Terrastina and Mazolli

Epilogue: Five Minutes From Now. A Slightly Skewed View of the World

2006-12-31T21:00:00.000-08:00

Emily and Alice sit on the living room floor with crayons in their hands and sheets of paper under their wrists. They draw pictures of the parents. Alice has them with orange hair and wide round eyes. Emily makes them with big feet and wings on their elbows. They ask the parents to turn sideways for a different view. Emily and Alice draw them again in profile, making them look exactly like penguins they have seen in pictures. Later the parents put the pictures up on the fridge and tell stories to Emily and Alice until they fall asleep.

Episode 396: Lucky Break

2006-12-31T20:36:00.000-08:00

Mazolli tells Terrastina about an article he read which explains how people get together. Do tell, says Terrastina. Yeah, says Mazolli. It’s all about names. Certain names are spiritually attracted to certain other names and when these names come in close proximity, they kind of veer towards each other. Then there’s a collision, and the people fall in love. Or something like that. Terrastina listens carefully. Interesting theory, she says, do you think that’s what happened to us? No, says Mazolli. I think with you and me, it was more the twins needed us for them to be born.

Episode 395: Brewed

2006-12-31T20:35:00.000-08:00

Mazolli and Terrastina go into the city and stop at a coffee shop called The Brew. It is a fancy establishment with upscale furniture and very pricey coffee. This is not like our place was, says Mazolli. Nope, says Terrastina. Our The Brew was way cozier. Bet we made way better coffee, too. They examine the desserts under the glass at the front counter. These look pretty good, says Terrastina, for being sugary cakes and all. Does it make you miss the old place? asks Mazolli. Terrastina shakes her head. Nothing lasts forever Moz, she says. Except maybe us.

Episode 394: Closure

2006-12-31T20:34:00.000-08:00

Terrastina takes her bike to the library. She goes to one of the computers and logs onto the internet and checks the web site where people can talk to the stars. She scrolls through the messages people have left for the aliens to read. A lot of them say something like Please help us. Others ask why the aliens haven’t given Earth the secret of clean energy. A few ask the aliens for money. There are a lot of ads. Terrastina types in her message: If you find this, please be kind. Hope you are all keeping well. Peace.

Episode 393: But is it Criticism

2006-12-31T20:33:00.000-08:00

Mazolli cuts thick slabs of potato, coats them with oil, and roasts them in the oven to make french fries. He arranges them on plates like logs to form a cabin. He leaves holes on three sides for windows and leans a particularly thick fry against the side for the chimney. He puts the plate in front of the twins. What’s this? they say. A potato house, says Mazolli. It’s food art. Eat up. The twins get the ketchup bottle from the fridge and open it. They lift it above the french fry cabin. It’s raining ketchup, they say.

Episode 392: Close Call

2006-12-31T20:32:00.000-08:00

Mazolli loses his hairbrush. The twins ask him where he was when he last had it. I was brushing my hair, says Mazolli. Dad! say the twins, this is serious and we have to find it. Can’t I just lie down on the couch, says Mazolli, read you a story, and wait for the brush to find me? The twins sigh, then go sit on the couch. Mazolli sits between them. He feels something under the cushion. He lifts it up and finds a doll. The twins stare at each other. This doll’s hair really needs brushing, says Mazolli.

Episode 391: Guarantee

2006-12-31T20:31:00.000-08:00

A man comes into The Gallery holding a framed drawing. Remember this? he says. Terrastina looks at the picture, then at the man. I drew that fifteen years ago, she says. You bought it from me. The man claps his hands. That’s right, he says. You told me it would look great in my house. Terrastina tilts her head. I said that? Yes you did, says the man, yes you did. Terrastina shrugs. Okay, she says. The man points at her. Well, he says, you’re wrong. I can’t stand this picture anymore. I came to get my money back.

Episode 390: The Amnesia of Magma

2006-12-31T20:30:00.000-08:00

Terrastina draws rocks for days, weeks. Big rocks, little rocks. Single rocks and groups of rocks. Smooth rocks and bumpy rocks. Broken rocks and rocks with fissures and chipped off bits. She accumulates piles of drawings like layers of shale. I’ve discovered the secret of rocks, she tells Mazolli, you have to listen to them. Not just look at them, but listen, you know what I mean? Mazolli shakes his head very slowly. I don’t think so, he says. Terrastina puts her hand over his eyelids. She holds a rock up to his ear. How about now? she says.

Episode 389: Parallel Worlds

2006-12-31T20:29:00.000-08:00

The twins run in circles for what seems like hours and hours. Mazolli calls them in for lunch. We don’t need lunch, they say. We’re getting power from our windmill. Even windmills need to eat, says Mazolli. Nuh uh, say the twins. Not windmills like us. Mazolli shields his eyes from the sun and looks at the center of the circle that the twins have defined. I don’t see any windmill, says Mazolli. It’s invisible, say the twins. He walks into the circle. I don’t feel any windmill either, he says. The twins stop. Let’s go eat, they say.

Episode 388: Do Unto Others

2006-12-31T20:28:00.000-08:00

There’s something here you need to see, says Terrastina’s friend on the phone. Terrastina goes right over and finds her old bicycle on her friend’s front yard. The frame is scratched up and the seat is torn. The chain needs oiling and the gear cables look pretty rusty, but it is Terrastina’s bicycle and she is happy to see it. She finds a note in the basket. Sory for taken yur bike, it says. I won ever do it agen. Terrastina studies the note for a long time, then tears it up and stuffs the pieces into her pocket.

Episode 387: Remembering Winter

2006-12-31T20:27:00.000-08:00

The twins stand under the cherry tree as blossom petals fall to the ground. They hold out their hands and open their mouths. The petals fill their palms and stick to their tongues. The twins tilt their heads back and feel the petals dotting their faces. They scoop up some of the petals frosting the ground and shape them into odd cousins of snowballs: loosely clumped, lumpy, and tinged with a subtle pink. They toss their petal clumps high into the air. The clumps hold together for less than a second, then disintegrate into a shower of delicate flakes.

Episode 386: Off Balance

2006-12-31T20:26:00.000-08:00

At the church across the street workers paint the siding, install a wheelchair access ramp, and replace the old doors. Mazolli goes over to inspect the work. You guys having fun? he asks. They look at him like he’s broken glass that needs sweeping up. I always thought I’d like working on old buildings, says Mazolli. Seems like real satisfying work. A truck pulls up with a large piece of stained glass strapped to its side. The workers begin unlashing it. As they tilt it over, Mazolli sees his smoky reflection. He does not recognize himself for several seconds.

Episode 385: Bother

2006-12-31T20:25:00.000-08:00

A man with leathered skin and a long white beard comes into The Gallery. He looks at some of the pictures for a brief time, then sits at one of the tables and stares at Mazolli. After a few minutes of this Mazolli asks the man if he needs anything. Don’t think so, says the man. My life is beyond need now. He keeps staring. Mazolli tries to ignore him. Then the man speaks. I thought you looked like my son, he says. But I’m wrong. The man gets up and walks out the door. Mazolli misses him immediately.

