#488 The Breakup Ceremony- Toure

#488 The Breakup Ceremony- Toure

“We are gathered here today to witness the conclusion of a wonderful relationship between two wonderful people.”

This is the custom in Soul City. If a couple is together long enough but doesn’t last, the community throws them a Breakup Ceremony, an un-wedding of sorts. Each party gets to briefly air their grievance and they, supposedly, part under fair circumstances.

“The ceremony spreads the word that it’s over, freeing the two from many awkward questions, sending a tacit message to anyone who’s been waiting for the relationship to dissolve.”

It sounds very civil doesn’t it? Any reason to throw a party I guess. Today’s ceremony goes awry of course, and an good intentions are lost in a flurry of chaos. What didn’t they think was going to happen?

Rating: 7-7-8-7 Total= 29

#333 Taped to the Sky- Luis Alberto Urrea

#333 Taped to the Sky- Luis Alberto Urrea

Hubbard is in a bad way. His wife, the woman he bought a car and an education for, the woman he just helped get through an AA program, left with her sponsor. He decided to take the car back and drive his troubles away.

South to Louisiana, West to Texas, North to Colorado, etc…“This whole chunk of the map was written in poems and liquor bottle labels.”

His grief subsided with each state, each dumb roadside attraction, each violence run-in with the local drunks. As the sky got bigger, his head got clearer:

“There were patterns moving across the sky, high, where small scallops of cloud shimmered like mother-of-pearl. He felt a part of the great becoming, the revelation of the West.”

Sometimes when you feel abandoned, maybe you’ve really been set free. Sometimes, you still need to be taught a lesson.

Rating: 8-7-8-8 Total= 31