Egghead-Hayseed Wars

“The Silver Missile”

 

You're Gibbs from NCIS on a solo mission in Venice. You don't speak Italian. Every day you sit at a small café and some Italian guy approaches your table and says something incomprehensible in Italian. You're Gibbs. You simply look up and say, “Allegedly. Full of surprises,” pointing to the cashier. Next day, different Italian guy, different words, different question. You look up from your table, gaze directly in their eyes, and say, “Allegedly. What's the sense?”

 

You have to be careful. When you're escaping the cage of your conditioning it can feel like you've decided not only to cut a few classes at college, you've realized you might as well skip the final exams as well while the tsunami of time sweeps over you. Not a It dropped off. Or it may feel like you've reunited with the dogs you had as a child, and out for a walk, one of them suddenly bolts away onto the pavement, barking at something, which you quickly realize is a lioness escaped from the zoo. Things can become dangerously switched around. You could be on your way back from a Sufi retreat in the country and see a pileup of cars because one of the other adepts has taken the teaching to mean he should switch lanes into opposing traffic on the freeway. Don't you be the one leaping fences! Just do what makes sense, which usually is nothing, besides being normal.

 

I may not speak Italian :: I certainly understand Italian. My cover is linguistic studies. Specifically, how to navigate the simple byways between yes and no. The Italian men were really saying simple things. On the first day at that café, the man approaching me said, “Do you know what time it is?” I said, “It dropped off. Ask them.” The second day, the man approaching my table said, “A little snack? Giving you suicide?” Cryptic. Again I said, “Allegedly. What's the sense?”

Later in the afternoon I saw the missile go off between the trees. The sunlight streaming through the leaves almost made me miss my shot. It's a handheld camera, this iPhone, and as I swiveled, the camera wouldn't track. A silver missile, is all I got. The second missile, which surprised me as I turned away, was perfectly caught through my lens as I almost fell over on the forest floor. The streak of the missile, the pretty smooth action of my forearm capturing the bright afterburn, and the silver missile itself.

And there I am in the hay to arrest an insurgency.

 

Sunday's The New York Times had caught my attention. An article entitled, “Feelings Aside, It's Time for a No,” by THE WORKOLOGIST Rob Walker, dated October 1st 2017, swiveled between a lament from A.D., in Cleveland, trying to learn how to politely decline snacks from a co-worker, to a suggested response from the columnist, “You're very nice and I enjoy working with you, but I'm picky about food. I feel bad about having to turn down the tastes and snacks, so, nothing personal, but can we just agree that you don't need to offer me anything?” The endlessly polite people, the Eggheads of Feeling. To them it's all Yes or No, never a diversion :: “Allegedly. What's the sense?” pointing out nearby co-workers. I made notes for the Backtalktionary, which occupies much of my time. Years ago I taught a neighborhood girl to say, Hold it! What's the password?” and “You never know! There's a pack of electric little phony girls. What's the sense?”

 

“do

—Natural. Intelligence.

you

—Take a chance! Trust me.

know

—Let me know how rare it is.

what

—It dropped off. Ask them.

time

—Freewheelin', man. Thlowly.

it

—That's a switch. No big deal.

is?”

—$100,000 in bearer bonds.

 

 

“a

—Knowing how much it's worth.

little

—You're lucky! Old-school.

snack?”

—It dropped off. Ask them.

 

 

“giving

—Doing better. Months ago.

you

—Take a chance! Trust me.

suicide?”

—Let's skip that. After you!

 

That night I went outside a little cautious and bemused at my writing myself into this story. I wondered how that conceit would play itself out. Half a world away the mass shooting in Las Vegas was stupefying everyone expecting their ordinary shows. I smoked half a cigarette beneath a sky partially obscured by clouds, with some stars somehow shining through.

My hotel room suddenly had company. The door had silently been removed, as if by a can opener, and the halls were teaming with dark Italians. It was actually a double room with an adjoining passage, and as I came around the corner, I realized I was pretty safe. People were sleeping all over the hallways, as if they were exhausted soccer players intending to stay there, until a couple of them cautiously, and stealthily, made their way into my room. I backed into the other room to find my cell phone. “I'll call the police!” I said in a loud enough voice. In fact, I dialed “911” hoping that would work. No answer.

