Paha Review Writing and Art from the Hill Mount Mercy University Cedar Rapids, Iowa 2021 The term paha comes from Dakota Sioux dialect Editors Cal Wright meaning “hill” or “ridge,” and it was first applied in 1891 by Annie Barkalow W.J. McGee to the special hill forms in this region of Iowa… Quinton Gaul Special Thanks Their distribution and alignment parallel to (and very often Jose Clemente near) river valleys strongly suggest that paha are actually Assistant Editor Chris DeVault wind-aligned dunes that accumulated in response to the Andrew Lorig Joseph Hendryx strong, prevailing northwest winds that were scouring the Joe Sheller Art Editors and Ben Thiel Iowan surface during this period of glacial cold. Selection Committee Jean C. Prior Grace Byers Land Forms of Iowa Brianna Ostwinkle We need to recover the ancient sense of homeland as Copy Editors an area defined not by armies and flags…but by nature and Annie Barkalow geography and by the history of human dwelling there, a Sierra Earle habitat shared by other creatures, known intimately, carried Quinton Gaul in the mind as a living presence. Emilio Ramos Scott Russell Sanders Cover Art Mount Mercy University is built on one of the many Keelan France paha in Iowa, most clustered near or southeast of Cedar Untitled Rapids. Pencil Drawing Cover Design Brianna Ostwinkle Faculty Advisors Jose Clemente Mary Vermillion Writing Selection Committee Annie Barkalow Paha was composed in 11 point Iowan Old Style and Sierra Earle printed on Lynx Opaque White 70 lb. text. Quinton Gaul 80 lb Flo Gloss Cover. Andrew Lorig The printer was Welu Printing Company. Emilio Ramos Contents A Letter from the Editors: My Roomie Jessica Purgett 9 Paulo Coelho once said, “Talent is a univer- Anime Jude Zawadi 13 sal gift, but it takes a lot of courage to use it.” Hollywood Boulevard Addison McGuire 14 It was a privilege to bear witness to the literary and ar- tistic talents that reside here on campus. We appreci- Home The Sustainability 19 Scholars ate the authors and artists alike sharing their abilities with us. Although this past year was perhaps a bit wack, Becoming Jennifer Musiol 21 we take pride in sharing their stories, ranging from the Little Pearl Earrings Cal Wright 22 light-hearted and whimsical to the deeply contempla- tive and passionate. We hope you find as much joy Beautiful Mess Carley Beck 27 reading this year’s edition of The Paha Review as we did Almost Twenty Abbie Barr 28 making it! As our incredible faculty advisor—and ab- solute legend—Mary Vermillion likes to say, “Cheers!” Seasons Changing Emilee Bradley 30 Gloomy Day Ayra Nur Jehan 31 Quinton Gaul and Annie Barkalow Aminuddin Leave Nicole G. Carl 32 Superpower Bruce Croy 33 Orangey Abby Estabrook 37 Mad with Desire Q 38 Neptune and the Moon Rachael Conner 39 Woman in Water Grace Byers 40 Hot Chocolate Addison McGuire 41 This Christmas Clare Heinrich 79 Shotgun to a Fearsome Alex Diercks 48 Angel Get a Grip Ayra Nur Jehan 80 Aminuddin The Hunt Abbie Barr 49 Sunsets of Hope Ashlyn Harrington 81 Best Friends Forever Abby Estabrook 53 So I Sew Katy Mitchell 82 Dear Mister Dead Man Anonymous 54 Concrete Jungle Anonymous 85 Cemetery Pinecones Sierra Earle 56 Tales of the Broski in the Q 87 Brink of the Meyer Jennifer Musiol 57 Mirror A Patient Book Alex Diercks 59 Guilty Laughter Goose 92 A Dog’s Love Hannah Tobin 60 Untitled Keelan France 94 Imagination Abby Estabrook 62 The Impact of Wanting a Morgan Hansen 95 Dog Bob Nabil Abugattas 63 Father Knows Best Sheena Maloney 99 The Court Bruce Croy 65 Untitled Grace Byers 103 Today is the Day Rachel Fensterman 67 Darkness Veronica Jons 104 Goalkeeper Grace Byers 70 Caspian Abby Estabrook 107 Soul Ties Abbie Ring 71 Waggle Dance Clare Heinrich 108 Where the Best Memories Hannah Tobin 74 are Made Crow Addison McGuire 110 Pedal Tractor Abbie Barr 77 Your Dirt Road Emilio Ramos 112 The Reaper Ponders Death Joshua Harmon 116 The Man Rachael Conner 117 My Roomie Sewn In Me Sierra Earle 121 Jessica Purgett Contributors 123 My roommate is the Devil. No, literally, he’s the Devil. Lucifer and all that. I know, I didn’t believe him either when he first told me. I mean, isn’t the Devil supposed to have like red skin and a pudgy