Ameeting.Themendistent.CrowdedaroundThomas.Hisetights,eboots,silverbeltbucklewithrubies,whiteSabatinishirt.Hisclearandtruegold-rimmedspectacles.plaintsofthemen:(1)Qualityofthepemmi(2)Thattheleadershipbetterfed,ingeneral,thantherankandfile(3)Thatthecablewascuttingintoshouldersandwherewerepromisedheavyvasgloves?(4)Edmund(5)Therumrationcouldbedoubledwithoutdamagingthehighregardinwhichtherankandfileheldtheleadership(6)lanfordealingwithpossiblyhostileWends?(7)Attentionofthewomenmonopolizedbytheleadership(8)Edmund(9)Couldntthewomenjusteandtalktothemsometimes?(10)ThattheDeadFathersometimesdeadweight,sometimesliveweight,variationsmadefeasancemoredifficultthanstriecessary,seetractprovisionsD,E,andF(11)Truncationofthepraphicfilmandwhathadhappe?(12)Whatofwhollyarbitraryandill-sideredbanonfraternizationwithlocalsiorieshayfooted/straw-footedthrough?(13)enceofchaplain(14)Happybirthday.Itismybirthday?Thomasexclaims,astonished.Yes,menreply,todaystheday,whereistheparty?Thomastingonhisfihemenwatch.Yesitismybirthday,hesaysatlength,Goddamnit,yhtasrain.Generalheehaw,batteringofThomassback,Edmundwhisksflaskfromhip,tilts.TheDeadFathersittingintheroadlookingoffintothefardistancewherefieldsrow.ThomasremovesflaskfromEdmundsmouth.Juliepractigharmonica,tune"Oh,GiveMeaHomeWheretheBuffaloRoam."EmmagazingatimmenseshoulderofDeadFather,speculatively.Thomasbeginstoanswerplaintspointbypoint.Pemmigoodforyou,hesays.Etc.Julieputsawaymouthan,movestosideofEmma.

    Giveyouashirtfulofsoretit.