One of the men went so far as to collapse on the sofa behind the glass coffee table in the front room and I pushed myself forward to get hold of the sleepwalker. Drug dead, or so it seemed. I grabbed handfuls of black hair to help pull him up, reassured at least one other man was assisting in some way. As we managed to get him into a sitting position, I turned and saw a properly dressed gentleman with the short-cropped hair of hotel security. “See if anybody can do those things,” he said in a half-challenging way.

His words somehow hypnotized me. I went back into the other room to see if anyone had disturbed where I had hid my guns, saw the stack of both cell phones still on the counter where I'd left them, then decided to see if I could dehypnotize myself by using the Backtalktionary.

 

“see

—Don't worry star who we are.

if

—Interacting. With people!

anybody

What about loafing? You do you!

can

—What you least expect. Edgy.

do

—Natural. Intelligence.

those

—Less is more. Can I try that?

things.”

—Get out! It's insane.

 

 

a

—Knowing how much it's worth.

million

—Not my organizing principle.

responses

Here's the thing. Learn more.

 

 

pick

—I must be going! Drop out!

one

—It comes from my family.

 

 

never

—A well of deep sadness.

say

—Got to slay the dragon, man!

that

—Well-grounded. Ask them.

 

Hayseeds think they're being whimsical and their whimsy makes them wise. It would be true if it wasn't crap. —Oh, look at the precocious little dumb thing! is what people were really thinking when the hayseed was two years old. In an adult whimsy just makes work for people, and most often it isn't even wise. Maybe on the third or fourth try a whimsical utterance conveys some kernel of truth, either built-in, or somewhere to be eked out. Whatever its source, it's serious work! Meantime, all it's really doing is annoying everybody. Wisdom itself, if that is the intent, can be expressed quite directly. And even poetically.

 

“where

—Scrounge. You never know.

cometh

—Hey! OUCH. Rough edges.

the

—In brief. Not have the power.

rain?”

—Who knows? Cloud cover cool.

 

Femmes fatales understand, on a very deep level, eroticism thrives in ice. It's almost like a recipe: One part ice, two drops meanness, and a touch of anger. Voilà!

The counterpart for males is much the same, though much Easier. For a man, you just sense your belly and be yourself. You really, really be yourself. The fish will see that.

 

“you

—Take a chance! Trust me.

melted

Allegedly. What's the sense?

the

—In brief. Not have the power.

ice!”

Apparently not.

 

A hayseed gets almost nothing right. They're like flotsam on the sea. They hate meaning. And if they do mean something, it isn't pretty. They mistake wordplay for whimsy, or even worse, for sexual innuendo. Underneath their sea is nothing but seething anger, laid out like submerged ice. Treacherous! They're trying to overturn Nature, and it doesn't work.

Ice floats, now doesn't it? When hayseeds string together phony words & phrases, you simply get deep crap snagged in the nets of reason. No fresh fish there! You just get that sinking feeling.

 

“you

—Take a chance! Trust me.

exposed

Most unfortunate.

the

—In brief. Not have the power.

mystery.”

—You're lucky! Old-school.

 

 

“I

—You've changed. I get it!

thought

—Right! Absolutely. Easy choice.

it

—That's a switch. No big deal.

was

Must be. Who else would?

magic.”

—Hardly. Quite unnecessary.

 

Listen carefully, from your being. If you have any talent whatsoever, the phonies will try to trick you into being a big shot, or a whale. Then they've got you in their nets. The way out is to pretend you're a minnow in an undersea cathedral, a sovereign space.

 

“jack

—It comes from my family.

of

—A fallen bird. Very disturbed.

all

—The pious mastermind!

trades,

—Hey! OUCH. Both sides.

master

—Who wouldn't? No sweat.

of

—A fallen bird. Very disturbed.

none.”

—I must be a magnet.

 

 

“if

—Interacting. With people!

you

—Take a chance! Trust me.

like

—Sparingly. It's insane!

Texas

—Put your name on it.

so

—Who knows? Cloud cover cool.

much,

—Outside that kind of scrutiny.

why

You're never worried about it.

don't

—Touch & go. Don't have to.

you

—Take a chance! Trust me.

move

—Stand in your way. Find it!

there?”

—Ahead of time. In a cage.

 

The Silver Missile reenters the atmosphere and plunges into the sea. It doesn't even explode. The first yokel in a fishing boat says, “Is that one as big as yours?” and the second yokel says, “Well-grounded.”

