knife, he cut two slits in the sack. He put the pups in it and worked their heads through the holes. As he handed the sack to me, he said, Well, there you are. Goodbye, and good hunting. Walking down the street toward town, I thought,


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[Assistant] Now maybe the people won't stare at me when they see what I've got. After all, not every boy owns two good hounds. Turning the corner onto the main street, I threw out my chest.


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[Assistant] I hadn't gone far before I realized that the reception I got wasn't what I thought it would be.


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[Assistant] People began to stop and stare, some even snickered.


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[Assistant] I couldn't understand why they were staring. Surely it couldn't be the two beautiful harrowing pups sticking out of the gunny sack.


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[Assistant] Thinking that maybe I had a hole in the seat of my britches, I looked over to my reflection in a plate glass window. I craned my neck for a better view of my rear.


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[Assistant] I could see a patch there alright, and a few threadbare spots, but no whiteness was showing through.


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[Assistant] I figured that the people were just jealous because they didn't have two good hounds. I saw a drunk coming. He was staggering all over the street. Just as he was passing me, I heard him stop.


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[Assistant] As I looked back, I saw he was staring wide-eyed at my sack.


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[Assistant] Closing his eyes, he rubbed them with his hands. Opening them again, he stared. Shaking his head, he staggered on down the street.


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[Assistant] All around people began to roar with laughter. Someone shouted,


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[Assistant] I hurried on, wanted to get away from the stairs and the snickers. It wouldn't have happened again in a hundred years, but there they came. The same two old women I had met before. We stopped and had another glaring fight. One said,


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[Assistant] My face burned. I couldn't take anymore. After all, a man can stand so much and no more. In a loud voice I said,


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[Assistant] You may have these people fooled with those expensive looking feathers in your hats, but I know what they are. They're goose feathers painted with iodine.


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[Assistant] One started to say something but her words were drowned out by the roaring laughter from all around. Gathering up their long skirts, they swished on down the street. All around me, people began to shout questions and laugh. One wanted to know if I had the mother in the sack. Storekeepers stepped out and gawked.


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[Assistant] I could see the end of the street, but it looked as if it were a hundred miles away. My face was as red as a fox's tail.


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[Assistant] I ducked my head, tightened my grip on the sack, and walked on.


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[Assistant] I don't know where they came from, but like chickens coming home to roost they flocked around me.


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[Assistant] Most of them were about my age. Some were a little bigger, some smaller. They ganged around me, screaming and yelling. They started clapping their hands and chanting, The dog boy has come to town. The dog boy has come to town. My heart burst. Tears came rolling.


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[Assistant] The day I had waited for so long had turned black and ugly.


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[Assistant] The leader of the gang was about my size. He had a dirty freckled face and his two front teeth were missing. I suppose he had lost them in a back alley fight.


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[Assistant] He wore a pair cowboy boots, they were two sizes too big for him, no doubt handed down by an older brother. He stomped on my right foot.


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[Assistant] I looked down and saw a drop of blood ooze out from under the broken nail. It hurt like the dickens. But I gritted my teeth and walked on.


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[Assistant] Freckle face pulled the ear of my little girl pup. I heard her painful cry.


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[Assistant] That was too much. I hadn't worked too long hard years for my pups to have some freckle-faced punk pull their ears.


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[Assistant] Swinging the stack from my shoulder, I walked over and set it down in the doorway.


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[Assistant] As I turned around to face the mob, I doubled up my fist and took a Jack Dempsey stance. Freckleface said, So you wanna fight? He came in swinging.


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[Assistant] I reached way back in Arkansas somewhere. By the time my fist had traveled all the way down to the Cherokee Strip, there was a lot of power behind it. Smack on the end of Freck's nose, it exploded.


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[Assistant] With a loud grunt, he sat down in the dusty street.


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[Assistant] Grabbing his nose in both hands he started rocking and moaning. I saw the blood squeeze out between his fingers. Another one sailed in. He didn't want to fight, he wanted to wrestle. He stuck a finger in my mouth. I ground down.


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[Assistant] Shaking his hand and yelling like the hood owls were after him, he ran across the street. Another one bored in.


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[Assistant] I aimed for his eye, but my aim was a little low. It caught him in the Adam's apple. A sick look came over his face.


