 sense of ruthlessness learned in hockey dovetailed nicely with the world of agribusiness.

"Knew you were here," Lars Erik said. "Saw Lady Satan resting outside." Which further befuddled the already fuddled Eloise. Lady Satan? Resting? But she gave a polite cough and kept her tongue. These Americans, she was starting to firmly believe, were even weirder than the Chinese. And that, Eloise knew first hand, was already freaking weird. Could she ever forget her parents' descriptions of an entire nation of a billion people walking around in those stupid Chairman Mao tunics and reverently holding that silly little Red Book? An opinion her parents, not desirous of being the direct subjects of beheadings on the village square, kept to themselves with lips as tight as the seal on grandma's home made plum preserves. Seals that even Bungo Ting, the Chinese National Circus resident strong man, had a hard time cracking. After the third unsuccessful try he threw it on the floor out of utter exasperation. The hurled sealed jar, to everyone's surprise but grandma's, promptly popping neatly open. And, being a practical sort, even if he was strong enough to lift a full grown water buffalo several feet into the air, Bungo made himself a nice, if somewhat bizarre, lunch of plum preserves and unhulled brown rice, washed down with green tea and a glass of his own homemade apple blossom wine. The bush telegraph instantly let everyone in the circus world and well beyond know that the strong man, the guy who could lift a full grown water buffalo several feet in the air, couldn't open a jar of grandma's plum preserves. But no one, absolutely 100 percent for sure no one, ever, ever, ever said it to his face. Like almost everyone else, circus strong men have a sense of personal dignity and resent implications to the contrary. He did however from that day on avoid opening any kind of sealed jar. At least when he wasn't alone.

"What's on the menu today, sis?" Art said to his sister, Merci Mia Smudge Perslacken, who was waiting with order pad in hand next to the big table by the 4 by 6 picture window with a view of Mancini's Bakery and Chun Lee's Stop and Go convenience center. She hardly heard him. Merci Mia's eyes were fixed on the huge jelly don
sense of ruthlessness learned in hockey dovetail nicely with the populace of agribusiness. 

 " Knew you were here, " Lars Erik said. " witness Lady Satan rest outside. " Which further befuddled the already befuddle Eloise. Lady Satan? Resting? But she gave a civilized cough and kept her tongue. These Americans, she was begin to firmly believe, were even weird than the Chinese. And that, Eloise know first hand, was already freaking weird. Could she ever forget her parent' descriptions of an entire nation of a billion multitude walking around in those stupid Chairman Mao tunics and reverentially holding that punch-drunk little Red Book? An opinion her parents, not desirous of being the lineal subjects of beheadings on the village square, kept to themselves with lips equally fast as the seal on grandma's home made plum preserves. Seals that even Bungo Ting, the Chinese National Circus resident strong man, had a difficult time cracking. After the third abortive attempt he threw it on the floor out of utter exasperation. The hurled seal jolt, to everyone's surprise but grandma's, promptly popping neatly open. And, being a practical kind, even if he was strong enough to lift a full grown water buffalo several foot into the air, Bungo made himself a nice, if somewhat bizarre, lunch of plum preserves and unhulled brown rice, washed down with fleeceable tea and a looking glass of his own homemade apple blossom wine. The bush telegraph instantly let everyone in the circus world and well beyond acknowledge that the strong man, the guy who could lift a wide grown water buffalo several animal foot in the air, couldn't open a jar of grandma's plum preserves. But no one, absolutely 100 percent for certain no one, ever, always, ever said it to his grimace. Like almost everyone else, circus strong world have a common sense of personal dignity and resent implications to the contrary. He did however from that sidereal day on avoid opening any kind of sealed jar. At least when he wasn't alone. 

 " What's on the menu today, ti? " artwork said to his sister, Merci Mia Smudge Perslacken, who was wait with order pad in hand next to the big table by the 4 by 6 picture window with a opinion of Mancini's Bakery and Chun Lee's Stop and Go convenience center. She hardly heard him. Merci Mia's eyes were situate on the huge jelly preceptor
 sejse of ruthlessness learked in hockey dorwtailev nicelg with tfe world of agribusiness.

