,A ,DEBT ,6,A ,KID ,"ND ,GEORGE
0,DE2IE ,K5T ,/E9 
,DE2IE ,K5T ,/E9 IS A
PROFES.NAL WRIT]4 ,%E HAS F.D SU3ESS 9 A
C>E] 9 : MO/ :O ATTEMPT X FAIL4 ,9 8,A
,DEBT 6A ,KID ,"ND ,GEORGE10 %E EXPLORES
IN-DEP? A "Q FAC$ 0_M ( U 7:E!R BL OR
SI<T$7 AT "S "T OR O!R 9 \R LIVES4 ,D WE
CL+ 6:AT SEEMS SAFE & C]TA9 & PAY !
PRICE = T SECUR;Y8 ,OR D WE TAKE ! RISK
& G = X6 ,"H IS :AT %E SAYS3 ,I 2GAN MY
PO/-COLLEGE C>E] Z A SOCIAL "W]4 ,ONCE
^U A "T1 AB TW5TY YE>S AGO1 ,I "W$ 9 A
PLACE CALL$ ! ,UNIV]S;Y ,SETTLE;T ,H\SE
9 ,NEW ,YORK ,C;Y1 MO/LY DO+ C\NSEL+ )
P>5TS & KIDS1 P F ! NEI<BORHOOD : 0 ON
,NEW ,YORK'S L[] ,EA/ ,SIDE4 ,X 0 RE,Y A
WOND];L PLACE 6"W 9 A LOT ( WAYS4 ,X 0 V
-=TA#4 ,X 0 L A BIG FAMILY4 ,X 0 A GRT
-MUN;Y-ORI5T$ SORT ( PLACE1 & ALL ! KIDS
:O CAME 9 KNEW ALL (! SOCIAL "W]S1 & ALL
! SOCIAL "W]S KNEW ALL ! KIDS4 ,I _H BE5
"! =A FEW YE>S1 & "O (! O!R SOCIAL "W]S
0 GETT+ R1DY 6L1VE 6G TAKE A BI7] &
BETT] JOB4 ,%E _H BE5 "W+ )A BOY "ND
,GEORGE :O 0 AB TWELVE4 ,:5 %E 0 TELL+
HM T %E 0 GO+ 6BE L1V+1 %E ASK$ HM1 IF
HE CD H A *OICE1 :O WD HE L 6H Z 8 NEXT
SOCIAL "W] :5 %E 0 G"O4 ,HE ?"\ AB T =A
:ILE1 & !N HE F9,Y SD1 8,I WANT 6"W )
,DE2IE40 ,HEL5 ASK$ HM :Y4 ,HE SD1 8,2C
%E'S BL1 S %E'S N GO+ 6BE A# 6F9D ANO!R
JOB T EASILY1 S %E'S N GO+ 6L1VE40 ,?
KID RE,Y _H ?+S PRETTY WELL "W$ \4 ,A
LOT ( P _H LEFT 9 8 LIFE1 & HE'D BE5 DO+
A LOT ( ?9K+ AB ? PRO#M4 ,HE _H FIGUR$ \
T "! >E P :O >E GO+ PLACES1 & "! >E P :O
SETTLE 9 =! DUR,N4 ,HE _H ME PRETTY M*
PE7$ Z ! K9D :O SETTLES IN4 ,A"P F 2+
AMAZ$ AT ,GEORGE & RE,Y ADMIR+ 8
P]CEPTIVE;S1 ,I F.D ! 3CEPT TR\BL+4 ,I
_H ALW SE5 MYF Z "SBODY :O LIK$ *ALL5GES
& W5T \ AF NEW EXP]I;ES4 ,"H ,I WAS1 ?
KID F ! SUBURBS1 "W+ ON ! L[] ,EA/
,SIDE4 ,P ?"\ T 0 PRETTY ADV5TUR\S1 & ,I
_H ALL[$ MYF 6?9K T ,I _H -E Z F> Z ,I
CD G4 ,I DIDN'T L ! IDEA ( 2+ ! SORT (
P]SON :O J F9DS A NICE -FY NI*E & /AYS
"!4 ,B ,I _H 6ADMIT ,I _H RUN 96A LOT (
ROADBLOCKS :5 ,I 0 LOOK+ =A SOCIAL "W
JOB1 ! K9D ( ROADBLOCKS T ALL ( U :O >E
BL RUN 96:5 WE'RE JOB HUNT+4 ,JOB HUNT+
0 N MY FAVORITE ?+4 ,N[ ,I _H A JOB T ,I
LIK$1 & ,I DID N C>E =! ?"\ ( "E L1V+ ?