Episode 384: Got it Covered

2006-12-31T20:24:00.000-08:00

Terrastina goes around the house putting towels over all the clocks. What’s up? asks Mazolli. We are way too time conscious, says Terrastina. This will cure us of that particular disease. Mazolli stares at the towel hanging on the wall where he always used to see the big clock with the face like a lilly pad and the frogs in the twelve, three, six, and nine positions. Hey, says Mazolli, what about the frogs? Don’t I get to see the frogs anymore? Oh Dad, say the twins. The frogs are just going to sleep now. It’ll all be okay.

Episode 383: Water

2006-12-31T20:23:00.000-08:00

An artist brings in a rolled up piece of parchment paper. Terrastina spreads it out on a table. She stands back. The surface of the paper bears a pencil drawing of a divining rod. Wow, she says, that takes me back. I used to use these to find water for people to drill their wells. My grandfather did that for years, says the artist. I found this in his garage when he died. Do you like it? Terrastina does not answer. She runs her hand along the edge of the image, collecting a dot of black on her fingertip.

Episode 382: Green

2006-12-31T20:22:00.000-08:00

Mazolli sees a woman on the courthouse lawn looking down at the grass and walking in tiny steps. Lose something? asks Mazolli. Some money, says the woman without looking up. A few dollars. Not worth my time, really, but I hate to think of someone else getting it. You know, if they haven’t earned it. Oh, says Mazolli. He closes his eyes and turns slowly. When it feels right, he stops, opens his eyes and walks forward. He stops at a patch of clover, bends down and plucks one, then gives it to the woman. You’re welcome, says Mazolli.

Episode 381: Practice Random Acts of Kindness

2006-12-31T20:21:00.000-08:00

The regulars from The Brew are grateful when Terrastina puts in a coffee maker in The Gallery. They give her flowers and cards and say thank you so many times she threatens them. Stop this, she says, or I’ll have to start calling you the irregulars and make you buy some of this art hanging on the walls. They laugh and greet customers coming in the door. Big bargain today, they say. Buy two pictures and get the third one for half price. Terrastina gives them a look. The regulars become very quiet. It’s just smart marketing, they say.

Episode 380: Secret Information

2006-12-31T20:20:00.000-08:00

Terrastina and Mazolli leave the twins with friends and drive to the coast for a couple of days. When they return, the twins look at them with puzzled expressions. Who are you? they ask. Why do you think you can just take us home with you? They try to keep their faces serious, but soon start laughing and laughing. Terrastina turns to Mazolli. You know what, she says, I think they’re right. I don’t recognize these kids. The twins run to Terrastina. She hugs them and whispers into their ears. I’m so glad I have you both, she says.

Episode 379: From Out of the Tribe

2006-12-31T20:19:00.000-08:00

A passenger from the boat moored at the pier comes into The Gallery. She nods at Terrastina. Terrastina nods back. The passenger walks the perimeter of the gallery, examining each picture for a brief time, then moving on. You have nice work here, says the passenger. Thank you, says Terrastina. Do you see anything you particularly like? The passenger points to an extreme close-up photograph of an orange peel. I feel like I could fall into this, she says. I like that one very much myself, says Terrastina. Only one thing, says the passenger. You should serve coffee here.

Episode 378: The Feeling of Power

2006-12-31T20:18:00.000-08:00

A young artist brings in a canvas with the F word repeated dozens of times in stenciled red letters on a black background. Will you put this up in your gallery? he asks. Terrastina studies the painting. Are you kidding me? she says. The artist looks offended. What do you mean? he says. There are some words, says Terrastina, which need to be reserved for times that really demand them. I couldn’t agree with you more, says the artist. I think this is one of those times. Terrastina looks at the picture again. Nope, she says, you’re way wrong.

Episode 377: Taking After Their Mother

2006-12-31T20:17:00.000-08:00

At the grocery store Mazolli uses the copy machine to make duplicates of his tax return before mailing the original to the IRS. The twins watch him press the start button repeatedly. Can we make copies of our hands? they ask. Sure, says Mazolli, as soon as I finish this. We want to make copies of the copies, too, they say. And copies of those copies. And copies of those copies. And copies of those copies. Is this for a school project or something? asks Mazolli. They look at him blankly. No, they say. It’s a surprise for Mom.

Episode 376: Distracted Thoughts

2006-12-31T20:16:00.000-08:00

Mazolli sees broken glass on the road ahead of the car, but cannot stop or avoid it. He drives over the shards and hopes everything will be okay. Before long he hears and feels one of the tires going thump thump thump. He stops on the shoulder and gets out. The tire is as flat as can be. He gets the spare and jack from the wheel well, then begins the process of removing the flat. Cars zip by him very fast. Their wake flaps his shirt and sends dust into his eyes. Mazolli imagines a world without cars.

Episode 375: Every House Should Have a Beloved Pet

2006-12-31T20:15:00.000-08:00

The twins make a doll house from a cardboard box. They draw in the windows and doors and ask Terrastina to cut them out. She uses an Exacto knife to make nice clean lines. I only cut the doors on three sides so you can open and close them, she says. Yeah, say the twins, we have to open the doors so the people can get in and out. When Terrastina is finished the twins put the house on their bedroom floor. They make furniture from toy bricks and people from plasticine. Now let’s make the penguin, they say.

Episode 374: Opportunity Everywhere

2006-12-31T20:14:00.000-08:00

On her way to the city Terrastina sees a line of cars stopped on the road ahead. She slows down. Rocks and mud from a fresh slide blocks the road. She stops the car and gets out. Other drivers stand at the slide. It just happened, one of them says. Is anyone hurt? asks Terrastina. No, says another driver, there wasn’t anyone under it. Someone takes out a cell phone and calls the police. It begins raining. Everyone except Terrastina gets back in their cars. She cannot stop looking at the slide. The mud is a startling deep red.

Episode 373: The Element of Surprise

2006-12-31T20:13:00.000-08:00

The twins throw sponge balls at each other. They usually miss, but when they do score a direct hit, the victim twin falls to the floor and closes her eyes. They do this for a while, then sneak up on Mazolli, who sits on the couch reading, and throw several sponge balls directly at his head. Mazolli looks around, then turns his attention back to his book. The twins throw more sponge balls at him. Mazolli scratches his head. There sure are some big mosquitoes around here today, he says. The twins cover their mouths and fall down laughing.

Episode 372: Welcome to Our World

2006-12-31T20:12:00.000-08:00

Terrastina and Mazolli organize a grand opening at The Gallery. They put up balloons, serve catered food, and hire two string quartets to play music all day. Hundreds of people come by to chat or look at the art. Terrastina and Mazolli are buoyant and beaming the whole time. The twins pretend to be guides. If you step this way, they tell visitors, you’ll see the bare naked lady picture. It’s okay, though, because it’s art. And over there is the giant clock made from sticks. It is a unique statement. Thank you for coming. You have been marvelous.

