night of 11/19/2010

r. and i are on a bus heading for a class. on the way we take turns presenting strategic scenarios. this trip we're doing mistakes. i haven't participated before but this time, as my turn approaches, i prepare an answer: a man invents a quick-pouring concrete ideal for runways. we encourage him to defect. his invention becomes public knowledge and is so simple and cheap that the island nations we invade benefit far more than we do--the mistake is that our effort was wasted. (i have another idea but decide to go with this one.) my turn doesn't come. the exercise is voluntary anyway.

now we are in a car and r. is driving. i'm talking about this scenario exercise and how i never do the homework if it's optional. i feel bad that i am so lazy, except for when i re-took calculus recently; for some reason i enjoyed it. the car dips forward and downward into a depression. it is full of lava. the lava splashes onto my neck, my chin. i am scared and i begin to scream, although the lava cools quickly. i feel i may be exaggerating the severity of the pain. (wake.)

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straightforward: "i feel i may be exaggerating the severity of the pain."
volcano. eruption of the subterranean.
fixate on mistakes.
performance; the old school nightmare.

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what doesn't
hurt burns
the wicks
inwardly lashes
fast drenches
under pitch
self-siren
stooped back
knot with
standing