"A List of Mistakes Made in Building the House" by Paul Sacksteder

1.   I tried to drill a hole where a screw already was.2.   The line wasn't straight. It couldn't be straight. Despite still being a line. Stressemanates from the corners.3.   Barack Obama was elected president. Kate couldn't stop crying. She grabbed myarm and hid her face. I was surprised. A little alarmed.4.   Gun stores across the country are reporting an increase in sales. A store in the BlueRidge Mountains completely sold out of semi-automatic rifles in less than three days.5.   History calls you names. Calls you boob. Asshole. Marxist.6.   The ceiling fan in the guest bedroom teeters and makes a bunch of noise. I tried tosay that it was rhythmic. No big deal. Like one of those rain machines.7.   Light serves as a monument. Everyone can see it rise from the city. Blanching thesky.8.   Michael Chabon signed my book. He said it wasn't weird to sign his name over andover. He never thought about it anymore.9.   I sit on my couch. Reading a magazine. There is a slight whistle of air coming fromthe front door. I doze off.