Episode 371: Forecast

2006-12-31T20:11:00.000-08:00

Terrastina and Mazolli take the twins on a hike. The sky is clear and the air is warm. Before long clouds move in. Terrastina looks up. Now where did those come from? she asks. The twins look at each other. You’re asking us where something comes from? they say. Terrastina begins walking back to the trailhead. If you don’t want to get wet, she says, I’d advise you all to follow me. The four of them get back to the car just as the sky opens up. Fat drops of rain spatter against the windshield. Told you, says Terrastina.

Episode 370: Beware the Translator

2006-12-31T20:10:00.000-08:00

Mazolli loses his voice after talking on the phone for hours to framing suppliers. Terrastina tells the twins it is only temporary. But what if he has to tell us something really important? say the twins. They tell Mazolli to write down whatever he needs to say and they will speak it for him. Mazolli gets a paper and pen. He writes a short note: My pumpkins are the most precious little girls on Earth. He hands it to the twins. They take it and run to Terrastina. Dad says we should have ice cream for dinner, they say.

Episode 369: Art May Be a Universal Passion

2006-12-31T20:09:00.000-08:00

Terrastina puts up easels and canvases in the window of The Gallery. She paints a landscape from a photograph. People stop at the window to watch her. She finishes the painting, then waves at the crowd clustered on the sidewalk. Come on in, she says. Don’t be shy. They enter. She puts brushes in their hands and steers them to blank canvas. Before long they are painting. They have big smiles on their faces. Many of them sign up for lessons. Art will sustain you forever, says Terrastina. Double your money back if you are not completely satisfied. Promise.

Episode 368: Low Blood Pressure

2006-12-31T20:08:00.000-08:00

The twins pour themselves glasses of juice and take them to the backyard. They put on dark glasses and wide hats and sit on deck chairs. They sip their juice slowly. It certainly is a lovely day, says one of them. Yes, says the other, it certainly is. When they finish their juice they take their empty glasses into the house and place them in the sink. Terrastina sits at the kitchen table. Looks like you two had a good time out there, she says. The twins nod. Sometimes, they say, it’s good to just relax and forget everything.

Episode 367: This is What They Miss

2006-12-31T20:07:00.000-08:00

A former Brew regular enters The Gallery wearing a black armband. He steps up to where the counter used to be and mimes placing an order. He pretends to pick up a hot cup of coffee and walks with it to a spot near the window. He pretends to open a newspaper and spends the next few minutes sipping from his imaginary cup and reading his imaginary funnies and sports section. Terrastina watches him the whole time. She claps and cheers when he finally gets up and walks out the door. Bravo, she says, bravo. Just lovely. Thank you.

Episode 366: Different Views

2006-12-31T20:06:00.000-08:00

Terrastina’s bicycle chain slips off as she climbs a steep hill. A man out walking his dog stops and offers to help. Thanks, says Terrastina, but I know how to put a chain back on a bike. Of course you do, says the man. Please forgive me. He and the dog walk on. A week later Terrastina reads in the paper that a man and his dog are missing. No one knows what happened to them, but the man’s wife is quoted as saying it is a blessing. He is a mean husband and that dog is even meaner.

Episode 365: Reservoir

2006-12-31T20:05:00.000-08:00

Mazolli finds a library book under the couch while he’s vacuuming. He shows it to Terrastina. Oh yeah, she says. I was wondering where that got to. She bicycles the book to the library. Mazolli continues doing housework until Terrastina returns. It was way overdue, she says, but they didn’t want any money. They don’t charge for late books. Have you ever heard of such a thing, Moz? All they want are the books back and they say guilt gets them returned quicker than fines do. Mazolli nods and holds up a library book. Found another one, he says.

Episode 364: Professional Advice

2006-12-31T20:04:00.000-08:00

Mazolli begins a framing business in the back of The Gallery. People bring their prints, posters, photos, paintings, and diplomas for Mazolli to frame. He always knows just the right color and texture of matte and frame for every item. His customers are always satisfied with his choices. You know, Moz, says Terrastina, you have a real knack for this. Mazolli turns red. It’s nothing, he says. I learned everything I know about color and art from you. Terrastina considers this. Nope, she says. Some of this stuff you’re just born with, Moz. Accept the gift and move on.

Episode 363: You Learn Something New Everyday

2006-12-31T20:03:00.000-08:00

The twins run through the house, unwinding big spools of ribbon behind them. Within a few minutes yards and yards of blue, purple, yellow and red ribbon entangle the rooms and hallways. What’s this? asks Mazolli as he wades through the strands. The twins put their hands on their hips and look very stern. Careful with the ribbon, they say. The fairies need to see them and then they’ll want to come visit us. Fairies like ribbons a lot. Is that so? asks Mazolli. I had no idea. Oh yeah, say the twins. It’s not just mushrooms with them.

Episode 362: I’m Listening

2006-12-31T20:02:00.000-08:00

Terrastina hangs a sign in the window of The Brew. A Time of Changes, it says. The Brew is now The Gallery. Refresh your spirit with Art. Stunned regulars beg her to change her mind. I was never comfortable serving coffee anyway, she says. This’ll be much better. You’ll see. The regulars present her with a petition of eighty-three signatures. Terrastina shows it to Mazolli. I knew people liked our coffee, he says, but this is amazing. Terrastina frames the petition and hangs it on the wall. She puts a label beside it. Nostalgia, it reads. One hundred dollars.

Episode 361: Inspiration

2006-12-31T20:01:00.000-08:00

This place would be a lot more attractive without the coffee, says Terrastina at The Brew one morning. No coffee? asks Mazolli. Exactly, says Terrastina. Let’s ditch the java and sell art instead. We’ll be The Gallery. Simple and true. Terrastina runs out to the car. She returns with a bag of soil, a rake, and a smashed alarm clock. She arranges the items in a corner. Our first installation, says Terrastina. I call it Patience. Four thousand dollars. What do you think? Mazolli squints his eyes and strokes his chin. We’re going to make a mint, he says.

Episode 360: Opportunist

2006-12-31T20:00:00.000-08:00

Terrastina buys a box of chocolates and some trashy paperbacks, then drives to the hospital where her friend is recovering from hip replacement surgery. She finds the room empty. She’s in rehab, a nurse tells Terrastina, learning to use her new joints. Didn’t they just put them in two days ago? Terrastina asks. The nurse shrugs. No point in delaying. You can wait here if you like. She’ll be back soon. Okay, says Terrastina. She sits down. The nurse eyes the box of chocolates Terrastina carries. She licks her lips. You got any cream filled in there? she asks.