NICE LL NE/ T ,I _H AT ! ,UNIV]S;Y
,SETTLE;T ,H\SE4 ,B AT ! SAME "T ,I
DIDN'T WANT 6"W "! ="E ON ! BASIS T "! 0
NO": ELSE 6G & ,I 0 AFRAID 6G ANY PLACE
ELSE4 ,? KID ,GEORGE RE,Y GOT ME ?9K+4
,! M ,I ?"\1 ! M ,I />T$ 6R1LIZE T ,I
RE,Y 0 R1DY 6MAKE A *ANGE4 ,I KNEW T ,I
WANT$ 6D "S?+ CR1TIVE4 ,I WANT$ 6WRITE4
,I _H BE5 WRIT+ /ORIES S9CE ,I 0 OLD 5
6HOLD A SLATE & /YLUS4 ,I _H KEPT
J\RNALS S9CE ,I 0 FIFTE54 ,I _H BE5
COLLECT+ MY %>E ( REJEC;N SLIPS S9CE ,I
0 9 COLLEGE1 S5D+ /ORIES \ 6! ,ATLANTIC
& 6! ,NEW ,YORK] & GETT+ !M BACK4 ,N[ T
,I 0 "W+ FULL "T Z A SOCIAL "W]1 ,I RE,Y
WASN'T DO+ M* WRIT+ ANYMORE4 ,MY :OLE
LIFE _H G"O 9 A V DI6]5T DIREC;N4 ,WELL1
EV5 IF Y DECIDE T Y WANT 6MAKE A V S]I\S
-MIT;T 6WRIT+1 H[ D Y G AB DO+ T8 ,I
DIDN'T H A CLUE UNTIL ,I SP5T A SUMM]
VAC,N 9 ! T[N ( ,SAN ,MIGUEL DE ,ALL5DE
9 ! M.TA9S ( C5TRAL ,MEXICO4 ,9 ,SAN
,MIGUEL "! 0 A SMALL1 ,AM]ICAN-RUN F9E
>TS COLLEGE1 : (F]$ A LOT ( C\RSES 9
CR1TIVE WRIT+1 & "! 0 AL A ?RIV+ COLONY
( =EIGN WRIT]S4 ,DUR+ MY VAC,N ,I TOOK
"S WRIT+ CLASSES1 & ,I WROTE ! F/ C\PLE
( *APT]S (A NOVEL4 ,Z MY DE"PURE "T GOT
CLOS] & CLOS]1 ,I R1LIZ$ T ,I RE,Y WANT$
6/AY ": ,I 0 9 ,SAN ,MIGUEL4 ,I KNEW T
"! 0 A WAY T ,I CD ACTU,Y D X4 ,I _H
SAV$ 5 M"OY 6LIVE 9 ,MEXICO =A YE> OR
TWO4 7,? 0 BACK 9 ! MID-SEV5TIES :5 X 0
ACTU,Y POSSI# 6LIVE 9 ,NEW ,YORK & /
SAVE "S M"OY47 ,I FIGUR$ T1 IF MY WRIT+
V5TURE DIDN'T Q -E "? & ,I WASN'T
SU3ESS;L1 ,I / _H MY SOCIAL "W DEGREE1 &
,I CD G BACK & LOOK =A SOCIAL "W JOB AG
BAS$ ON MY $UC,N & EXP]I;E4 ,S ,I WASN'T
BURN+ ALL MY BRIDGES4 ,IF ,I WANT$ TO1
,I CD G BACK & LOOK = ANO!R JOB4 ,S F9,Y
,I W5T BACK 6,NEW ,YORK & H&$ 9 MY
RESIGN,N4 ,I GAVE UP MY A"P;T4 ,I PACK$
ALL MY _WLY GDS 96MY P>5TS' ATTIC & MOV$
6,MEXICO4 ,I REMEMB] "O ( MY COLL1GUES
AT ! ,SETTLE;T ,H\SE SAY+ T HE 0 S J1L\S