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[Assistant] Bending over, croaking like a bullfrog that had been caught by a water moccasin he started going around in the circle.


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[Assistant] But there were too many of them by sheer weight and numbers, they pulled me down.


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[Assistant] I managed to twist over on my stomach and buried my face in my arms. I could feel them beating and kicking my body. All at once the beating stopped. I heard loud cries from the gang.


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[Assistant] Turning over on my back, I was just in time to see the big marshal plant a number 12 boot in the seat of the last kid. I just knew I was next. I wondered if he'd kick me while I was down. I lay where I was. He started toward me. I closed my eyes.


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[Assistant] He raised me to a sitting position. His deep friendly voice said, Are you alright son? I opened my eyes. There was a smile on his wide rugged face. In a choking voice I said, Yes sir, I'm alright. He helped me to my feet. His big hands started brushing the dust from my clothes. Those kids are pretty tough son, he said. But they're really not bad. They'll grow up some day. Marshall?


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[Assistant] I said I wouldn't have fought them, but they pulled my pups ears. He looked over to my sack.


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[Assistant] One pup had worked its way almost out through the hole. The other one's head and two little paws were sticking out. Both of them were whimpering. A smile spread all over the big marshal's face. So that's what started the fight, he said. Walking over, he knelt down and started petting the pups. They're fine-looking dogs, he said. Where'd you get them? I told him I'd ordered them from Kentucky. What'd they cost you? He asked. Forty dollars, I said.


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[Assistant] He asked if my father had bought them for me. No, I said, I bought them myself. He asked me where I got the money. I worked and saved it, I said. Takes a long time to save forty dollars, he said. Yes, I said. Took me two years. Two years, he exclaimed. I saw an outraged look come over the marshal's face. Reaching up, he pushed his hat back. He glanced up and down the street. I heard him mutter,


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[Assistant] Walking into a general store, the marshal went over to a large red box and pulled back the lid. He asked what kind I wanted.


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[Assistant] I'd never had a bottle of pop in my life and didn't know what to say. Seeing my hesitation, he said, strawberry looks pretty good. I said that would be fine.


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[Assistant] The cool pop felt wonderful to my hot dry throat. My dark little world had brightened up again. I had my pups that had found a wonderful friend.


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[Assistant] I knew that the stories I had heard about marshals weren't true. Never again would I be scared when I saw one. Back out on the street, I shook hands with the marshal, saying as I did, If you're ever up in my part of the country, come over and see me. You can find our place by asking at my grandfather's store. Store? Yes. Why, the only store upriver is about 30 miles from here. Yes, I said. That's my grandpa's place. He asked if I was afoot. Yes, I said.


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[Assistant] Oh, you won't make it tonight, he said, will you? No, I said, I intend to camp out somewhere. I saw he was bothered. I'll be all right, I said. I'm not scared of mountains. He looked at me and at my pups. Taking off his hat, he scratched his head.


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[Assistant] Chuckling deep down in his barrel-like chest, he said, Yes, I guess you will be alright. Well, goodbye, and good luck. If you're ever in town again, look me up.


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[Assistant] From far down the street I looked back. The marshal was still standing where I had left him. He waved his hand. I waved back.


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[Assistant] On the outskirts of town I stopped and picked up a can and my provisions.


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[Assistant] I would peek in at them every once in a while. They were doing alright.


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[Assistant] Curled up into two little round balls on my bundles, they were fast asleep.


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[Assistant] Deep in the heart of the Sparrowhawk Mountains, night overtook me.


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[Assistant] There in a cave with a stream close by, I put up for the night. Taking my pups and bundles from the gunny sack, I used it to gather leaves to make us a bed.


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[Assistant] My pups followed me on every trip, whimpering and crying, tumbling and falling over sticks and rocks. After the bed was made, I built a fire. In a can of water from the mountain stream, I boiled three eggs. Next, I boiled half of the remaining salt pork. Cutting the meat up in small pieces, I fed it to my pups. Each of us had a piece of candy for dessert. My pups enjoyed the candy.


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[Assistant] With their needles sharp teeth, they gnawed and worried with it until it was melted away.


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[Assistant] While they were busy playing, I dragged up several large timbers and built a fire which would last for hours. In a short time, the cave grew warm and comfortable from the heat.


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[Assistant] The leaves were soft and felt good to my tired body and sore feet. As I lay stretched out, my pups crawled all over me. I played with them.


