A big black hungry bear. I encounter it in the orchard. It’s fall, of course. The bear is there to eat apples, of course.

I am a worm. The little curly kind that also eats apples, pretty much oblivious to any other animal except worm-eating birds. I’m just mostly keeping out of sight, under the grass and leaves, till I find an apple that lets me into its heart. The best way in is through the belly button down there at the bottom of the core. From there I tunnel through the tender white meat till I am just sated. Full and happy and kinda lethargic.

So I’m just lying there, hidden in the flesh of the apple, when the bear appears. One bite of my apple lays me bare. I sense with my entire being that this is the end. I writhe in the air for an instant, then inside the bear’s mouth. Then I’m squishing, sliding down her gullet into oblivion.

Is that oblivion really sweet? Is a worm destined to be reborn as a turkey? Or a garter snake? Or a bear? What possible karma can anoint a worm with the possibility of climbing the long slow ladder to enlightenment?
I die, pure and simple.

The apples sure are sweet this fall.
Nuclear war can’t really happen, can it?
I’ve just shared with you the result of a recent creative writing workshop at Black Cat Books.

CPR HERO
Last alert: The “Hero in 30©” training program is on Wednesday, October 18, at the Armoury Community Centre, 563 Main Street, Bury. Certified CPR instructor, Justin Dewey, will teach CPR without ventilation. By performing this simple and risk-free CPR technique, participants may be enabled to help save the life of a loved one or a stranger and become a hero for life.
This event is a Health Link program. Lunch begins at 11:30 a.m. and the presentation is from 1 to 2 p.m. To help cover the cost of lunch, a $5 donation is asked. To reserve your space for lunch, contact Kim Fessenden: 819-872-3771, ext. 2 or fessendenk@etsb.qc.ca.

TELLERS TELL
Final alert: The Townships Tellers will be telling stories about transformation on Thursday, October 19, at 7 p.m. at the Uplands Cultural and Heritage Centre, 9 Speid St. in Lennoxville. Refreshments will be served and all donations received will be in support of Uplands.

ARTISANS WANTED
The John Henry Pope Cultural Centre is calling for artisans of all kinds who would like to have a kiosk at an Artisans’ Show scheduled for December 9 and 10. The centre is also organizing a book exchange during the show. Books may be contributed at the Cookshire-Eaton Municipal Hall (220 Principale East, Cookshire) during weekdays, and at the Cultural Centre on weekends. The Centre is located at the main intersection of Cookshire, 25 Principale East, the former rectory of St. Peter’s Anglican Church.
Works by Louis-Pierre Bougie, artist-printmaker, are on exhibit right now at the John Henry Pope Cultural Centre until December 16. The Centre is open weekends from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., until December 16. Info: Claudia Racine, coordinator, 873-825-7003, maisondelaculturejhp@outlook.com, or visit Facebook/MaisondelaCultureJHP.

BULWER CARDS
A 500 Card Party is on Thursday, October 26, at 1:30 p.m., at the Bulwer Community Center, 254 Jordan Hill Road, Bulwer. The entrance price includes a lunch following the card playing, and a distribution of prizes.

SAWYERVILLE BINGO
Loisir Sawyerville’s second season of bingo is back in swing at the Sawyerville Community Centre, 6 Church Street. It’s Thursdays at 7 p.m.. All are welcome. A canteen is there, too.

APPLE PIES
The Sawyerville United Church Stewards and helpers will be making apple pies and selling them for $9 each, baking instructions included. This is a fundraiser to help support the Sawyerville United Church. To order, contact Janice Hartwell, 819-889-2498 (may leave message), or Theda Lowry, 819-889-2734.

VIACTIVE EXERCISES
Good exercise for those aged 50-plus, volunteer-led, and free of charge: Viactive. The four bilingual groups all meet Wednesday, as follows: In Bury, Doris Eryou welcomes you at 10 a.m. at the Armoury Community Centre, 563 Main St., Bury. Info: 819-238-8541. In Cookshire, Serena Wintle and Lyne Maisonneuve lead the group from 10 to 11 a.m. at the Manoir de l’Eau vive, 210 Principale East. Info: 819-875-5210. In Newport, Ruth Shipman and Christiane Côté facilitate the Viactive group at the Municipal Hall, 1452 Route 212, Island Brook, from 1:30 to 2:30 p.m. Info: 819-889-1340 or 819-560-8565. And in Sawyerville, Denise Nault and Gérard Nault invite you to the Sawyerville Community Centre, 6 Church Street, at 10 to 11 a.m. Info: 819-889-2630.

CHURCH SERVICES
United. Services are in Cookshire at 9:30 a.m. and in Sawyerville at 11 a.m. Info: 819-889-2838 (listen to message). Rev. Tami Spires will be away October 15 to 29. For pastoral emergencies, please contact Rev. Samuel Dansohko at Plymouth-Trinity United Church, 819-346-6373.

News flash: We offer our sincere congratulations to Rev. Spires on her very recent marriage to Rev. Mead Baldwin. Bon voyage, you two!
Messy Church. On Monday, October 30, at 5:30 p.m. is Messy Church, a monthly joint United and Anglican intergenerational event. It’s free of charge, but donations are welcome. Stories, crafts, worship and supper at the St. Paul Anglican Church, 550 Main St., Bury. It’s family friendly, and all are welcome. Info: Rev. Tami Spires (United Church Minister): 819-452-3685 or spiresta@hotmail.com.

Baptist. In Sawyerville, the Sunday worship service is at 9 a.m. in French, and 11 a.m. in English. Sunday school is at 10 a.m. in English and French. Info: 819-239-8818.
Anglican. On October 22, Sunday services are in Bury at 9:30 a.m. and in Cookshire at 11 a.m. On October 29, there are no services in Bury or Cookshire, but all are invited to attend the Fifth-Sunday Deanery Service at St. George’s Church in Georgeville at 10:30 a.m. Info: 819-887-6802.

Do you have news to share? Call 819-300-2374 or email ra.writes@gmail.com by October23 for publication November 1 and November 6 for November 15.