T HE ALM HOP$ T ,I WDN'T H A GD "T4 ,I
SP5T ! NEXT FEW YE>S LIV+ 9 ,SAN
,MIGUEL1 WRIT+ & HANG+ \ ) O!R WRIT]S1 &
LE>N+ "EY?+ T ,I CD AB WRIT+3 ! "D-TO-
"D1 NITTY-GRITTY ASPECTS ( MAK+ YRF /ICK
6A S*$ULE & GET "W D"O1 ! _W ( PUBLI%+1
H[ 6F9D AN AG5T1 &A :OLE HO/ ( ?+S AB :
P 7 V WILL+ & G5]\S 9 %>+ _! EXP]I;E4 ,I
-PLET$ MY F/ BOOK1 : 0 A NOVEL = TE5-
AG]S AB A BL GIRL :O GOES 96A PUBLIC HI<
S*OOL PROGRAM =! F/ "T4 ,I CALL$ X ,A
,DI6]5T ,DRUMM] AF ! L9E F ,?OR1U'S
,WALD5 AB "S P'S M>*+ 6! B1T (A DI6]5T
DRUMM]4 ,I S5T X (F 6! ,H\<TON ,MI6L9
,-PANY1 & ,I WAIT$ =A FEW MON?S1 & BACK
X CAME )A V NICE REJEC;N LR4 ,ALL (A
SU45 ,I ?"\1 Y "K1 ,I'M AT A CROSSROADS
"H4 ,MY M"OY IS RUNN+ \1 MY 3FID;E IS
RUNN+ \1 & ,I HAV5'T SOLD A BOOK4 ,I H
BE5 "H = TWO YE>S4 ,H[ L;G C ,I DROP \
(! R1L _W8 ,MAYBE ,I NE$ 6G BACK4 ,I
MI<T N"E SELL A BOOK1 & EV5 IF ,I D1 ,I
MI<T N 2 A# 6LIVE ON :AT ,I MAKE4 ,I
/>T$ MAK+ PLANS 6L1VE ,SAN ,MIGUEL & G
BACK 6,NEW ,YORK4 ,"E S9CE ,I _H -E
6,MEXICO1 ,I _H BE5 HE>+ AB A WOMAN "ND
,M>GU]ITA1 :O 0 SUPPOS$ 6BE A BRUJA1 :
IS A WIT*4 ,%E 0 SUPPOS$ 6BE A :ITE
WIT*4 ,P SD T ,M>GU]ITA CUR$ ILL;SES &
TOLD =TUNES4 ,%E DID ALL SORTS ( N1T ?+S
T P 7 V IMPRESS$ BY4 ,I ?"\1 ,I H 6MEET
? LADY 2C ? WD 2 A T]RIFIC >TICLE T ,I
CD WRITE = "S PUBLIC,N4 ,"O AFN A FR :O
KNEW H] TOOK ME 6MEET ,M>GU]ITA4 ,WE
TREKK$ \ 96! HILLS & F.D H] 9 ? LL TWO-
ROOM HUT \ 9 ! C.TRYSIDE ) NO ELECTRIC;Y
& NO TELEPH"O OR ANY K9D ( MOD]N
3V5I;ES4 ,"! 0 ? GRT BIG L;G L9E ( P /&+
\TSIDE H] DOOR1 WAIT+ 6GET 9 & TALK 6H]
"O AT A "T4 ,!Y 7 ALL V S]I\S & V
9T5T4 ,Z ,I /OOD "! 9 L9E ,I ?"\1 8,?
RE,Y ISN'T A JOKE2 %E MAY N L ! IDEA ( ?
,AM]ICAN -+ 9 & TRY+ 69T]VIEW H] =A
,SUN"D SUPPLE;T "S": UP 9 ! ,/ATES4 ,I
RE,Y BETT] H A GD R1SON 6TALK 6H]40 ,S
,I />T$ ?9K+1 8,I'VE GOT 6H A "Q 6ASK ?