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[Assistant] They would waddle up to the front of the cave, look at the fire, and come scampering back to roll and play in the soft leaves.


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[Assistant] I noticed the boy dog was much larger than the girl dog. He was a deeper red in color. His chest was broad and solid. His puppy muscles knotted and rippled under the velvety skin. He was different in every way.


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[Assistant] The space between the fire and the wall of the cave was much hotter than when he had ventured out.


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[Assistant] Whimpering and crying, he kept trying to get around the fire. I said not a word, just watched.


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[Assistant] Her legs and body were short. Her head was small and delicate. She must have been a runt in the litter.


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[Assistant] I knew when the trail became tough she would be the one to unravel it. I knew I had a wonderful combination. In my dogs I had not only the power, but the brains along with it.


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[Assistant] I was a tired boy. My legs were stiff and my feet sore and throbbing. My shoulders were red and raw from the weight of the sack. I covered my pups up in the leaves and moved my body as close to them as I could.


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[Assistant] I knew as night wore on and the fire died, down the chill would come. Tired, but happy, I fell asleep. Along in the silent hours of night, I was awakened. I opened my eyes but didn't move. I lay and listened, trying to figure out what it was that had aroused me.


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[Assistant] At first I thought one of my pups had awakened me by moving and whimpering. I discarded this thought, for I could see that they were both fast asleep. I decided it was my imagination working.


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[Assistant] My fire had burned down, leaving only a glowing red body of coals. The cave was dark and silent. Chill from the night had crept in.


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[Assistant] I was on the point of getting up to rebuild my fire when I heard what had awakened me. At first I thought it was a woman screaming. I listened. My heart began to pound.


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[Assistant] I could feel the strain all over my body as nerves grew tighter and tighter. It came again, closer this time.


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[Assistant] The high pitch of the scream shattered the silence of the quiet night.


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[Assistant] The sound seemed to be all around us. It screamed its way into the cave and rang like a blacksmith's anvil against the rock walls. The blood froze in my veins. I was terrified. Although I had never heard one, I knew what it was. It was the scream of a mountain lion.


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[Assistant] The big cat screamed again, leaves boiled and stirred where my pups were.


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[Assistant] In the reflection of the glowing coals, I could see that one was sitting up. It was the boy dog.


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[Assistant] Again the hellish scream rang out over the mountains. Leaves flew as my pup left the bed. I jumped up and tried to call him back. Reaching the mouth of the cave, he stopped.


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[Assistant] Raising his small red head high in the air, he balled his challenge to the devil cat.


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[Assistant] The mall must have scared him as much as it had startled me. He came tearing back. The tiny hairs on his back were standing on end. My father had told me lions were scared of fire. I started throwing on more wood.


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[Assistant] The girl pup hearing the commotion had gotten up and joined the boy dog. They were sitting side by side with their bodies stiff and rigid, their beady little eyes bored into the darkness beyond the cave.


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[Assistant] The more I thought about anything harming them, the madder I got. I was ready to die for my dog.


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[Assistant] Every time the big cat screamed, the boy dog would run to the mouth of the cave and ball back at him.


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[Assistant] I started hooping and throwing rocks down the mountainside hoping to scare the lion away. Through the long hours of the night, I kept this up.


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[Assistant] The lion prowled around us, screaming and growling, first on the right, then on the left, and above and below. In the wee hours of morning, he gave up and left to stalk other parts of the mountains.


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[Assistant] I'm sure he thought he didn't stand a chance against two vicious hounds and a big hunter.


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[Assistant] Okay, well, that's what I thought. Thanks anyway, though. Bye.


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[Assistant] Emily looked up from preparing yet another expense account and said, No luck there either?


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[Assistant] Nope, I've spoken to someone at every Manhattan paper she reads, checked online, talked to archivists, food writers, chefs.


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[Assistant] Not a single person can think of a suitable Asian fusion place, never even mind one that's been reviewed in the past 24 hours. She's clearly lost her mind. So what now? I flopped back into my chair. It wasn't yet nine in the morning, and already the headache had spread to my neck and shoulders. I guess, she said slowly, regrettably, you have no choice but to ask her to clarify.