belly? No, this guy is tall, fit, and attractive. I mean, I’d tap him if I swung that way. He’s a really cool dude, actually. He always does his dishes, cleans his beard shavings out of the sink, and he never brings his work home with him. I feel kinda bad for the dude, though. I mean, even though he doesn’t really talk about his work, I still know what he does, ya know? He has to torture people all day. I see what it does to him, so I always have a cold brewski waiting for him when he gets home. I think it helps. Tonight I’m actually making some spaghetti and meatballs for him, too. When he opens the door of our apartment, I grab the beer from the fridge and crack it open. He doesn’t take it when I offer. All he says is, “Chad, you need to come with me.” “Nah, dude, I’ve got spaghetti and meatballs ready for us on the stove. Come on, before it gets cold.” “No, you need to come with me. Right now.” There’s no humor in his voice. “Aw, come on D,” I reply, “What do you mean I need to go with you?” He couldn’t possibly mean... “Chad, don’t make this harder than it needs to be.” 9 “No, dude, no. Are you saying... You’re not saying we’re going down there, right?” I can hear my voice rising in pan- “Okay, okay. I was a dick, so what? I’m only twen- ic. He doesn’t respond, just looks at me ... waiting. ty-five. I can change. You can’t make me go now! Just...just give me some time? Can I at least have a year or two? Dude, “I’m a good person. I deserve to be going up, right? What I was going to propose to Kelly next week! You can’t take the hell did I ever do to deserve going down there?” that away from me.” His face remains cold and distant. I’ve never seen him “She wouldn’t say yes even if you got the opportunity. like this before. It’s really creeping me the fuck out. “I’m not She doesn’t actually love you.” even dead yet, bro,” I plead. His words shoot into me like shards of glass. “What the “Look, Chad. You’re my friend, right? I’m trying to help hell do you know? We’ve been together for two years. Of you out here. Either you come with me right now or you’re course she loves me.” going to be hit by a car on your bike to work in the morning.” “Have you forgotten that I’m literally the Devil? I’m an “Is that a threat?” I don’t know whether to vomit or omniscient being. I know everything. Now, are you going to punch him in the face. come with me or not?” “No. It’s fate. If you choose to stay on Earth, you’re go- “I—but ” ing to die. And you’re going to suffer. Your time is up,” he shrugs. “It is what it is. If you go with me now, it’s not going “I promise I won’t go too hard on you. You’re my to hurt. Trust me, it’s going to be a lot worse if you wait.” friend.” He smiles, offering his hand. “Nah, dude. No. What the hell? Why am I not going up? “How bad would it hurt if I waited?” What the fuck did I do? I mean, I know in fifth grade I made fun of that chick because her nose was too big...and in high “Pretty bad. Internal bleeding tends to put humans in a school I dumped crickets into all the air ducts...But man I lot of agony.” can’t be going to Hell for that!” No, no, no. “Are you fucking with me right now? Tell He doesn’t hesitate before he starts listing out my life’s me you’re fucking with me.” events. “You shoplifted $5,000 worth of merchandise in a three-year span from Walmart. You had sex with your mar- “Do you want to say goodbye to Kelly first?” ried neighbor when you were twenty. And then you lied about it when her husband confronted you. Their marriage He’s not going to let me out of this. This is real. “Yeah, crumbled and you didn’t even care. Have you talked to her if you don’t mind.” I take his outstretched hand and imme- since the night you screwed her? Remember that party you diately we’re transported to her apartment door. went to in college? Remember how you got that girl so drunk and then you—” “I’ll wait here. And remember, if you try to run, I’ll find 10 11 you.” He winks at me while I knock on the door. “Chad?” Kelly says after opening the door. “What are you doing here?” Anime “Um... ” I guess I should have prepared something. “Kel- ly... I have to go away.” Go away? Jesus Christ that was the Jude Zawadi lamest possible thing I could have said.