Episode 359: We Get it

2006-12-31T18:59:00.000-08:00

Terrastina goes out to the garden. Hundreds of white butterflies cluster around her bean stalks. Terrastina stands very still. The butterflies boil and bubble, their wings flapping in a frenzy under the sun. The twins run in from around a corner. Terrastina raises her hand. The twins stop and stare at the dazzling white butterflies, each one frosted with just a hint of pink along their edges. They won’t be here long, says Terrastina. Let’s be extra quiet for a few minutes, to let them know they are welcome here. The twins put their fingers up to their lips.

Episode 358: If it Ain’t Broke

2006-12-31T18:58:00.000-08:00

Mazolli finds a squeaky section of flooring in front of the counter at The Brew. He puts his weight on it, then steps back a little. That’s a cool sound, he says. The twins found it a couple of days ago, says Terrastina. They really like it. Mazolli makes the squeaking sound again. I could get a hammer and nails and get rid of it, he says. You could, says Terrastina, but that would take away just a little bit of the charm of our place, I think. Mazolli nods. You’ve got a very good point there, he says.

Episode 357: Not on My Watch

2006-12-31T18:57:00.000-08:00

The twins can’t sleep. They crawl into bed with Terrastina and Mazolli. Do you want me to tell you a story? asks Mazolli. No, the twins say in unison. We’re tired of stories because stories aren’t real. Where did you hear that? asks Terrastina. Oh, we hear things, say the twins. Any things you want to tell us about? asks Mazolli. The twins think for a while. Well, they say. Did you know people came from outer space? I’d heard something about that, says Terrastina. It’s true, say the twins. From outer space. We could hardly believe it ourselves.

Episode 356: Compassion

2006-12-31T18:56:00.000-08:00

The twins return from a nearby pond with a jar full of tadpoles in water. They show the jar to Terrastina excitedly. That’s neat, she tells them, but did you ask the tadpoles for permission to take them from their home? Oh sure, say the twins. What did they say? asks Terrastina. They said they were tired of living in a dirty old pond. They really wanted to move some place where people would take care of them. Is that so? says Terrastina. These must be just about the most expressive tadpoles ever. Yup, say the twins. Just about.

Episode 355: Do What You Love

2006-12-31T18:55:00.000-08:00

Terrastina spends the afternoon weeding her garden. A light rain begins to fall, but she doesn’t stop. The soil begins to muddy. Rivulets appear between the furrows and swell into substantial flows of water. Mazolli comes out, holding an umbrella over his head. He puts it over Terrastina. She is startled and looks up. I suppose you’re going to tell me it’s time to come inside, she says. Something like that, says Mazolli. Thunder rolls in the distance. The sky gets noticeably darker. The rain falls harder. Terrastina looks up. This will pass, she says. This rain won’t last.

Episode 354: Alert the Editors at Bartlett’s

2006-12-31T18:54:00.000-08:00

The twins clomp around the house in pairs of Mazolli’s shoes. They pause often to take deep breaths and remark on how difficult it is to walk in someone else’s shoes. Terrastina tells them that sounds like a famous saying. The twins look at her. What’s a famous saying? they ask. It’s when someone writes something down, says Terrastina, and enough people read it, remember it, and say it out loud that everyone knows it. We’ve got more sayings, say the twins. Better get a pencil and paper and start writing them down. Cuz we’ve got lots of them.

Episode 353: They Needed a Good Union

2006-12-31T18:53:00.000-08:00

One morning the house is overrun by ants. The twins crouch down to watch them crawl on the floor. Terrastina finds ants clinging to the honey jar on the kitchen table. I used to have an ant farm when I was a kid, says Mazolli. I watched them carry their eggs around. Did you know every ant you see, every worker ant, is female? I had no idea you knew so much about ants, says Terrastina. Oh yeah, says Mazolli. I pretended I was the queen. All the worker ants had to do exactly what I said. Or else.

Episode 352: Bright Side

2006-12-31T18:52:00.000-08:00

Dozens of amateur heavy metal bands, in town for a festival, invade the fairgrounds near Terrastina and Mazolli’s house. They play window rattling music from nine in the morning straight through to three the next morning for five days running. Mazolli calls the sheriff to complain. The whole house is vibrating, he says, it’s terrible. We can’t do anything about it, says the deputy, they have a valid permit. Mazolli hangs up the phone and tells Terrastina what the deputy told him. You mean we can get a permit to annoy our neighbors? asks Terrastina. That is so cool.

Episode 351: Patience Has its Rewards

2006-12-31T18:51:00.000-08:00

Mazolli sits at the kitchen table and peels an orange. He works carefully and slowly, intending to take the entire peel off in one piece. The twins sit next to him, watching. As his thumb separates the peel from the flesh, he encounters thin spots and proceeds even more carefully. This is a tricky undertaking, he tells the twins. They nod, wide eyed and silent. Mazolli refocuses his concentration and sprints to the end, letting the long orange curl drop to the table. The twins clap loudly, pick up the peel, and drape it around their necks. Mazolli beams.

Episode 350: Getting Her Affairs in Order

2006-12-31T18:50:00.000-08:00

A stranger comes to The Brew. My mother used to drink her coffee here, he tells Terrastina, but she just died and I want to settle any unpaid accounts she may have had. I remember her, says Terrastina, but she hasn’t come here in a while, and anyway, we don’t give credit or let people run up tabs. The man scratches his head. They told me the same thing at the liquor store. They thought I should try here. He looks puzzled. I’m in charge of the estate. I want to make sure there are no loose ends anywhere.

Episode 349: Go Figure

2006-12-31T18:49:00.000-08:00

A customer shows Mazolli an abacus made of brass with a green marble base. Mazolli moves the beads around with his finger. You’re giving this away? he says. You sure you want to do that? I never use it anymore, says the customer. I don’t have money for coffee. Will you take this as trade? Mazolli feels a little like a sucker, but accepts the abacus in exchange for a large coffee. He spends several evenings absorbed in the intricacies of its operation. It’s kind of fun using this thing, he tells Terrastina. Do you want to try it?

Episode 348: It Sounded Like Fun at First, Then it Got to be a Bit of a Chore

2006-12-31T18:48:00.000-08:00

Mazolli answers an ad for volunteers to read to the blind. Some weeks later he gets a package in the mail with a tape recorder and a dozen cassette tapes. I’m supposed to read the book onto these tapes, he tells Terrastina. Then they make copies of them. Blind people can borrow the copies and listen to my voice reading a book. That’s cool, says Terrastina. What are you going to read? I haven’t figured that out yet, says Mazolli. He checks out a stack of novels from the library and sits with them, waiting for inspiration to strike.

Episode 347: Just What We Were Thinking

2006-12-31T18:47:00.000-08:00

Time for haircuts, says Terrastina. She holds up a pair of scissors in one hand and a comb in the other. The twins come running to her. Cut a picture in our hair, say the twins. We like that. I know you do, says Terrastina. Do you have any particular image in mind? The twins climb up on kitchen chairs. Terrastina secures sheets around their necks with paper clips. I was thinking something in an astronomical vein, says Terrastina. Maybe a comet. Yeah! say the twins. We like comets. Give us comets so we can fly to the stars.

