
Here are 15 words for you to chew on from André Alexis's apologue, Fifteen Dogs.
- One evening in Toronto, the gods Apollo and Hermes were at the Wheat Sheaf Tavern.
- While at the tavern, the gods began a desultory conversation about the nature of humanity.
- Perfunctorily petting his back.
- Atticus, practical and persuasive, suggested they take over a coppice in High Park, a clearing beneath a cluster of evergreens….
- Majnoun’s fascination with tone of voice is what led to his first serious contretemps with the woman…
- Prince began to run in wide circles around the beagle, tongue lolling out.
- Quickly lost in the congeries of city smells.
- Benjy and Dougie felt an antipathy toward the creatures.
- She cleaned up their feces...groomed them, purred at them or with them as if she were an oversized moggie herself.
- From that moment, all the gods new Zeus's will and, for the most part, abided by his edict.
- It was cruel to expect him to forbear, though out of consideration for her, Majnoun would forbear for months at a time until, inevitably, he'd forget her feelings and pounce on some fragrant deposit.
- When Majnoun moved his head ever so slightly, he could smell a vein of scent and then another and another, each scent like a layer in mica.
- You like it [Labatt's]? said Hermes. It's a waste of perfectly good water.
- Philistine! said Apollo.
Picture It:
- Image of Micas.
- Image of Moggies.
- Image of Coppices.