Nov. 24, BLYTHEVILLE, AR. Reading
event in northeast Arkansas. It's the Monday before Thanksgiving. Only
store in town that's getting any business is the supermarket. The
bookstore owner and me, rocking by the wood stove, surrounded by books,
Rosie snoring on the old plank floor. Woman comes in by mistake, a week
late for her book group meeting. Rosie shows off her pacifist dog trick.
Woman leaves with my book. Before Rosie and I leave, we sign the Guest
Chair. Authors' signatures cover every wooden slat. Hillary's signature a
big swirl across the biggest top slat -- she's a big dog. We little dogs
squeeze onto a narrow, angled support slat. I whip open a Sharpie, sign my
name. Rosie steps on an ink pad, makes her mark.
Meanwhile, back in Arizona,
the Vette's down off the lift and raring to go. So that night after
the reading, point the un-Vette toward AZ.
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