Episode 346: Springing

2006-12-31T18:46:00.000-08:00

Mazolli steps outside and inhales deeply. Hey, he says, everyone come out here and smell the air. It’s marvelous. Terrastina and the twins pretend not to hear him. Mazolli takes a few more deep breaths. There’s a hint of sea air, he says. It’s so fresh, like something alive. And the flowers. Makes me feel like a bee. I want to bury my face in those petals. He stands by himself for several minutes. The hills on the other side of the river are stained with remnants of snow. Mazolli’s vision blurs as he stares at the fading whiteness.

Episode 345: Dizzy

2006-12-31T18:45:00.000-08:00

Cylindrical clouds hang low over the river like miles long sausages. Terrastina flips open her sketch book and begins drawing the view, emphasizing with gouging lines the sharp focus of the gorge after a rain. The twins watch her, then turn their attention to the clouds, then back to Terrastina’s sketch, then back to the clouds again. Soon they begin rolling their heads around and around. They turn their eyes up in their sockets, extend their arms, and fall to the ground, flat on their backs. My apologies, says Terrastina. That’s okay, say the twins, it wasn’t your fault.

Episode 344: Wild Life

2006-12-31T18:44:00.000-08:00

The tag on the back of Mazolli’s T-shirt sticks up. Terrastina tucks it away so it is out of sight, but a few minutes later it pops up again. Hang on a second, she says and goes to the junk drawer. She returns with a pair of scissors and stands poised over the tag. Careful with those things, says Mazolli. Hold still, says Terrastina. Mazolli doesn’t move. Terrastina snips the tag away and shows it to Mazolli. He holds it up and studies it. Hey, he says, did you see this logo has a turtle sewn into the name?

Episode 343: The Existential Uncertainties of Gift Giving

2006-12-31T18:43:00.000-08:00

Terrastina sketches a tree house and shows it to Mazolli. Do you think the twins would like this? she asks. Mazolli examines the drawing. I don’t know about them, but I sure would. I could stand up there and drop water bombs on people. Very funny, says Terrastina. Don’t give them any ideas. Seriously, what do you think? Mazolli shrugs. I don’t know. Did you ask them? No, says Terrastina. I always wanted a tree house when I was a kid. I want to surprise the twins with one. But I’m just not sure it’s a surprise they’ll like.

Episode 342: A Reconsideration

2006-12-31T18:42:00.000-08:00

You haven’t had much to do with penguins lately, says Terrastina to the twins. What’s going on with that? Well, say the twins, we have issues with penguins. Really? asks Terrastina. Yup, say the twins. Did you know penguins eat crabs and squid? Is that a bad thing? asks Terrastina. Hello, say the twins, it is if you’re the crab or the squid. Very good point, says Terrastina, but penguins have a lot of good qualities as well. We are taking that into consideration, say the twins, but for right now, we don’t want to be friends with them.

Episode 341: Where Do They Get These Crazy Ideas?

2006-12-31T18:41:00.000-08:00

Each of the twins loses a tooth. They show Terrastina who says, you know what to do with those, right? The twins nod. That night Terrastina checks under their pillows, but finds no teeth. The next morning she tells them the tooth fairy came last night but didn’t leave any money because they didn’t leave their teeth under their pillows. The twins furrow their foreheads. We threw our teeth onto the roof yesterday, they say. That way our new teeth will grow in straight. What’s all this about a tooth fairy? Terrastina shrugs. Just something I heard, she says.

Episode 340: Time Will Tell

2006-12-31T18:40:00.000-08:00

A customer at The Brew gives Terrastina a cactus. Terrastina plants it in the ground at the front of the house where it looks right at home next to the hydrangea and rhododendron bushes. A cactus? asks Mazolli. Don’t they need dry climate? Terrastina considers this. I think they can survive in dry climate, she says, but I don’t think they need a dry climate. I’ve heard about the big cactuses in Arizona, says Mazolli. The bats pollinate them. Do you think this cactus will attract bats? Doubt it, says Terrastina, but we’ll just have to wait and see.

Episode 339: Eternity

2006-12-31T18:39:00.000-08:00

The twins find four of Terrastina’s divining rods. They hold them out on extended arms as they walk around the house, sliding their stockinged feet across the floor in ultra slow motion. That’s an interesting technique, says Terrastina. Where did you learn to do that? Mom, say the twins, we need total quiet or the vibes will get all scrambled. Terrastina holds up her hands and backs away from the twins with exaggerated toe-heel steps. The twins try to keep from laughing but break into grins and giggles. Now we’ll never find any water, they say. Never ever.

Episode 338: Universal Passion

2006-12-31T18:38:00.000-08:00

Terrastina ponders the boards, sticks, and branches in the backyard. Let’s build a bonfire, she says. Excellent idea, says Mazolli, let’s do it in that empty lot on the corner. They drag their yard debris down the road. Neighbors see them and add their wood and cardboard. In less than an hour they assemble a towering pile of flammable material. An animated group awaits the conflagration. Terrastina rolls up a section of newspaper, lights it with a match, and places it at the base of the pile. An ominous silence descends, brushed by the soft slither of the flames.

Episode 337: Confession and Solution

2006-12-31T18:37:00.000-08:00

Terrastina tells Mazolli the roof needs reshingling. I know, says Mazolli. I’ve been putting it off ‘cause it’s a big job. I’d do it, says Terrastina, but I’m afraid of heights. I thought you weren’t afraid of anything, says Mazolli. Oh, I could make a list of my fears, says Terrastina. I just don’t tell anyone about them. I like people to think I’m invincible, even though no one is. Not even you, Moz, so wear a safety harness up there, okay? Mazolli reaches for the phone book. Better yet, he says, let’s hire a roofer to do it.

Episode 336: We All Have Our Own Agendas

2006-12-31T18:36:00.000-08:00

We never need to know the time, the twins tell Terrastina, so we want to take our watch apart. It’s your watch, says Terrastina. The twins pry off the crystal and pull the hands away, bending them up like sundial gnomons. They remove the back, revealing gears and the mainspring. One of them goes to Terrastina’s toolbox and returns with a hammer. She drops the hammerhead onto the watch, making it crack and crumble to pieces. The twins sort through the liberated gears and press the teeth onto the skin of their palms leaving temporary tracks of minute depressions.

Episode 335: Seize the Day

2006-12-31T18:35:00.000-08:00

Mazolli and Terrastina drive past a house with a labyrinth carved into the front yard. Stop the car! says Terrastina. Mazolli applies the brakes. What? he asks. What’s going on? Terrastina gets out of the car and runs to the labyrinth. She stands at the entrance and motions to Mazolli. Come on, she says. He gets out of the car and stands next to Terrastina. This is fantastic, says Terrastina, I haven’t walked a labyrinth in years. Mazolli looks uneasily at the front door of the house. Should we be doing this? he asks. Isn’t this trespassing or something?