 

“is

—$100,000 in bearer bonds.

that

Well-grounded. Ask them.

one

—It comes from my family.

as

—Think so? In many cases.

big

—After that. Beautiful things.

as

—Think so? In many cases.

yours?”

—Kaleidoscopic. A low profile.

 

 

“you're

—The guest! I don't think so.

lying!”

—No, it's not. It's not over.

 

 

a

—Knowing how much it's worth.

about

—Silver bells & candles. Not yet.

account

—I hope not. Not at all.

afternoon

—One's enough. With a map!

age

—You can ask. You reckon?

ahead

—Wise up! Back away!

all

—The pious mastermind!

already

—I hope not. Not at all.

always

—What 'cha gonna do?

amaze

—Back in the woods.

an

—That's absurd. A contribution.

and

—Very awkward. Soccer games.

another

—You're never worried about it.

anybody

What about loafing? You do you!

anyone

—Flow right in. Why not?

anything

—It comes from my family.

app

—I'll bet. Who doesn't?

appointment

—It's riveting. You're strong.

are

—Other plans. Fickle.

around

—Oh, yeah? Losing my name.

arrogant

—The pious mastermind!

as

—Think so? In many cases.

at

—How so? Most of us don't.

attacks

—Right! Absolutely. Easy choice.

back

—I hope not. Not at all.

backtalktionary

Eventually. In my room.

bad

—A lot more. Hug a girl.

bank

—KIND OF. An interview.

bathrooms

—Back in the woods.

be

—Memorable. Appropriate.

beauty

—By no means, sir! A setup!

been

—And so many others.

before

—It's impossible. Still to come.

behaving

—A masterpiece. Mañana.

being

—Very different. Just a bit.

belly

—A new talent. Well & good.

bet

—Might have been. It's gone.

Bible

—I think it's easy to overstate.

big

—After that. Beautiful things.

birds

—Just don't! Do less.

bless

—DOGS, TOO! Lots of things.

blind

—Hey! OUCH. Both sides.

boring

—At all? Everyone does.

borrow

—Big money! A suspended place.

bothers

—Tough to beat. Very loyal.

break

—At least for now. Dangerous.

breath

—So WHAT? WHO CARES?

brother

—Stately. Why should you?

business

—What 'cha gonna do?

busy

—Yes! Nothing to worry about.

called

—Just don't! Do less.

calling

—BACK OFF! Stay back.

can

—What you least expect. Edgy.

can't

—Think so? In many cases.

car

—Outside that kind of scrutiny.

careful

—Shocks American culture.

ceases

—A couple of things. Country.

cell

—A well of deep sadness.

center

—Hitch your wagon to a star.

cents

—I think it is. YOU! Upgraded.

change

—I wish I'd thought of it.

check

—Dead & infected. So much!

child

—Less is more. Can I try that?

Christmas

—Nowhere near. Many more!

cigarette

—Next to nothing. Reserved.

city

—What you least expect. Edgy.

collusion

—It's uncanny. Many options.

come

—By no means, sir! A setup!

comeback

Silver bells & candles. Not yet.

comebacks

—A 100 miles of crooked road.

cometh

—Hey! OUCH. Both sides.

comic

—What changed? Look at you!

coming

—Open up. Everywhere!

complain

—My mind's exploding.

complaining

No reason to follow through.

conference

—Back in the woods.

congratulations

Perfect! The opposite.

[contempt]

You mean, Dr. Horse Sense?

crazy

—Probably. With employees.

creature

—Hands off! No supervision!

cunt

—Narrowly. It's a mystery.

cute

—It's riveting. You're strong.

cutting

—Going fishing. The rendezvous.

day

—Waiting for the wind to change.

deaf

—Well done. Lost to travel.

deal

—Way before then. Think things!

decent

—Big family! What if you're not?

department

—The Hero Advocate! Dang!

dessert

—Very different. Just a bit.

did

—It's criminal. Break the law!

didn't

—Miscommunication anyway.

differently

—What 'cha gonna do?

difficult

—Brace yourself! Not at war.

dipfuck

—Not today. Get a rest!

do

—Natural. Intelligence.

dog

—Intensified. I'm melting!

doing

—Lucky me! No one killed me.

done

—Yes! Nothing to worry about.

don't

—Touch & go. Don't have to.

down

—Very awkward. Soccer games.

downright

—DOGS, TOO! Lots of things.

