Red Wheelbarrow 2008 text FINAL REVISED.indd - De Anza College

a retreat in the wilderness, or anywhere else actually, and so had no
idea what to expect.
“You’ll love it,” Sonia reassured him. “There’s yoga and
meditation. We can take nature walks and soak in the hot springs.
It’ll be peaceful and cleansing.”
Mark had to admit that it sounded not horrible.
“We’ll have our own little cabin all to ourselves. And the
outhouses aren’t too far away, which is good, especially in the middle
of the night.”
She started unloading the car. She hoisted her backpack up
onto her back and zipped up her jacket. She put her arms around
his neck and kissed him.
“Uh, about the outhouse,” said Mark, “You didn’t mention
an outhouse.” All of a sudden this didn’t seem like such a good idea.
He was missing his own bathroom already—so clean, so private, so…
well, clean and private. Then he looked over at Sonia. She looked so
perfect here, like she belonged. He felt a little jealous. He just had
to relax. He promised himself that, for her, he would do his best to
have a good time, even if it involved nature.
Sonia was pulling his backpack out of the trunk of the car.
Mark hurried over and took it from her. He started to put it on
when he heard a gasp. He turned around quickly, expecting to see,
what? A bear? A lion? He wasn’t sure what kind of wildlife they
might have out here in the woods. Sonia was staring at something
on the ground. She leaned down and picked it up, then looked at
him, understanding dawning behind her eyes.
Mark didn’t know what to say. He reached out and took
the package of beef jerky that she was holding out in front of her
between the tips of her thumb and index finger, her other three fingers
sticking straight out from her hand. She was holding it as far away
from her body as possible. Repulsion radiated out from every pore
in her being, and, like radar, zeroed in on Mark.
“I believe this is yours. It fell out of your backpack.”
He was afraid that she might start crying.
He needn’t have worried. Before he knew what was
happening, she had grabbed his backpack and was yanking it off of
him. She unzipped it all the way and pulled it open; the Costco-sized
bags of jerky were exposed in all their glory, along with several large
shiny yellow bags of peanut M&Ms.
“You promised!” she yelled. “You promised your body would be
a temple! You promised no meat, no refined sugar, no food dye #4!”
He reached for her thinking he should try to comfort her
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