Episode 334: The Power of Nature

2006-12-31T18:34:00.000-08:00

Terrastina finds an eagle feather on the grass near the path running by the river. She picks it up. It feels new, as though it had just been made. She takes it to the Sheriff’s office. I really wanted to keep this feather, she tells the deputy on duty, but I know it’s illegal for non natives to own eagle feathers. The deputy nods and picks up the feather. He twirls it in his hand. We’ll call Fish and Wildlife, he says. His gaze turns dreamy. His voice softens. They’ll know exactly what to do with it, he says.

Episode 333: Necessities

2006-12-31T18:33:00.000-08:00

Mazolli turns the lock on the front door of The Brew just before a man appears at the window. Please, he says, just one cup. That’s all I need. Then I’ll go. Sorry, says Mazolli, it’s been a long day. The man puts his palms together and drops to his knees. Please, he says, please please please. Mazolli laughs, then unlocks the door and lets the man in. You must really love your coffee, says Mazolli as he pours a cup. It’s a bad habit, says the man, but without it I don’t think I would want to live.

Episode 332: Been Here a While

2006-12-31T18:32:00.000-08:00

One morning Terrastina finds an abandoned car several yards off the road near the mountain. She stops her bicycle and approaches the car. It has run into a tree. She peeks through the driver’s window to see if anyone is inside. Empty. Water has pooled and dried in the well of the brake lights. Chalky circles nest there like the lines of rock layers exposed where road crews blast away hillsides. Terrastina looks up. She imagines someone running from this broken car, becoming lost in the woods for months, forging a life from the land, and ambivalent about rescue.

Episode 331: Overreaction

2006-12-31T18:31:00.000-08:00

Terrastina’s friend who raises sheep, and who hurt her knee recently, calls and asks for help. I’ve lost one of my lambs, she says, and I can’t get around to look for it. Can you come? Terrastina drives to her friend’s small farm. She spends the afternoon in the surrounding woods, tracking through leaves and mud. She searches around bushes, in hollows in the ground, and down ravines. She never finds the lamb and fears a coyote probably got it. When she returns to the farm, the lamb is there. She came back, says Terrastina’s friend, all by herself.

Episode 330: Lookie Lou

2006-12-31T18:30:00.000-08:00

Just after Terrastina and Mazolli close up The Brew they hear a sharp squeal and an ominous sound of breaking metal. What was that? says Mazolli. Don’t know, says Terrastina. Sounds like it came from the tracks. Soon they hear the wail of sirens and see ambulances, fire trucks, and police cars speed down the street to the railroad crossing near the dock. People get out of the vehicles and hurry down the track. We should take them some coffee, says Terrastina. Mazolli nods. Let’s make it real quick and go down there. I want to see what happened.

Episode 329: Try to Keep Up With Us

2006-12-31T18:29:00.000-08:00

One morning a doe and two fawns enter the backyard. The twins glue themselves to the kitchen window and stare at the animals. The doe’s ears are wide and trembling. The fawns begin browsing on the blossoms near Terrastina’s Quan Yin statue. Oh well, she says, there go my flowers. I hope they liked them. The twins are transfixed, silent and completely attentive. Mazolli comes into the kitchen. What’s going on? he says. Terrastina points to the twins. A bonding moment, she says. Mazolli looks puzzled. By the way, he says, did you see the deer in the backyard?

Episode 328: Let’s Do That Again

2006-12-31T18:28:00.000-08:00

The fire department needs new equipment. They organize a parade fundraiser. Terrastina takes the twins downtown to join the crowds on the sidewalks watching the fire trucks pass by. The firefighters hold out plastic buckets for people to toss in change and small bills. Terrastina retrieves a few wrinkled dollar bills from her pocket. She gives them to the twins. They run up to a fireman and place the money in his bucket. He tips his helmet to them. They laugh, cover their mouths, turn, and run back to Terrastina. Mom, they say, do you have some more money?

Episode 327: Stop Frogs

2006-12-31T18:27:00.000-08:00

A chorus of frogs sings outside the twins’s window. The twins have heard the sound before and don’t care to hear anymore now. They cup their hands to their mouths and shout through the window: Stop frogs! There is silence for several seconds, then the melody starts up again. The twins shout louder. Stop frogs! Stop frogs! Again, a brief silence, then the frogs pick up the song exactly where they left off. The twins let out long deep sighs. What are we going to do? they ask. How will we get any sleep with that racket going on?

Episode 326: Touché

2006-12-31T18:26:00.000-08:00

A woman with a parrot on her shoulder enters The Brew and orders a coffee. Mazolli fills the order and hands it to the woman. The parrot stares at Mazolli and dips its head several times. Anything for your friend? asks Mazolli, tilting his head slightly toward the parrot. He really doesn’t care for coffee, says the woman, although he has been known to indulge in a martini now and again. I soak his crackers in it. He takes it with an olive. The woman’s face betrays no trace of irony or humor. Mazolli smiles awkwardly. Okay, he says.

Episode 325: The Past is Never the Past

2006-12-31T18:25:00.000-08:00

Mazolli sits on the front step and watches guests arrive for a wedding at the church across the street. The women and girls wear long dresses. The men and boys sport tuxedos. Some of the guests see Mazolli and wave at him. Mazolli waves back. One couple arrives late, after everyone else has gone in. They linger outside for a long time, smoking cigarettes and pacing nervously. Then the woman gets into the car and drives away. The man tosses a cigarette butt to the ground and enters the church. I wonder what that was all about, says Mazolli.

Episode 324: Housing Project

2006-12-31T18:24:00.000-08:00

The twins tell Terrastina they have decided to live in the closet. Just bring our dinners in there from now on, they say. We’ll leave the dishes outside the door when we are done. Okay, says Terrastina, have a good time in your closet. We will, say the twins. They spend no more than two minutes behind the closet door, then they come out. How do you like your closet? asks Terrastina. It was pretty dark, say the twins. We’re going to go back when it’s not quite so dark. Well, says Terrastina, I’ll be sure to visit you.

Episode 323: Dateline

2006-12-31T18:23:00.000-08:00

Mazolli shows Terrastina a newspaper article about some cyclists in the city who get together once a month and ride a circular route through downtown. There are thousands of them, says Mazolli. They take over block after block. They stop all other traffic. Terrastina looks at the article. This is so cool, she says. Peddle power. It’s like a people revolution. How could I not know about this? Well, says Mazolli, it’s because you don’t read the paper. That’s why I have you, says Terrastina. You tell me the good parts version. Yup, says Mazolli, I’m at your service.