drill

—Scrounge. You never know.

drive

—Go slow! Be specific.

drugs

—Why bother? Doesn't matter.

dummy

—Less is more. Can I try that?

each

—Stealing happiness.

early

—Off rhythm. Rattled!

easy

—Indeed. Enormously.

eating

—DOGS, TOO! Lots of things.

else

—You can ask. You reckon?

emergency

—By no means, sir! A setup!

end

Certainly not. Liberty!

enjoy

Au contraire. Off the grid.

everything

—After that. Beautiful things.

excuse

—Hard to miss. Quantum.

exploring

—Prepare to move out! Before!

exposed

—Most unfortunate.

face

—And so many others.

faith

Au contraire. Off the grid.

favorite

—This city! It's paid the price.

feels

—But why? Networking, eh?

fellow

—See that? Unafraid.

fifty

—Someone else. Significant.

finally

—That's it. Nothing else.

fine

—Go slow! Be specific.

fire

—At all? Everyone does.

fired

—Anything else? Your eyes.

for

—Who knows? Cloud cover cool.

force

Au contraire. Off the grid.

forget

—Ever hopeful. You're wrong.

friendly

—Tough to beat. Very loyal.

friends

—Let's go by intuition.

from

—Sturdy New England stock.

fuck

—Not much. Receive joy.

funny

—Life's darkest moment.

gems

—The pious mastermind!

get

—Prepare to move out! Before!

girlfriend

What the hell? Sight unseen.

giving

—Doing better. Months ago.

go

—A sky hook. And by the way ...

going

—Looks like it. Changes you.

good

—Surprisingly. You bet!

gorgeous

—A science project? Stuck!

got

—Put your name on it.

greetings

—Doing better. Months ago.

haircut

—Oh, yeah? Losing my name.

hanging

—Shift change! Just in time.

happened

—Doing better. Months ago.

happier

—Hang it on the wall.

happy

—My mind's exploding.

hard

—Way before then. Think things!

has

—I must be a magnet.

have

—On my way. Many ways.

haven't

—Go on! That's excessive.

having

—I've had my time. Worse!

he's

—Who wouldn't? No sweat.

hear

—Might have been. It's gone.

heard

—In my profession? Let it be.

heart

—Hang it on the wall.

here

—Less is more. Can I try that?

hey

—I hope not. Not at all.

hiding

—Touch & go. Don't have to.

hired

—How amusing. Science fiction.

hold

—Penny-pinching! Best not to.

home

—No reason to follow through.

honey

—As if. Life is not a test.

hook up

—If we had time. On your own.

hope

—Go slow! Be specific.

house

—Probably. With employees.

how

The moment. A terrific mood.

how's

—Effortless. Flawless.

huh

—Hang it on the wall.

humor

—Got to slay the dragon, man!

hurry

—BACK OFF! Stay back.

I

—You've changed. I get it!

I'll

—Stately. Why should you?

I'm

—Always room. Very refined.

I've

—The guest! I don't think so.

ice

Apparently not.

idiot

—Not just wrong. Always wrong.

if

—Interacting. With people!

ignoring

—Perfect! The opposite.

imagine

—Way before then. Think things!

in

—Solitary. I was taking your hint.

inexplicable

—What 'cha gonna do?

insignificant

—What changed? Look at you!

inspiration

—Yeah, sure. Not so much.

insult

—ROAD KILL! MERCY!

interviews

—Hang it on the wall.

intimidate

—See that? Unafraid.

[intimidation]

—What 'cha gonna do?

introduce

—Next time! I can endure.

is

—$100,000 in bearer bonds.

isn't

—Stately. Why should you?

it

—That's a switch. No big deal.

it's

—Narrowly. It's a mystery.

jack

—It comes from my family.

jump

—Someone else. Significant.

just

—Very nice. Watch his humor.

keep

—Hang it on the wall.

kids

Man! Expensive!

know

—Let me know how rare it is.

Koran

The moment. A terrific mood.

last

Au contraire. Off the grid.

late

—I might do that. NO WAY!

[laughter]

—Let go! Sovereign space.

laundry

—It's terrible. From all sides.

learning

—Ever hopeful. You're wrong.

least

—I'm easy. Being followed.

leaving

—At all? Everyone does.

let's

—Eat your heart out! Capiche?