LADY40 ,:5 ,I GOT IN1 %E ASK$ ME :Y ,I
_H -E4 ,I SD1 8,WELL1 ,I'M TRY+ 6MAKE A
DECI.N 9 MY LIFE4 ,I'M TRY+ 6DECIDE :E!R
,I %D /ICK ) WRIT+ Z A C>E] OR :E!R ,I
%D G BACK 6,NEW ,YORK & D SOCIAL "W AG40
,%E LI/5$ & SD1 8,WELL1 :AT IS ? SOCIAL
"W8 ,:AT >E Y TALK+ AB80 ,I SD T ,I "W$
9 AN (FICE4 ,!N X O3URR$ 6ME T %E _HN'T
A CLUE AB :AT AN (FICE WAS1 S ,I SD1
8,X'S SORT (A ROOM1 & P -E & TALK 6ME AB
_! PRO#MS1 & !Y ASK ME "QS1 & ,I TRY
6HELP4 ,I TRY 6GIVE !M "S ANSW]S40 ,! M
,I TALK$ AB ?1 ! M X />T$ 6S.D A LOT L
:AT ,M>GU]ITA 0 DO+4 ,! TR\# 0 ,I _H N"E
_H A L9E ( P /&+ \TSIDE ! DOOR1 WAIT+
6TALK 6ME ! WAY %E DID4 ,!N %E ASK$ ME A
C\PLE ( L1D+ "QS4 ,%E SD1 8,:5 Y >E DO+
? SOCIAL "W1 D Y "E FEEL A GRT H1T 9SIDE
YR H1D80 ,I SD1 8,NO1 ,I DON'T REMEMB] T
"E HAPP5+ 6ME40 ,%E SD1 8,H Y "E FELT A
GRT FLA% ( LI<TN+ 9 FRONT ( YR EYES80 ,I
SD1 8,NO1 ,I DON'T ?9K S4 ,I DON'T ?9K T
"E HAPP5$ 6ME40 ,!N %E R1*$ \ & PATT$ MY
H& V K9DLY1 & %E SD1 8,I ?9K Y %D 3T9UE
) YR WRIT+40 ,I DEF9ITELY GOT ! FEEL+ T
%E DIDN'T ?9K ,I 0 CUT \ = SOCIAL "W4
,ACTU,Y1 MY FEEL+S 7 N AT ALL HURT AT T
PO9T 2C 9 H] UNIQUE WAY %E _H 3FIRM$
"S?+ = ME : ,I KNEW 0 "R4 ,%E _H PO9T$
ME ONW>D 9 ! DIREC;N T ,I ALR _H *OS54
,I DIDN'T WANT 6G BACK 6SOCIAL "W4 ,I
WANT$ 63T9UE ) MY WRIT+1 &1 SURE 5\<1 Z
! NEXT C\PLE ( WEEKS W5T BY1 A JOB OP5$
UP = ME 9 ,MEXICO S T ,I 0 A# 6/AY4 ,I
GOT MY F/ BOOK PUBLI%$1 & ,I AL GOT TGR
)A FELL[ WRIT]1 ,DICK ,/E91 :O IS N[ MY
HUSB&4 ,?+S SORT ( FELL 96PLACE4 ,9 ?
AGE ( LAY(FS & CUTBACKS1 NOBODY'S JOB IS
SECURE4 ,ANY K9D ( C>E] *ANGE 9VOLVES A
SUB/ANTIAL RISK1 & TAK+ RISKS IS N ALW A
DESIRA# ?+ 6D 9 A _W T SEEMS M & M
PREC>I\S E "D4 ,B RISK-TAK+ IS "P (
GR[?1 & GR[? IS "P (! LIFE PROCESS T
DOESN'T /OP ) PHYSICAL MATUR;Y4 ,Z
HUMANS WE H A GRT NE$ 6MEET NEW
*ALL5GES1 6LE>N1 & T'S "S?+ T LA/S ALL
\R LIVES4 ,Z WE G ON1 WE NE$ 6FACE !
POSSIBIL;Y T WE MI<T 9DE$ FAIL1 &!
3SEQU;ES ( FAILURE C RANGE F M9OR
EMB>RASS;T 6A LOSS ( \R LIVELIHOOD4 ,Z
BL P ,I ?9K WE RCV A LOT ( SUBTLE & N-S-
SUBTLE W>N+S AB TAK+ RISKS4 ,WE >E TOLD
ALL \R LIVES1 8,BE C>E;L2 ? MI<T 2
DANG]\S4 ,Y MI<T GET HURT40 ,X IS N
LIMIT$ 6CROSS+ /REETS & H&L+ %>P KNIVES
9 ! KIT*54 ,X APPLIES 6TAK+ EMO;NAL
RISKS TOO4 ,X'S ! BL TE5-AG] :O IS 9 !
