Success is counted sweetest

By those who ne’er succeed.

To comprehend…

OH, FOR THE LOVE OF GOD, COULD YOU TWO PLEASE KEEP IT DOWN IN THERE? MOMMY’S TRYING TO WRITE. I SAID MOMMY’S TRYING TO WRITE! WHAT’S THAT? NO, I’LL BE DONE WHEN I’M DONE. WHEN I’M DONE. I SAID WHEN I’M DONE! I DON’T KNOW–20 MINUTES? 30 MINUTES? JUST DON’T BE SO LOUD ANYMORE, OK? YES, YOU WERE TOO BEING LOUD. YES, YOU WERE. YES, YOU WERE. YES, YOU…STOP ARGUING WITH ME! WHAT? NO, I DON’T KNOW WHERE YOU PUT YOUR i-POD. CHECK THE LAUNDRY ROOM.

…a nectar requires sorest need.

Not one of all the purple host

Who took the flag to-day…

JESUS, NOW WHAT THE HELL WAS THAT? THAT CRASH. THE CRASH THAT I JUST HEARD COMING FROM THE STAIRS! YEAH, THAT CRASH. WHAT? IT WAS? THE BIG JAR OF PEANUTS? OH, CRAP. WELL, THEN GO GET THE VACUUM AND TELL YOUR BROTHER YOU’RE SORRY. YES, YOU CAN DO THAT ALL BY YOURSELF. BECAUSE I’M WRITING. I SAID I’M WRITING. WHAT? NO, IT’S NONE OF YOUR BUSINESS WHAT I’M WRITING ABOUT. WHAT? OK, IT’S A POEM. I SAID A POEM! A POEM! NO, IT’S NOT ABOUT INDIANA JONES.

…Can tell the definition, So clear, of victory,

As he, defeated, dying,

On whose forbidden ear…

BLEEDING WHERE? ON YOUR LEG? HOW MUCH? WELL, IS IT JUST A FLESH WOUND? OR DO YOU SEE AN ARTERY? WHAT’S THAT? YOU DON’T? WELL THEN YOU’RE FINE. I SAID YOU’RE FINE! JUST PUT SOME PRESSURE ON IT UNTIL I COME OUT. PRESSURE! PUT SOME PRESSURE ON IT! THERE, DID THAT HELP? IT DID? GOOD. NOW GO OUTSIDE AND PLAY ON THAT SLIP ‘N SLIDE YOUR DAD BOUGHT YOU. THE SLIP ‘N SLIDE! THE BRIGHT YELLOW THING IN THE BACKYARD THAT’S KILLING THE GRASS. YEAH, THAT. NOW, GO! GO!

…The distant strains of triumph, break, agonized and clear.

OK, GUYS–MOMMY’S DONE. I SAID MOMMY’S DONE! NOW WHERE ARE YOU TWO? ARE YOU IN THE KITCHEN? THE PLAYROOM? WHY IS IT SO QUIET? (long pause) OK, WHO LOCKED THIS DOOR?

Wendi Aarons