Found this guy in the stream connecting the First and Second
Debsconeag Lakes.
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Many things I understand about Matthew.
Many things I donít; his work ethic is one.

He works every Saturday at the West Acton Convenience Market, and has since he turned fourteen, when the owner, Peter Kennedy, offered him the job. He works every Friday night and frequently odd, needed, weekend hours, at Acton Village Video. He was offered that job when he was fourteen but had to wait until his fifteenth birthday to begin.

The unsolicited offers, the jobs, the hours, all that I understand. I am perplexed by his near perfect attendance. Besides family vacations, and an odd illness or two, like the guy who delivers my newspaper, he never misses a day. What about the lure of friends for this oh so social of beings?

Unrelated to his work habits but related to our health, the other morning we left for school, as we always do, with Matthew driving my truck, and me riding ìshotgun.î I wake up like an old computer monitor, and Matthew who has inherited both Peter and Brianís night habits, may come to life faster but Iím not sure he is any more alert.

At the first bend on Central St, not two minutes out of the driveway, we are confronted by a white panel van, which has crossed the yellow line and is speeding along in about half of our lane. If Matthew had turned to talk to me or changed the radio station, he wouldnít have had time to swerve away from this wannabe head-on collision. But quick flicks of his wrist and we were safely out of the way and then back in our lane. Reminded me of the hours he and I spent racing each other in those thunderous Le Mans simulators at the Bowladrome. Except this time I didnít die in a fiery crash. But then, Matt was driving.

His only comment, ìWhat was that?î

For my first assignment on a character in conflict, I handed in Christmas Trees. It was returned with constructive criticism about verb tenses and these comments:

îTruly evocative poetry. This is a fine meditation on mortality: understated and chilling. ì

Not dead, and much needed reinforcement for my writing. Iíll take it.

Iíve too many photos to post all at once. Hereís the first mini-gallery and all of Adamís

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