Interference by Michelle Berry Page B

look at it, that she will never forget. She will close her eyes at night and those pictures, those children, will haunt her. They are imprinted on the backs of her lids. Trish will tell the police, she will warn them, they will write everything down in their little books, but still those images will cloud her vision, blacken her dreams.
    Sometimes you forget just how vulnerable you are. You move through the world, taking things for granted. Just last spring her friend Claire was diagnosed with breast cancer. Just last spring. One day she was laughing about something, going on about her life, the next day she visited her doctor and then suddenly saw her future a little too clearly. She told Trish she had no symptoms, no lumps. No warning. And now there is a small man out there holding tightly to his sick pamphlets, rushing headlong down the street, towards the rest of the city, towards the rest of the wide, wide world.
    Although Trish often feels unbalanced and unsafe in her life, there sometimes comes — full-force — those crisp mornings when the world moves quickly off-kilter and presents her with a new way of seeing things. A new way that isn’t an act, that isn’t part of the stage, the drama of life. A reality that crashes into existence. Those cold mornings when what little time Trish has taken to straighten up her life and get on with it really doesn’t matter anyway.
    Dear Parents and Guardians,
    As you may have noticed, it is getting close to Christmas. Our halls are decked, our mistletoe is hung — just kidding! Can you imagine what would happen if we hung mistletoe? — your children are trying hard to be good. Santa will soon be here. It’s a magical time of year and nothing, absolutely nothing, can dampen our joy. Please don’t forget, during this beautiful season, to think about decorating your own houses. Order your special Christmas wreaths soon. They are selling like hotcakes — or candy canes! Large wreaths are $40, medium are $30 and the very small, to decorate your dog’s house, perhaps, or maybe even your side doors, are $15. All proceeds go to the Abernackie Men’s Shelter on Braithwaite Drive. Remember, these poor souls aren’t as lucky as we are. They need warm clothes for winter, and hot plates for their rooms. They need good cups of coffee. So share your Christmas spirit! Don’t hesitate to order your wreaths.
    Please phone Mary in the office or send your cheque in a letter with your child. We will call to let you know when you can pick up the wreaths.
    Merry Christmas one and all,

    Marge Tanner
    Principal, Oak Park Elementary School

    P.S. Of course, Happy Hanukkah and Kwanzaa to those of you who don’t celebrate Christmas. Please visit the special room in our school, room 401, that is dedicated to your traditions.

Build-Your-Bear™
    Your way is the right way . . .
    Come Build, Come Play, Come Love.
    Your Bear.
    Dear Ms. Patricia Birk,
    Are you serious? A Monk Bear? What were you thinking?
    We have — as I am sure you are well-aware — a Priest Bear, a Buddha Bear, a Muslim Bear, a Sikh Bear, a Jewish Bear, a Hare Krishna Bear, etc. We have them all. Even a Good Samaritan Bear. This is your last warning. We will not hesitate to pursue legal action.
    Sincerely,

    Maisy Crank
    CEO and Head Bear of Build-Your-Bear™
    Madison, Wisconsin

5
    Becky listens to Rachel. Rachel says she has been kicked out of the house because she was eating a muffin on the couch in the living room. “Can you believe how unfair that is?” Rachel says her mother scooted her out, told her to get some “air.” “Air? It’s freezing out here.” Rachel says it’s not fair. Her brother, Charlie, gets to stay inside, but she has to go out and it’s cold and miserable.
    Rachel moves on to bad-mouthing Charlie. She’s always on about him. He’s eight years old and a pain in the butt, she says. Becky shoots hoops and