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[Assistant] There is little left to do but wait. It was my luck that Miranda was at her monthly marathon shrink session. The only chunk of time during the entire day or night when she wouldn't call and, of course, the only time I needed her to.


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[Assistant] Ahmed was finally able to produce a copy of Women's Wear Daily, and I grabbed a Diet Coke for Emily and a can of Pepsi for me, but on second thought, I took a diet for myself as well.


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[Assistant] The difference in taste and enjoyment wasn't worth the disapproving looks I was sure to receive during the walk from reception to my desk.


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[Assistant] I was so busy examining the front page's color photo of Tommy Hilfiger I didn't even notice that one of the elevators was available. Out of the corner of my eye, I caught a quick glimpse of green.


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[Assistant] Particularly noteworthy because Miranda had a Chanel suit in just that shade of greeny tweed.


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[Assistant] And although my mind knew better, it couldn't stop my eyes from looking up and into the elevator, where they were sort of not really surprised to find Miranda peering back. She stood, ramrod straight, her eyes staring intently at what must have been my shocked face. There was absolutely no alternative but to step inside the elevator with her.


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[Assistant] Uhm, good morning Miranda, I said, but it came out sounding like a whisper. She said nothing to me, but she pulled out her leather organizer and began flipping through the pages. Does she even recognize me? I wondered. It felt as though it took ten minutes for the elevator to pass each floor, and the silence had begun humming in my ears.


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[Assistant] When I had worked up enough nerve to steal a glance in Miranda's direction, I discovered that she was looking me up and down. The expression on her face was one of passive disgust.


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[Assistant] The way the desensitized law and order detectives appear when they're faced with yet another beaten and bloodied corpse.


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[Assistant] I did a quick review of myself and wondered what exactly had triggered the reaction.


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[Assistant] Short sleeve, military style shirt, a brand new pair of seven jeans, and a pair of two inch heels that were to date,


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[Assistant] The only non-boots, non-sneakers, non-loafers that allowed me to make four plus trips to Starbucks a day without shredding my feet to bits.


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[Assistant] My hair was clean and assembled in the kind of deliberately messy top knot that Emily always wore without comment. And my nails were long and reasonably well shaped.


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[Assistant] The last time I checked there were no massive facial eruptions, and a quick check with my right hand indicated that no bra straps were visible. So what was it? What exactly had made her look at me that way?


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[Assistant] Finally, the doors opened to reveal a group of runway fashion assistants. Each young, beautiful face looked more panicked than the next, and they almost trampled one another trying to move out of Miranda's way.


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[Assistant] They parted directly down the middle, and she deigned to walk past them. I was left with no choice but to follow her.


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[Assistant] We just spent what felt like an entire week locked together in a five by three foot box. And she hadn't so much as acknowledged my presence. But as soon as I stepped onto the floor, she turned around.


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[Assistant] Andrea, she asked, her voice cutting through the tense silence that filled the entire room. Yes, Miranda. Whose shoes are you wearing? By now, the elevator had left without the fashion assistants, since they were too engrossed in actually getting to see and hear Miranda Priestley in the flesh. I could feel six pairs of eyes on my feet.


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[Assistant] You said you don't know most of the people you'll be living with? She shook her head, her hair sweeping her shoulders. She swiped in another strand. Not too well.


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[Assistant] We met most of them for the first time at the sign up then again today when we got here.


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[Assistant] I mean, we might have seen each other around campus now and then and I think a lot of them know each other already, but I don't.


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[Assistant] Most of them are in fraternities and sororities. I still live in a dorm. They're a nice bunch though.


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[Assistant] As she answered, I got the feeling she was the kinda person who would never say a bad thing about anyone.


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[Assistant] Her regard for others struck me as refreshing and mature, and yet strangely, I wasn't surprised.


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[Assistant] Just me and my folks. My parents still live in Lenore and they're happy as clams after 25 years. Your turn.


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[Assistant] The same, except for me, it's always been just me and my dad.


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[Assistant] I knew my answer would lead to a follow up about the status of my mother, but to my surprise it didn't come. Instead she asked, was he the one who taught you to surf? No, I picked that up on my own when I was a kid.


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[Assistant] You're good, I was watching you earlier. You made it look so easy, graceful even. Made me wish I knew how. I'd be happy to teach you if you want to learn, I volunteered. It's not that hard, I'll be out tomorrow. She stopped and fixed her gaze on me. Now, don't make offers you're not sure you intend to keep. She reached for my arm, leaving me speechless. Then motioned toward the bonfire.


