SELS Dialogues Journal Volume 3 Issue 1

Creative Pursuits
Chapter 2: Paradise Lost
by Marc Yamaguchi
Rachel’s head bobbed in a catatonic-like state of
dreaming as the sultry evening wind gently rocked the
branch on which she was asleep. Her dreams wove
surreal images and sounds of her absentee father
mumbling to himself. She could scarcely remember
what he looked like, but the fights between her shadowy
father and her mother Rose lived in her memory
because they always ended the same way. Rachel could
clearly remember seeing his haunches; he would exit
the den as if in retreat, but in reality he had undisclosed
business to tackle.
Every evening the family would rise, and Rose would
tend to Rachel’s youngest siblings who stirred with
hunger while Rachel would pretend to wake up for the
same reason. Rachel would often be ruminating before
anyone had woken up, but she instinctively knew not
to trouble her mother, especially after her parents had
argued. Rose’s agitation would be tinged with sadness
and regret; she could not turn her husband. However,
Rose was not one to dwell on her troubles, and she
relied on the same energy that erupted in fights to
organize her cubs and ensure they stayed on the
straight and narrow.
SELS DIALOGUES | 24