Episode 322: Many Happy Returns

2006-12-31T18:22:00.000-08:00

The twins help Terrastina prepare a birthday pie for their neighbor. Terrastina rolls out dough and cuts up apples. The twins measure out some cinnamon, chew on the discarded apple peels, count out birthday candles, and sort them by color. They pull the oven door open for Terrastina to put the pie in to bake. While it bubbles away, they make a birthday card. They decorate it with balloons and candles. Terrastina helps them write the words: To our best friend, happy birthday. Do you think she’ll like it? ask the twins. I’m sure she’ll love it, says Terrastina.

Episode 321: Audience Participation

2006-12-31T18:21:00.000-08:00

Terrastina and Mazolli go to Story Time For Adults at the public library. They sit on the floor with the other parents. Most of them are uncomfortable and many are red faced. The twins stand in front of them. They hold up children’s books and pretend to read from them. When they are finished they say: The end. The parents clap their hands. Encore, encore, shouts Mazolli. The twins shush him. If you don’t settle down, they say, there will be no more stories. Mazolli sits back. Terrastina smiles at him. Can’t take you anywhere, can we? she says.

Episode 320: Humbled

2006-12-31T18:20:00.000-08:00

Mazolli puts the garbage can out on the sidewalk. That night the wind tips it over. Dogs get into the bags and tear them apart, spreading trash over the sidewalk and across the road. When he sees the mess in the morning, Mazolli gets a fresh bag and takes it outside and stuffs the spilled trash into it. When he finishes he returns to the house and washes his hands thoroughly with soap and hot water. It’s depressing to have to handle the garbage all over again, he tells Terrastina. I hope I never have to do that again.

Episode 319: Acceptance

2006-12-31T18:19:00.000-08:00

Terrastina gets the small jar of pickled hot peppers from the fridge. She sits at the kitchen table and begins eating them. That looks good, says Mazolli, is there enough for me? Terrastina tilts the jar toward him. Mazolli gets a fork and snags a pepper for himself. Terrastina eats another. Her lips pucker and her eyes water. Mazolli takes seconds. His nose starts running. There aren’t enough here, he says. I know, says Terrastina, but we’ll have to live with what we’ve got. Mazolli nods. He sees the last pepper in the jar and offers it to Terrastina.

Episode 318: Sacred Luna

2006-12-31T18:18:00.000-08:00

I think I’m going to go eat the moon, says Mazolli. The twins look at him with suspicion. Mazolli sits down at the kitchen table with a glass of milk and a bag of sandwich cookies. The twins climb up on the chair beside him and watch as he pulls off a chocolate layer from one of the cookies to reveal the round slab of white cream underneath. See, he says, displaying the cookie to the twins. He pops the cookie into his mouth. The twins reach for the bag. We want to eat the moon too, they say.

Episode 317: Concerned Citizen

2006-12-31T18:17:00.000-08:00

Too many cars drive our street too fast, says Mazolli. Terrastina agrees. Let’s throw eggs at them as they go by, she says, just to teach them a lesson. Mazolli laughs. An interesting ploy, he says. But I think there are better ways. I’ll go to the city council and talk to them about the danger. Maybe they can hide an unmarked car with a radar gun along this street and get some of these drivers where it hurts, in the wallet. Okay, says Terrastina. That’s definitely a plan. We can try it if my egg idea doesn’t work.

Episode 316: Marketing

2006-12-31T18:16:00.000-08:00

The twins spend the morning at The Brew. They cut out pictures of animals and trees from magazines and glue them onto the tip jar. Some empty spaces remain between the pictures so they add several stickers of teddy bears and rainbows. When they finish they present their creation to Mazolli and Terrastina who heartily congratulate them on a marvelous job. Have you seen the new tip jar? they ask customers the next day. It is much improved. I think you’ll like it. The customers look at the jar and nod. It’s a nice jar, they say, very imaginative.

Episode 315: Naturalists

2006-12-31T18:15:00.000-08:00

The twins stop to examine each crack in the sidewalk. What are you two looking for? asks Terrastina. We want to see how the pikas are doing, they say. I’ve never heard of pikas in the sidewalk, says Terrastina. Well Mom, say the twins, let us explain something to you. Pikas who live in the woods get eaten by bigfoots. So some of them move into town where the bigfoots can’t find them. I had no idea you knew so much about pika survival strategies, says Terrastina. The twins shrug. We know quite a bit about getting eaten up.

Episode 314: What’s Left Behind

2006-12-31T18:14:00.000-08:00

Mazolli looks out through the front window and sees a piece of cardboard on the lawn. Where did that come from? he asks. The wind must have blown it in from somewhere, says Terrastina. Mazolli goes outside to retrieve the cardboard. As he bends down he notices a pale gray translucent tube in the grass. He lowers his head further to get a better look. It is a snake skin, ten inches long, tapered to a point at one end, the imprint of jaws and eyes preserved at the other. Terrastina, he calls, you’ve got to come see this.

Episode 313: Luxury

2006-12-31T18:13:00.000-08:00

A man with long hair, dirty skin, and a grimy backpack enters The Brew. I’m walking the Crest Trail, he says. I have no money and own nothing but what I’m wearing. Can I please have some food? Terrastina hands over a cup of coffee and a couple of muffins. From the look of you, she says, you’ve come from the north. Still pretty cold up there? I cut a new trail up there on fresh snow, he says. I haven’t been indoors for months. He looks around. This is nice. Thanks. You got any butter for these muffins?

Episode 312: Giddiness and the Uses of Road Apples

2006-12-31T18:12:00.000-08:00

Terrastina buys a truckload of manure from a horse ranch a few miles out of town. She and Mazolli spend the afternoon folding the manure into the garden’s soil. When they are finished they are tired, dirty, sweaty, and buoyant. That was a lot of fun, says Mazolli, and now I’m all pooped out. Yup, says Terrastina, nothing like slinging piles of shit to make a person’s day complete. Don’t give me that crap, says Mazolli, grinning like a fool. Terrastina tries to keep from laughing, but fails miserably. We really are a couple of old fools, she says.

Episode 311: Before Breakfast

2006-12-31T18:11:00.000-08:00

The twins find frost on their bedroom window one morning. They press their hands to it so the frost melts under their palms and fingers and leaves an imprint. Soon the window is crowded with their hand shapes. Terrastina comes into the room and sees the windows. Good morning, she says. Temporary art. I love it. You two are pure genius. May I contribute? The twins nod. Terrastina puts her hands on the window and holds them there for several seconds. The frost melts rapidly. Terrastina’s palms drip water, her face is bright, and her hair is gloriously uncombed.

Episode 310: The Wisdom of the Twins

2006-12-31T18:10:00.000-08:00

The twins simultaneously climb onto a chair from opposite sides. They meet heads and push against each other. They are so evenly matched that they can maintain only a stalemate, hands on the chair back, knees on the edge of the chair seat, and foreheads pressed together. No words pass between them. They don’t have the energy. It is all about their sculpture. They hold the formation for a minute or two, then they release the pressure, back down, and sit on the floor. They exhale long slow breaths and ignore the chair for the rest of the day.