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[Assistant] You ready to meet some people? I swallowed.


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[Assistant] Feeling a sudden dryness in my throat, which was just about the strangest thing that has ever happened to me.


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[Assistant] The house was one of those big three-storied monsters with the garage on the bottom and probably six or seven bedrooms.


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[Assistant] A massive deck circled the main level. Towels were slung over the railings, and I could hear the sound of multiple conversations coming from all directions.


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[Assistant] A grill stood on the deck, and I could smell the hot dogs and chicken cooking.


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[Assistant] The guy leaning over it was shirtless and wearing a do-rag, trying to come across as urban cool. It wasn't working, but it did make me laugh.


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[Assistant] On the sand out front the fire was set into a pit with several girls in oversized sweatshirts seated in chairs circling it, all pretending to be oblivious to the boys around them.


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[Assistant] Meanwhile, the guys stood just beyond them, looking as if they were trying to pose in a way that accented the size of their arms or sculpted abs, and acting as if they didn't notice the girls at all.


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[Assistant] I'd seen all this at Leroy's before. Educated or not, kids were still kids. They were in their early twenties and lust was in the air. Throw in the beach and beer, and I could guess what would happen later. But I would be long gone by then.


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[Assistant] A few of the other girls stared checking out the new guy before retreating into their conversations.


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[Assistant] Randy finally wandered toward the fire with a beer, saw Savannah and me.


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[Assistant] And quickly turned his back, following the example of the girls.


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[Assistant] Chicken or hot dog? she asked, seemingly oblivious to all of this. Chicken, what do you want to drink?


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[Assistant] The firelight made her look newly mysterious. Whatever you're having's fine, thanks. I'll be right back.


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[Assistant] She headed toward the steps, and I forced myself not to follow.


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[Assistant] Instead I walked toward the fire, slipped off my shirt and laid it over an empty chair, then returned to my seat.


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[Assistant] Glancing up, I saw a do-rag flirting with Savannah, felt a surge of tension, then turned away to get a better grip on things.


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[Assistant] I knew little about her and knew even less about what she thought of me.


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[Assistant] Besides, I had no desire to start something I couldn't finish. I was leaving in a couple of weeks and none of this would amount to anything.


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[Assistant] I told myself all those things, and I think I partially convinced myself that I'd head home just as soon as I finished eating when my thoughts were interrupted by the sight of someone approaching.


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[Assistant] Tall and lanky with dark hair that was already receding parted neatly to one side. He reminded me of those guys you met from time to time who looked middle-aged from birth. You must be John, he said with a smile, squatting in front of me. My name's Tim Wedden. He extended his hand.


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[Assistant] I heard what you did for Savannah. I know she was grateful you were there. I shook his hand. It's nice to meet you.


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[Assistant] Despite my initial wariness, his smile was more genuine than either Brad's or Randy's had been. Nor did he mention my tattoos, which was unusual.


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[Assistant] I suppose I should mention they weren't exactly small and covered most of my arms. People have told me I'll regret it when I'm older, but at the time I got them, I really didn't care. I still don't.


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[Assistant] Fun? That's not exactly what I'd call it. We had a lot of problems.


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[Assistant] We unloaded the car, then sat down and drank some juice. We were happy that we had chosen such a beautiful camping spot. After a while, my wife said I should go park the car. I felt in my pocket for the keys, but they weren't there. I couldn't remember where I had put them.


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[Assistant] So what did you do? I must have spent an hour or so looking for my keys.


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[Assistant] Everyone lent me a hand, but the keys were nowhere to be found.


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[Assistant] Finally, I looked in the car and saw that my keys were still in the ignition. Yippee!


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[Assistant] By that time, it was dark and we still hadn't pitched the tent.


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[Assistant] We had never set up a tent before, so we read the instructions quickly. But we understood nothing of what was written there.


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[Assistant] Not exactly. I had brought some newspaper and matches. So I lit the fire to cook our food. But the flames kept shooting up too high. We tried to cook some hot dogs over it, but they all burnt. When the flame died down, we cooked some more hot dogs and ate every bite. We had been so hungry.


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[Assistant] When we woke up in the morning, our bodies were really itchy.


