"Tampa"

Celeste is in the first days of her teaching position, and a colleague is relating that the boys are already writing graffiti about her in the stalls, calling her “a hot bitch”. And Celeste reflects on how such boys are not her target, because they are the type who would not keep her secrets but would boast from the rooftops. She also recalls her earlier days and her self-discovery.

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My time as a student teacher had been a wake-up call for how complicated my needs actually were. Initially I’d hope that just being around them would be enough - that like coral among anemones, I could glean all needed vitality through their swirling hordes moving past my body in the hallways. Within a week, I knew this to be a lie.

-- “Tampa” by Alissa Nutting

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She must have meat.

My Shower

I am making good on my intention to tackle my encrusted and grimy shower, hitting it throughout the day, and probably throughout this evening as well. It’s a thankless job. No matter how much I put into it, although I may be wiping away a lot of the filth and grime, it will always look like something you might find in a neglected slum dwelling. The thought of actually bathing in it would have to seem disgusting.

Chores

As if cleaning my shower was not enough, I also mowed the back. I had the cats inside, and I wanted to take advantage of the opportunity. This was my only day of having the house to myself. But I needed to get these big chores done. I should do it more often, but I still oddly feel self-conscious when I am cleaning with Pop around, and I still don’t know why.