The Mars Room: A Novel by Rachel Kushner

Author:Rachel Kushner [Rachel Kushner]
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 9781476756608
Publisher: Scribner
Published: 2018-05-01T04:00:00+00:00

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I was exiting work exchange when I ran into the GED teacher, G. Hauser. I had gotten into a scuffle in work exchange, where they said I was setting off the metal detector and went through all my stuff. They even tore apart the bologna sandwich in the sack lunch they give us outside chow hall, to take to work. I had to strip out and endure a search in the little curtained area of work exchange, and I was boiling with anger as I left. But when I saw Hauser, something flipped in me, a switch. I called out a friendly hello. You don’t decide to intentionally alter your tone of voice. It happens automatically. Needs are the gearbox of the voice. Needs shift approach, adjust tone to something higher, more sympathetic. It wasn’t calculated, but everything had changed for me since I’d seen him last.

“Hey,” I said, “I was wondering if I’d run into you.”

I had forgotten all about him. I had not thought of him once.

“I’m on C yard,” I said, “and I’ve been thinking about your offer to get me some reading material. That would be great.”

He was excited, like I was doing him a favor by asking for one myself. We chatted and in his growing excitement, he said, “Why don’t you take my class?”

“All they teach is GED prep here. Which is the education level of our guards.”

“Yeah.” He laughed quickly, covertly. “But since it’s the only thing offered, I structure it around reading. We read and talk about books. Try it out. I’d love to have you join us.” He told me how to sign up.

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