Episode 309: Practicalities

2006-12-31T18:09:00.000-08:00

A rich couple who are building a house in town ask Terrastina to design a windmill for their front yard. We want it for power, they say, but we also want it to be an art piece. Terrastina accepts the commission and spends the next day and night sketching ideas. She shows her favorite one to Mazolli. This is amazing, he says. I especially like the spikes, and the snake skin texture, but is it possible to build working blades that look like wings? Sure, says Terrastina, anything’s possible. It just depends how much money they want to spend.

Episode 308: Building Material

2006-12-31T18:08:00.000-08:00

Mazolli breaks a lace as he sits on the front step tying his shoes. He tosses the useless end onto the lawn, then rethreads the remaining piece through the eyelets. He has a tough time tying up the short ends, but decides they will hold until he can buy some new laces. A crow lands on the grass next to the discarded end. It stares at Mazolli, then bends down and snatches up the frayed lace in its beak and flies across the street, over the church roof, into a tall oak waiting, patiently, a couple of lots away.

Episode 307: Fringe Benefit

2006-12-31T18:07:00.000-08:00

Mazolli has trouble starting the car. He takes it to the repair shop. The mechanics look it over while he waits in the office. Needs a new starter, they say. Okay, says Mazolli, go ahead and replace it. Should be ready this time tomorrow, they say. That’s cool, says Mazolli. Can we drive you anywhere? they ask. No, says Mazolli, I just live up the hill. The owner of the repair shop nods. It’ll be a good walk for you, then, he says. Oh yeah, says Mazolli, it won’t hurt me to walk a little. Let me tell you.

Episode 306: Future Plans

2006-12-31T18:06:00.000-08:00

Terrastina and Mazolli take the twins to a bird refuge. They share a pair of binoculars between them and point excitedly at great blue herons scooping up frogs from the water, sandhill cranes warbling overhead in tremendous flocks, and dozens of swans floating on the surface of the pond. They stop at a picnic table and eat sandwiches and bananas and drink bottled water. We’re going to learn how to fly, say the twins. Really? asks Terrastina. I’d like to see that, says Mazolli. Well just wait, say the twins. We’ll let you know when we’ve figured it out.

Episode 305: Ready for a Change

2006-12-31T18:05:00.000-08:00

The Brew does not see a customer all morning. What do you think is going on? asks Terrastina. It’s weird, says Mazolli. We’ve never not had someone come in. Terrastina goes to the window and looks out at the river in the distance. A couple of sailboats cut through the waves. Maybe it’s a sign, says Terrastina. Maybe we shouldn’t be selling coffee anymore. Maybe we should take the twins and get on a boat and sail away. Start a new life. Something. Mazolli puts the closed sign up in the window. I’m ready if you are, he says.

Episode 304: Found Art

2006-12-31T18:04:00.000-08:00

The twins acquire spectacular bruises on their upper arms. They show them to Terrastina with pride. Terrastina hides her alarm. How did you do that? she asks. We fell out of the bed, they say. Terrastina motions them closer. They are all smiles and pumped chests as they approach and display their arms, tattooed with a heady mix of purple, green, and red blotches. Terrastina examines them. I suppose there’s no permanent damage, she says, but you girls need to be more careful. The twins nod, still beaming. I have to admit, says Terrastina, those patterns are quite impressive.

Episode 303: Anthropomorphism

2006-12-31T18:03:00.000-08:00

The twins find a pencil sharpener and promptly sweep the house looking for pencils to sharpen. They ask Terrastina for some pencils. Nope, she says, don’t have any. They go to Mazolli. Need any pencils sharpened? they ask. Mazolli looks in the kitchen drawer and pulls out a stubby little blue pencil and a strangely unsharpened brand new pencil. Here you go. The twins twirl both pencils against the sharpener’s blade. They collect the shavings and deposit them into the trash. They hand the newly pointy pencils back to Mazolli. Thanks, he says, these pencils look much happier now.

Episode 302: Trauma

2006-12-31T18:02:00.000-08:00

In the morning Terrastina looks outside and sees the concrete statue of Quan Yin in her garden pitched forward and resting face down in the strawberry patch. She goes outside and excavates some of the dirt from Quan Yin’s footprint, then tips her back up and into the hole so she is standing straight again. Terrastina examines the statue’s face and flowing robes. Quan Yin’s hands and knees are stained green from her fall. Terrastina gets a wet cloth and gently wipes the stains away. When she is finished she rests her hand on Quan Yin’s smooth white shoulder.

Episode 301: Don’t Be a Stranger

2006-12-31T18:01:00.000-08:00

The twins are asleep. Terrastina and Mazolli sit on the couch downstairs playing cards. The front door opens. A young man in pajamas steps inside, wordlessly closes the door, and walks into the kitchen. Mazolli and Terrastina look at each other. They hear the faucet running. They go to the kitchen. They see the man drinking a glass of water. He must be sleepwalking, says Terrastina. The man puts the glass down, wipes his mouth with his sleeve, then walks out the front door, carefully closing it behind him. Polite chap, says Mazolli. I’d invite him back any time.

Episode 300: Helping Hand

2006-12-31T18:00:00.000-08:00

The twins lie face down on the floor. They curl their hands under their bellies and tuck their faces into their chests. They try to fold up their limbs, but cannot manage the trick. Their legs remain splayed out behind them. What are you two up to? asks Terrastina. We’re being turtles, say the twins. Terrastina goes into the laundry room, returns with two cardboard boxes, and places them over the twins. How’s that? she says. The boxes creep along the floor and bump into each other. The twins tuck their legs under the boxes. Thank you, they say.

Episode 299: Secret Language

2006-12-31T15:39:00.000-08:00

The twins approach Mazolli. Yes, my little pumpkins, he says, what is it? The twins bring their index fingers to their closed lips. Mazolli silently nods. The twins hold out their hands, palms up. They clap twice, arch their arms up and over their heads, lock thumbs, then cover their ears momentarily and drop their hands to their bellies where they bring each finger tip against each knuckle in a rapid little dance. When they are finished they bow deeply and run back to their rooms. Mazolli stands and claps long and loud. Brava, he says. Brava! Encore! Encore!

Episode 298: Druids for a Day

2006-12-31T15:38:00.000-08:00

Let’s go to Stonehenge today says Mazolli to Terrastina and the twins. They throw together a simple lunch and hop in the car and drive to a site overlooking the river where years ago a rich eccentric put up a concrete copy of England’s Stonehenge. They walk slowly around the circle of pillars. Mazolli lifts the twins onto the central stone and Terrastina takes snapshots of them with their arms reaching for the sky. They eat lunch inside the circle and are all silent for a long time. This was a pretty good idea I had today, says Mazolli.