Levi's Plaza

—Small world. Old as dirt.

like

—Sparingly. It's insane!

listen

—I must be going! Drop out!

little

—You're lucky! Old-school.

live

—And so many others.

long

—Don't lose count. I lost it!

looking

—CONSIDERABLE! Impunity.

loop

—Penny-pinching! Best not to.

loser

—MANY TIMES! Roughshod.

lot

—One's enough. With a map!

love

—Until I die. Feel like dying.

luck

—In my profession? Let it be.

lying

—No, it's not. It's not over.

mad

—Work back from the future.

magic

—Hardly. Quite unnecessary.

make

—Why bother? Doesn't matter.

man

—A science project? Stuck!

many

—One's enough. With a map!

master

—Who wouldn't? No sweat.

may

—Waiting for the wind to change.

me

—From inside! Beyond belief.

mean

—It's alive! To keep order.

meet

—Not right now. We'll get there.

melted

—Allegedly. What's the sense?

merry

—Life's darkest moment.

met

—Freewheelin', man. Thlowly.

million

—Not my organizing principle.

mind

—Certainly not. Liberty!

mine

—Doing better. Months ago.

missing

—Never mind! As a child.

mom

—By no means, sir! A setup!

money

—Stand in your way. Find it!

more

—No more. Too late!

morning

—Anywhere positive. Survive!

move

—Stand in your way. Find it!

much

—Outside that kind of scrutiny.

my

—Relaxing. We're in business!

mystery

—You're lucky! Old-school.

name

—My friends call me Yamita.

need

—I wish I'd thought of it.

needed

—Nothing to do with that.

never

—A well of deep sadness.

New Year's

I know, right? Once again!

news

—ROAD KILL! MERCY!

nice

—Late at night. Stretches out.

no

—... Any better than that?

nobody

—Life's darkest moment.

none

—I must be a magnet.

not

—Sure thing. Give it a chance.

now

—One's enough. With a map!

number

—As much as possible ...

of

—A fallen bird. Very disturbed.

oh

—A science project? Stuck!

okay

—Pretty much. All the way.

old

—You can ask. You reckon?

on

—Going fishing. The rendezvous.

one

—It comes from my family.

or

—Outside of that. A new thrill.

order

—A 100 miles of crooked road.

out

—In shadows. Don't ask me to.

over

—On my way. Many ways.

park

—Cheap thrills. An outcry.

password

—I must be going! Drop out!

pen

—Penny-pinching! Best not to.

people

—Not recently. Privacy.

phony

—You can't be too careful.

pick

—I must be going! Drop out!

please

—At all? Everyone does.

poor

—The Hero Advocate! Dang!

pretty

—Flow right in. Why not?

privilege

—War souvenirs! Camp.

problem

—A science project? Stuck!

progress

—It's broken. A broken heart.

promise

—Learning. Understand?

punk

—Says you! Perspicacity!

put

—Stay focused. That's all.

question

—Complicated. Get to the point.

quick

—How's that? Is it cheap?

quiet

—Get a grip on someone else.

quietly

—Doing better. Months ago.

rain

—Who knows? Cloud cover cool.

reach

—Nothing to do with that.

read

—Here's the thing. Learn more.

real

—I know, right? Once again!

reality

—You must be mistaken.

really

—BELIEVE me. Got you!

redefine

What on earth? Copy that.

relax

—Exactly. What else?

remember

—What changed? Look at you!

replaced

—Probably. With employees.

response

—It's uncanny. Many options.

responses

Here's the thing. Learn more.

restraining

—Flow right in. Why not?

retard

—How deep? A syndicate.

Richard

—Relaxing. We're in business!

rid

—Isn't that bizarre? Could be worse.

right

—THAT'S NOTHING! Atomic.

[robocalls]

—... Any better than that?

rooms

—Royal blood. Imaginatively.

safe

—Tough to beat. Very loyal.

said

What on earth? Copy that.

[sarcasm]

—Well-minded. Either way.

sarcasm's

—Hang it on the wall.

say

—Got to slay the dragon, man!

saying

—I think it's easy to overstate.

screw

—ROAD KILL! MERCY!

see

—Don't worry star who we are.

[self-attack]

Doing better. Months ago.

sense

—Let go! Sovereign space.

sent

—Yeah, sure. Not so much.

set

—What changed? Look at you!

should

—In shadows. Don't ask me to.

shut

—Get a grip on someone else.

sidewalk

—Pretty intense. Make a list!

sit

—Hardly. Quite unnecessary.

size

—My mind's exploding.

smart

—On top. Challenging money.