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[Assistant] Yes, we did. On Saturday, we swam in the lake.


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[Assistant] My son hadn't swum before, so I taught him how to swim.


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[Assistant] Later that day, I went out in a canoe on the lake with my daughter to catch some fish.


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[Assistant] After a little while, she felt a big tug on the line. She stood up to reel her line in. But she fell out of the canoe.


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[Assistant] Yes, she's a strong swimmer. She got back in the boat and caught a huge fish.


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[Assistant] We cooked it for dinner that night. It was delicious.


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[Assistant] Not long after we had gone to bed, I thought I heard something growling outside. It sounded like a bear.


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[Assistant] I told my family to stay in the tent while I crept outside.


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[Assistant] Through the dark, I saw something very large and hairy. It was a big bear.


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[Assistant] He had eaten the burnt hot dogs we had left out, and he was wandering around our campsite. We had made a mistake by leaving the burnt hot dogs there. We had meant to put them away in a safe place. But we completely forgot about that. The bear had been drawn to the camp by the smell.


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[Assistant] I thought the bear saw me standing there, so I froze in place.


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[Assistant] I was afraid the bear would come towards the tent, and I didn't want him to hurt my family.


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[Assistant] I ran away from the tent and into the woods, hoping the bear would follow me.


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[Assistant] No, he didn't hurt me and he never caught me. But believe me, I ran for my life. I hid behind the first big tree I found.


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[Assistant] I felt very relieved. It took me a while to calm down.


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[Assistant] For our next vacation, we'll probably book a nice hotel on the beach instead.


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[Assistant] I could have saved myself a lot of trouble if I had known more about camping.


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[Assistant] No problem. Nice talking to you too, Mike!


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[Assistant] Let me know if you ever go camping, and I'll tell you what NOT to do.


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[Assistant] Thanks for watching. If you liked this video, please subscribe to our YouTube channel.


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[Assistant] Once upon a time in a small village lived Henry and his wife Gloria. Henry was a milkman.


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[Assistant] He always dreamt of buying a big house and expensive clothes.


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[Assistant] This greed will take you nowhere. We earn enough and we should be happy with what we have.


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[Assistant] Ahh. Each day as Henry went to sell milk, the villagers would praise him.


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[Assistant] He was so used to adding water to the milk that he didn't think of buying another cow even once.


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[Assistant] As the demand for milk increased, so did the water in it. This went on for weeks. But then the villagers began to notice.


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[Assistant] There was chatter in the village about the new watery milk. Wanting to know the truth.


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[Assistant] The villagers understood the whole thing and decided to teach the greedy milkman a lesson. The next day, Gloria went to the market to buy pulses.


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[Assistant] That night, as Henry came back from work, they both sat down for dinner.


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[Assistant] Stones? No, these are pulses.


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[Assistant] What did you sell us? We didn't pay for stones, we paid for pulses!


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[Assistant] After a while, he went out to buy a dozen eggs. When he came back home and tried to break them,


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[Assistant] He realized that 10 of the 12 eggs were rocks. He was furious.


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[Assistant] Henry left angrily. The next day, he bought a silk shirt. On his way home, it began to rain.


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[Assistant] This went on for a few days. Each time Henry went out to buy something, he would come home with something different. I am tired of this. Why can't they sell us the right thing?


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[Assistant] Henry was so busy thinking about himself and his greed that he didn't realize he had done the same thing with others.


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[Assistant] Over time, even the neighboring villages began to complain.


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[Assistant] With no money left to spend, Henry began to sell off items which he had bought out of selling low quality milk. Now Henry was a poor milkman. He had only a handful of cows left and only a few houses which he could sell milk. Now you realize what you have done. Your greed is the reason we are poor.


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[Assistant] Had you continued to selling good milk the way you used to, we could have bought a bigger house and expensive clothes someday.


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[Assistant] Henry continued to sell milk and tend to his cows. He knew now how dangerous greed can be. He had learned his lessons.


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[Assistant] From that day on, he never added water to the milk and stayed happy with what he earned.


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[Assistant] I have two twin brothers, a sister, a niece, a brother in law, and there's my mother and my father.


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[Assistant] Not at all. She's short and plump, has short brown hair, and big blue eyes. She's really beautiful.


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[Assistant] She is kind and supportive and always gives us very good advice. She is always there for us.


