Page 46

By Jack Joseph Smith

46 E imew lots about Metaee’ field, I said, and we-began fencingy We-grew pewerfullwith each ether and felt the delicate moments clese te the final deaths Meving areund‘in the garage and backing. eut the large Woodén deorss that’ looked’ like-the first deor you would ceme te after crossing: over: the-wOae ca lifting draw bridge, We watched intently each others: sssnif Sie was: acsinging in the air when. cuir sworda: would crese: and ‘we would feel'each ethers desires waiting withim fer later moments: whem we-would’ have: to use-our deepest feelings: for survival’. On. guend he would. ery-end I would repeat, em guards’ OH, I leved its .Teuchingy then Nan “4 with each: other: and finally laughing when one could see that he: could win, but held’ back and’ waited for acknowledgementi’ The next day we-were-ever im Metzes- field tegether runing high en the hill: jumping: ever: the wind blown wheat, Sémetimes-it was»se high it weuld teuch eur faces: end if watched’ its- tips: whispering aleng om the sleping ridges that went down atl ‘arodrid’ us: we-wouldn't be ‘able-to see the trees in the valleyss' It was high wild wheat alright and it was Mister Metzes: that. let it grows Dees: Mister: Metzea: still live: here? we-would Bayo oak! wy I den't know would be the-startled answery and eff we weuld go aaveling: up on Mister Metzesé I wonder ‘where-he is? . Lethege up by the-heuses Yeu could see the house was in shambles frem a distance, The foundation was: buily of old° brick with bushes-and even trees grewing threugh its. Bey isn't that senses’

Original Scan

Page 46

AI Interpretation

GPT

Fencing with Daniel grows intense and delighted in the garage, then spills into Metzes field where wild wheat, the ruined house, and talk of Mister Metzes make the landscape feel charged and half-inhabited.

Swordplay is described with unusual seriousness, as if the boys are rehearsing survival and restraint at the same time. Outside, the field and broken house convert rumor into terrain, and Mister Metzes becomes powerful precisely because he is unseen.

Claude

Wild wheat on Metzes hill is tall enough to touch their faces, and the distant ruin of the stone farmhouse pulls the two toward a first adventure that ends with an imagined bam bam and running like rabbits.