?ROES ( H] F/ CRU%1 & P >.D H] >E SAY+1
8,Y "K ,I HATE 6SEE H] G "? ?4 ,I HATE
6SEE H] GET HURT40 ,CROSS+ A /REET1 DIC+
VEGETA#S1 FALL+ 9 LOVE@UALM ANY HUMAN
ACTIV;Y CD C>RY A W>N+ LABEL4 ,I S5SE T
P ?9K "SH[ T Z BL P WE'RE 9 GRT] P]IL
?AN O!RS1 T "SH[ WE >E LESS A# 6SURVIVE
! HURTS & 4APPO9T;TS T >E "P ( LIFE =
"EYBODY4 ,WE'RE ALL V AW>E T "! IS AN
APPALL+ RATE ( UNEMPLOY;T AM;G BL P4
,SEV5TY P]C5T IS ! FIGURE T WE HE> ALL !
"T1 & X'S APPALL+ & %OCK+4 ,^? ( U :O D
H JOBS >E AM;G ! LUCKY "OS1 ! P :O H _H
QUAL;Y TRA9+ & :O H _H OPPORTUNITIES T H
ALL[$ U 6GET 6": WE >E4 ,S X'S NO WOND]
A BL P]SON :O IS =TUNATE 5 6L& A JOB IS
LIKELY 6CR+E AT ! ?"\ ( LETT+ G ( T JOB
6TRY 6/RIVE =A PROMO;N1 6TRY 6TACKLE A
C>E] *ANGE4 ,B N 6D S1 N 6ALL[ \RVS T
POSSIBIL;Y C ACTU,Y 2 A 2TRAYAL ( \R
9BORN CAPAC;Y = GR[?4 ,IF WE CL+ 6:AT WE
"K & 6:AT SEEMS SAFE & C]TA91 WE GIVE UP
ON \R NE$ = *ALL5GE4 ,"! IS A T]RI#
PRICE = T SECUR;Y1 & T PRICE IS !
POSSIBIL;Y T WE C 2COME /AGNANT4 ,WE
LOSE T SP>K T KEEPS ! M9D &! _S ALIVE &
5A#S U 63T9UE GR[+ & LE>N+ "?\T \R
LIVES4 ,I'M N SAY+ T "EYBODY %D J G H& 9
_! RESIGN,NS ON ,MON"D MORN+ & CUT \ =
,MEXICO4 ,"! >E FOOLI% RISKS1 & "! >E
CALCULAT$ RISKS4 ,X PAYS 6CALCULATE )A
LOT ( ?"\ & C>E4 ,B ,I ?9K WE [E X 6\RVS
6DEVELOP 6\R FULLE/ POT5TIAL4 ,WE [E X
6! _W 6TRY 6MAKE ! GRTE/ 3TRIBU;N T WE
C4 ,Z A WRIT] ,I'VE WRITT5 FIC;N & NON-
FIC;N = *N4 ,I'VE WRITT5 ROM.ES = TE5-
AG]S4 ,I'VE WRITT5 BOOKS AB KIDS :O H M
S]I\S PRO#MS4 ,I'VE WRITT5 BIOGRAPHIES4
,I'VE WRITT5 BOOKS AB /ATES & BOOKS AB
C.TRIES &! HI/ORY (! ,VIETNAM ,W>4
,"EY?+ T ,I'VE WRITT5 REQUIRES RESE>* &
REQUIRES LE>N+ AB NEW TOPICS & PRES5TS
ME )A :OLE SET ( BR& NEW *ALL5GES1 S T
:AT"E ,I'M "W+ ON REMA9S 9T]E/+ &
EXCIT+4 ,I DIDN'T GET 6BE SU3ESS;L WRIT+
9 A VACUUM4 ,I [E AN ENORM\S DEBT 6LOV+
& SUPPORTIVE FAMILY1 6! _M FRS :O H
2LIEV$ 9 ME1 6! ,N,NAL ,F$],N (! ,BL =
HELP+ 6CR1TE A CLIMATE 9 : BL P C HOPE
6LIVE FULL & REW>D+ LIVES4 ,& ,I [E "S?+
6A KID "ND ,GEORGE :O LIV$ ON ! L[] ,EA/
,SIDE1 :O HELP$ ME BAL.E ! NE$ = SECUR;Y
AG/ ! NE$ 6MOVE ON T[>D NEW HORIZONS4