The Grace Period

story three · figures 7–9

The story →

THE GRACE PERIOD · TWELVE FREE HOURS, AND WHAT THEY COST — above the line, what is free · below it, what is being written down while it is free THE GRACE PERIOD · TWELVE FREE HOURS, AND WHAT THEY COST above the line, what is free · below it, what is being written down while it is free 0h 2h 4h 6h 8h 10h 12h NO CHARGE ACCRUES the first breath the clock starts here the midwife brings tea twice, and the second time says the thing she is not supposed to say the man from the desk comes up himself explains, correctly and at no charge · prints the hardship schedule unasked she says a word into the small ear once, clearly, the whole word · "That one’s for later" and here the record begins, all at once 11h48 · the name is entered the cheapest name she will ever enter 12h · the fee doubles and again at a week 04:52 · the account opens cot · warmth · a reading, at the desk’s convenience the tag closes around the ankle with a click everyone on the floor learns to hear THE FOURTH LINE IS NOT A CHARGE. It is a note: the registration was made at eleven hours forty. The note is not removable. It will be on the file at the school, and at the licensing hall, and at the ramp. THE GRACE PERIOD IS FREE. THE USE OF IT IS RECORDED. The note is not removable. The kindness and the mark are the same event.
7 · The Grace Period
THE GRACE PERIOD · EVERYTHING FREE, AND THE MARK IT LEAVES — the city gives six things away in six hundred words · each one is also an entry THE GRACE PERIOD · EVERYTHING FREE, AND THE MARK IT LEAVES the city gives six things away in six hundred words · each one is also an entry GIVEN AT NO CHARGE AND ENTERED AS · the twelve hours from the first breath a note on the file, at eleven hours forty, not removable · the desk man’s explanation, correct and unhurried he came up himself · the visit is a visit to the account · the hardship schedule, printed unasked printed means issued; issued means logged · the midwife’s tea, twice and her signature as witness, beside the account for as long as it exists · the word said into the ear NOTHING. the only free thing in the story that leaves no mark · sitting with him, not putting him down cot · warmth · a reading, at the desk’s convenience FOUR OF THE SIX FREE THINGS PRODUCE A PERMANENT RECORD. The sixth is a word spoken into an ear by a woman who has not yet given the child a name, and it is the only thing on this page the city never learns. "He is eleven hours old and eight minutes registered and he has a word in him that nobody has been paid for."
8 · The Grace Period
THE GRACE PERIOD · WHAT ENTERS THE CHILD, AND WHAT ENTERS THE RECORD — two tracks running through one night · they touch once, at 11h48, and never again THE GRACE PERIOD · WHAT ENTERS THE CHILD, AND WHAT ENTERS THE RECORD two tracks running through one night · they touch once, at 11h48, and never again INTO THE CHILD INTO THE RECORD 00:00 · the first breath the clock starts 11h40 · a word, said twice into the ear not the name · "That one’s for later" 11h48 · the name short, and the midwife has never heard it in this city the tag, around the ankle the click everyone on the floor learns to hear — nothing. the word is not an event here the name is entered the cheapest name she will ever enter 04:52 · the account opens cot · warmth · a reading the fourth line, a note registration made at eleven hours forty the midwife signs as witness her name beside the account for as long as it exists the only crossing UNPAID AND UNRECORDED the one thing he keeps A NAME IS SOMETHING DONE TO A CHILD. A WORD IS SOMETHING GIVEN TO ONE. The record has five entries by dawn. The child has two, and only one of them is his.
9 · The Grace Period

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