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[Assistant] She loves flowers and is obsessed with gardening and being outdoors.


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[Assistant] Sometimes when we were younger, she would make outfits for us.


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[Assistant] My mom is a great cook, and family dinners were a must growing up.


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[Assistant] Even if that meant eating at 8 or 9 PM when my dad got home from work.


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[Assistant] Yes, I take after my dad in appearance and after my mom in personality.


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[Assistant] He is as tall as me, has grey hair, brown eyes, and a mustache.


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[Assistant] He is pretty quiet. He doesn't talk very much. He's like that with everyone. He's really easygoing and informal. He is super patient and really likes people, but he just doesn't love talking to them all the time. He is definitely the introvert of the family.


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[Assistant] He's creative and likes to build things so it's perfect for him. And he likes working alone on most days.


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[Assistant] Keith is a real estate agent in Springboro. And Brian is finishing his law degree in Dayton.


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[Assistant] Keith is waiting for the right lady to come along. He has always been very picky about who he dates


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[Assistant] He says that he wants to get married and have his own family but he needs to find the perfect woman first. Do you and your brothers look much alike?


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[Assistant] They are much taller than me and they look more athletic because they work out all the time.


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[Assistant] They're both 160 centimeters tall. But she's thinner than my mom. She's blonde with blue eyes. We look very different.


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[Assistant] Lindsay's the best. She's so cheerful and bright. So I really like spending time with her. She makes me feel cheerful too when we talk together.


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[Assistant] She's five years older than me and she used to help me a lot with my homework and other school related things.


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[Assistant] She does now. When they were younger, they drove her crazy.


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[Assistant] She's five years old. Her name is Maria. She is a cutie. And she's growing up so fast.


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[Assistant] She will talk your arm off. She has such a big vocabulary for such a small person.


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[Assistant] Lindsay has always loved to read, and she has passed that love of books and words onto her daughter.


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[Assistant] Daniel is a very nice man. He's an extremely social chatty guy. He's a police officer.


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[Assistant] And whenever he pays a visit, he comes up with some interesting real crime stories.


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[Assistant] Yes, it's challenging, but rewarding at the same time.


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[Assistant] Thanks for watching and be sure to subscribe to our YouTube channel for more videos like this.


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[Assistant] This is our hotel. Let's go inside. Hello.


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[Assistant] Yes, it's under Scott. I booked a triple room.


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[Assistant] Anyway, I have a surprise for you. I've just rented a car. So I'm coming to pick you up.


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[Assistant] So how do I get there? I'm in front of the hotel.


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[Assistant] Okay. I'll be there in just a few minutes.


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[Assistant] We have just got to the post office, but you're not here. Where are you?


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[Assistant] Well, we should go to the shopping mall. I'll have to ask someone to guide us.


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[Assistant] Excuse me, do you know where the shopping mall is?


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[Assistant] The following content is provided under a Creative Commons license. Your support will help MIT OpenCourseWare continue to offer high quality educational resources for free.


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[Assistant] To make a donation or to view additional materials from hundreds of MIT courses.


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[Assistant] Visit MIT OpenCourseWare at ocw.mit.edu.


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[Assistant] This is your captain speaking. We are about to land, so please fasten your seat belts.


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[Assistant] We spend roughly 60% of our communication time listening. But we're not very good at it. We retain just 25% of what we hear. Now, not you, not this talk, but that is generally true.


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[Assistant] Let's define listening as making meaning from sound. It's a mental process and it's a process of extraction.


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[Assistant] Differencing is another technique we use. If I left this pink noise on for more than a couple of minutes, you would literally cease to hear it.


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[Assistant] We listen to differences, we discount sounds that remain the same.


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[Assistant] And then there is a whole range of filters. These filters take us from all sound down to what we pay attention to. Most people are entirely unconscious of these filters, but they actually create our reality in a way because they tell us what we're paying attention to right now.


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[Assistant] Give you one example of that. Intention is very important in sound, in listening.


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[Assistant] When I married my wife, I promised her that I would listen to her every day as if for the first time.


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[Assistant] So that's not all. Sound places us in space and in time. If you close your eyes right now in this room, you're aware of the size of the room from the reverberation and the bouncing of the sound off the surfaces. And you're aware of how many people are around you because of the micro noises you're receiving.