January 28
by Janine Stephenson
After such a difficult day yesterday,
Mrs. Stoutmiller decided that we needed a break. Generally, she’s been letting
us sleep late. It’s kind of her to let us do that.
I’ve been waking up early to do some
chores for her, things like bringing logs closer to the house. Every now and
then, Becca makes dinner and cleans the dishes. We both do the laundry.
Mrs. Stoutmiller didn’t ask us to do
any of this, but we thought it would be a good idea since she took us in for
the campaign. Craig stays at a McCarthy supporter’s house as well. I don’t know
the supporter. He never stops in, but Craig says that he’s primarily a
financial supporter.
Anyway, after Mrs. Stoutmiller came
back from church, she told us that she’d like us to see something. She thinks
that since the campaign is getting in full swing, we won’t have the opportunity
to do it later. So off we went. Becca and I saw all sorts of old houses and
finally, she stopped at a snow covered clearing. The clearing was a lake.
Walden Pond. She told us all about Thoreau and how he was important to this
country’s literature and politics.
Have Becca and I heard of him? I
have. Becca did, vaguely. It doesn’t surprise me because Becca loves poets like
Rod McKuen.
Speaking of which, I am familiar with
McKuen. I don’t understand why people love him. He’s a great lyricist, but
that’s about it.
We couldn’t see much at Walden, so
Mrs. Stoutmiller promised that she’d bring us back when spring arrived. I can’t
even imagine New Hampshire ever having Spring. There’s just too much snow. It’s
probably just like back home. Spring comes around April 12.
