Page 39

By Jack Joseph Smith

29 unfold my arms and let’ my thumbs-dangle-dewn with my elbows: swinging my fiste: back and ferth as-I watched hims Jee Basel artes and red, and he went up and dewn te the rhythm of Uncle Jaskies:fistss © Okey bey, you got it news Good; Rudy, I got to god Mary, thanks elets It was @ great’ days’ By?-Unele Jackies soe Sissi Vein See you later-kid; And keep these arms-unfoldedy Only sipay's-keep there— arms -folled> Flos Ka I punched: the Jee Polickas’ That's -it; but.keep these thumbs: tight’ against the hands,’ You don'+ want: to gee them breken,' My father was:leughing saying, it was-a-happy time wasn't it Jacks He would say these things te people aa-if it was-the first time they had ever cemmunic: ated; Syre-was: Rudy, see-you laters Thanka ‘fer the great. time Marys Oh well, she would says: My mother -and I said good by again to Uncle Jackiey and my father turned and walked’ away ‘as:Uncle Jackie was:walking out the-doors I hadn't noticed’ how’fast everyone had been xeaving: and’ as-my mother clesed the door-I turned’ around and’ the -living-reem was-emptys Everyone is gone moms I know Michael} fnew we-can have-our dinners Stuffing; oranherriony ereamed wie aie patatoessI didn't like Li tisprea white potatees:I leved' and het rolls-and lets-of jucy brefin meat. on: the big benes ef the turkeys My father: liked’ white meat, so I always: get the wish bone

Original Scan

Page 39

AI Interpretation

GPT

After Uncle Jackie leaves and the house suddenly empties, holiday noise gives way to family dinner, turkey, stuffing, rolls, and the child's private pleasure in dark meat and the wishbone.

The emotional drop is quick and noticeable: a room full of people vanishes and a smaller family ritual takes over almost at once. Food becomes stabilizing here, restoring a direct bodily happiness after the strain and spectacle of the guests.

Claude

Uncle Jackie's boxing lesson — keep your thumbs outside your hands, don't fold your arms when I am talking to you — closes the Christmas visiting as the house empties faster than Michael noticed.