SMILE!

—BE HONEST! Completed.

snack

—Allegedly. What's the sense?

so

—Who knows? Cloud cover cool.

someone

—Too big for one religion.

something

—Doing better. Months ago.

sometime

—Work back from the future.

sophisticated

—As if. Life is not a test.

sorry

—All rightie, then! The wild one.

space

—How's that? Is it cheap?

spare

—Afraid not. You'll be first up.

stay

—Well, okay! There's hope.

staying

—Not today. Get a rest!

still

—One's enough. With a map!

stuck

—MANY TIMES! Roughshod.

stupid

—A fallen bird. Very disturbed.

such

—Beyond that. It's all overrated.

sue

—Brace yourself! Not at war.

suicide

—Let's skip that. After you!

sure

—One's enough. With a map!

take

—DOGS, TOO! Lots of things.

talk

—Stealing happiness.

talking

—A science project? Stuck!

telling

—Don't worry. Never buy horses.

Texas

—Put your name on it.

than

—Must be. Who else would?

that

—Well-grounded. Ask them.

that's

—To the contrary. Rock & roll.

the

—In brief. Not have the power.

them

—Snake pit! Sink further!

themselves

—After that. Beautiful things.

there

—Ahead of time. In a cage.

they

—Don't worry star who we are.

they're

—No doubt. Are you sure?

thing

—How deep? A syndicate.

things

—Get out! Too soon.

think

—From the deep. Territory.

this

—Not us. I would never do that.

those

—Less is more. Can I try that?

thought

—Right! Absolutely. Easy choice.

time

—Freewheelin', man. Thlowly.

times

—Anywhere positive. Survive!

tits

—Wounded Knee. Unforgettable.

to

—Get wealthy! You know that.

toast

—Put your name on it.

today

—NIGHT SKY! Amazing.

tomorrow

—Big family! What if you're not?

too

—Very different. Just a bit.

trades

—Hey! OUCH. Both sides.

traffic

—What you least expect. Edgy.

traveler

—I'll bet. Who doesn't?

tricky

—Get out! Too soon.

truth

—Easier. The other guy.

trying

—On my way. Many ways.

turn

—Honor & integrity! DIGNITY!

turns

—Never mind the numbers!

ugly

—You're young, too. L'chaim!

unfair

—No, it's not. It's not over.

up

—Waste of time. Double up!

used

—Let go! Sovereign space.

usual

—Hang it on the wall.

very

—Bit by bit. MAKE TROUBLE!

view

—Not long. I'll change that soon.

walk

—To the contrary. Rock & roll.

want

—At all? Everyone does.

warned

—Not recently. Privacy.

was

—Must be. Who else would?

wasn't

—I'll bet. Who doesn't?

waste

—You sure? No one wants that.

ways

—Royal blood. Imaginatively.

we

—And so many others.

wearing

—Fit & proper. In case.

weather

—Who knows? Cloud cover cool.

week

—Just normal. TAKE THAT!

weird

—Small world. Old as dirt.

weirdo

—To the contrary. Rock & roll.

well

—Hitch your wagon to a star.

what

—Allegedly. What's the sense?

what's

—A whole new other way.

whatever

—Avoid entanglements.

when

—PRIORITIES. Hold on!

where

—Scrounge. You never know.

where's

—Going fishing. The rendezvous.

while

—Deeply flawed. I'm a dropout.

who

—Shift change! Just in time.

why

—You're never worried about it.

will

—THAT'S NOTHING! Atomic.

with

—But why? Networking, eh?

won't

—Sitting inside a bombshell.

word

—Wounded Knee. Unforgettable.

wordy

—DOGS, TOO! Lots of things.

work

—I know, right? Once again!

working

—Memorable. Appropriate.

world

—At midnight. The rapture!

worry

—Not recently. Privacy.

worth

—A new talent. Well & good.

would

—Whatnot. Finely nuanced.

wrong

—No reason to follow through.

yes

—As much as possible ...

you

—Take a chance! Trust me.

you're

—The guest! I don't think so.

you've

—The reverse! That's enough.

your

—Broken. Part of the mystique.

yours

—Kaleidoscopic. A low profile.

yourself

—How so? Most of us don't.