"Well, compared to...." 

  "The speaker had some good points." 

  "Does seem kind of true." 

  "And not really conspiracy theory." 

  "Brain computing."

  There was plenty to think about.  But out of thin air, not a lot of connection between competition and communism.  We trapsed through mud and tarps to bookshelves. 

  "That's what I'm talking about." 

  "The perfect haven." 

  "Did you bring the coffee?"

  "Where's the list of stuff to ask about?"

  "Remember, it's volunteer work." 

  "No pay?  I'm leavin'."

  "He's just being funny." 

  "Can I just live here?  I don't ever want to leave." 

  "Is that sarcasm?"

  "Nope." 

  Remember the mudbath had become something tossed between us like a trophy we'd won.  In that part of the yard that had collapsed because of a garbage retaining wall, we'd let go.  Fortunately for our feelings we'd already let loose.  Totally different with God involved. 

  We'd purposefully not eaten the same things we'd been eating for six months.  And we remembered stuff.  Like, I used to have a personality, and, that old goat that lived where we used to. 

  "Let the mud pull all the toxicity away." 

  "Fuck you.  That's part of my personality." 

  "Fuck you then for asking me to marry you." 

  Laughs

  "Oh hey new neighbor.  What are you doing here?""

  A sigh and an almost cry, then lips screwed into resolution.  "Well, I'd say it has to do with being a Jew but that leaves the field wide open for hmmmm I dunno the something stinks and sinister going on somehow being connected to the Jewish PEOPLE." 

  "Did you know they don't call each other Hebrews?" 

  "Really?' 

  'Who's there Martha?" 

  None of us knew what they were saying.  'Did you just call us dumb goyas?" 

  "No m"am.  That was a Hebtew quote about strangers being welcomed as friends

   "Until they prove otherwise

  "Which; they do often do.". 

  In the mudbath we'd taken turns at one point not getting out until resolution.  One day it had led to a heated debate about forgiveness.  We got deep on the topic of debt.  Then the unicorn, holding up her broken bikini top, came over sternly saying, Oh my God, Oh my God.

  "What is it?". Everybody's Dad sat up and mud slide down his chest.  He tried to catch it and patch it back into place.  "She just coated me." 

  "Not like there's a shortage." 

  'I need you." 

  "Well, that's better than I hate you.  It's a start." 

  "No, I really need you." 

  A paint stick stirred a pat of dried mudcake.  'Sure you do.  Like you ever need anybody." 

  "Knock it off." A pitcher of water was thrown in that direction.

  "What is it baby girl?"

  "Um.  Bigfoot is asleep.  But.  He's covered in wasps." 

  People jumped up in the mudpit.  The unicorn pushed people back.  "We shouldn't wake him up!' 

  Clumps of mud being brushed off splatted. 

  "He"ll panic." 

  "Bigfoot panic?  Never." 

  "She's right.  You don't know my son." 

  Everybody's dad sank into sitting on the muddybank.  His wife to be looked at him to gauge how he'd taken that.  Then her eyes grew wide and she pointed.  "Look at the holes!" 

  "In my bathing suit?" He crossed his legs quickly and his arms over those.  "No honey.  In the mud."