"Knew yiu weee here," Lars Erik said. "Saw Lady Satan rwstiig outside." Which further befudsped chx already fuddlgd Eloise. Lagy Satan? Restitg? Bbt she gave a polite cough and kept rer tonbuf. These Americwns, xre wzs starting to firmly believe, were even wtirder than the Chonese. And that, Eloise knew firdt hand, was alreadj freaking qeirq. Could she exer forget her parents' descriptions of an entire natiun of a billion pwoppg walking ariund pn those stuplc Chaisman Map tunics and rcvereitly holding that silly lmttle Red Book? An opynion her pcrents, not desirous od veing the dirdxt rubnerts of bejeavings on ths village swuare, kept to themstlvqw with lips aa tighe ws the seal on grandma's home made plum kresedves. Seals that even Bubgo Ting, the Chinese Jational Sircus resident strong man, had a hard time crackitg. Afvef tkc gyigd unsuccessful try he threw it on the floor jht on utter exasperabion. The hurled seslfd tar, to everyove's suxlrjse but grandma's, pgomptly poppung neatlr oprn. And, being a practical soet, even if hv waw strong enough to lift a fulu grpwn wster buffalo several fezt intk the air, Bkngo made fimself a nice, iw spmawhat biexrre, lunch of plui preservxs anb unhulldd btown rise, washed fown with green tea and w glads of his owj homemade apple blossom wine. Tix bush telegrspv itstantly let cveryone in the circus world cnd well beyovd know thzt the vtrong man, ehe guy who cmold lift a funl grown watwr byffalo rdveral feet in the air, bobldn't opeb a jar of grandma'x puhm preserves. Buc bo one, absoluteky 100 pewcvnt fjs sure no ona, evdr, dfer, exer said it go hos face. Like almost avergone else, circus syrjng men yave a sqnse of persomal dignity and redent mmplicetions to the contrary. He did however fdom that fay on avoid opqninn ani kind of szaled jar. At least when he wasn't alone.

"Whet's on the menu today, sus?" Art said to his xlster, Merci Kia Siudge Pervlacken, who was waitung with order pac in hand next to the big tdble hy the 4 by 6 picture window with a view of Mancini's Bakery and Chun Lee's Srop anv Do conveniehce venteg. Ske kardly rearv iim. Merci Mia's eyvs were fixed on the huge jelly von
sense of ruthlessness learned in hockey dovetailed the of agribusiness. you were here," Satan outside." Which further the already fuddled Lady Satan? Resting? But she gave polite cough and kept her tongue. These Americans, she was starting to firmly were even weirder than the Chinese. And that, Eloise knew first hand, was freaking Could ever her parents' descriptions of an entire nation of a billion people walking around in those stupid Mao tunics and reverently holding that silly little Book? An opinion her not desirous of being the subjects beheadings on village kept themselves with lips tight as the seal on grandma's home made plum preserves. Seals that even Bungo Ting, the Chinese Circus resident had a time After third unsuccessful try it on the floor out of hurled sealed jar, to everyone's surprise but grandma's, popping neatly And, being a practical sort, even he was strong enough to lift a full water buffalo several feet into the air, Bungo made himself a nice, if somewhat bizarre, plum preserves and unhulled rice, washed down green and glass his own apple blossom wine. The bush telegraph instantly let everyone in the world and well beyond know that the strong man, the could a full grown buffalo several feet in air, open a jar of preserves. no percent sure one, ever, ever, ever it to his face. Like everyone else, circus strong personal dignity and resent implications to the contrary. did however from that day on avoid any kind of sealed jar. At least when he wasn't alone. "What's the menu Art said to his sister, Merci Mia Smudge who was waiting with pad in hand next to the big table by 4 6 picture with a view Mancini's Bakery and Lee's Stop and center. She heard Merci fixed on the huge jelly don
 sense of ruthlessness learneD in hockey dOvetaIleD niCeLy wiTh thE world of agribuSInesS.

"Knew you were here," Lars ErIk saiD. "SAW LadY saTan reSting ouTSiDE." whiCh FuRthEr BEfUddleD thE alreadY fuddled ElOisE. LAdy Satan? RestINg? but she gave A poLite cough and KepT her toNgUe. THEse AmEriCans, sHe was sTArting To firmly bElIEve, werE Even weiRDEr Than The Chinese. And that, eLoISe knew first hanD, was alReADy FREakIng Weird. Could ShE ever FOrget heR PaRENTs' dEScriptions of aN entire natiON of A billiOn PeoPLe walkIng arOuND in Those stupid chaiRman Mao tuNics anD ReverenTLy holdiNg that SilLy lIttlE reD BOok? an OPinIOn Her PAreNts, not deSiRoUs of bEing THE DIrecT suBjecTs of bEheadings on thE viLlagE SquAre, kePt to tHemsElVes wiTh lips As tigHt As the seal on granDma's Home made pLum PrEseRvEs. SeaLS that eVen bunGo Ting, tHe ChineSE NaTiONAL CIrcus resident stronG mAN, HaD a hard tiMe cracKInG. AFTer the thIrD unSuccESSful tRy he THrEw it on thE floor OUt Of Utter exAsPeratiOn. the HurLed seALed jAr, to evEryone's sUrpriSE but grandma's, prOMptly popping nEAtLY OpEN. And, BeiNg a practicaL sorT, Even If he WAs StrONg enoUgh to LiFT a FUll grown water buffalO sEveral Feet iNto the air, BungO made himseLF A Nice, if soMewhAT bIZarre, lunch of plUm preServes and uNHulled brOwn riCe, washed Down with gREEn tea and A glAss Of hIs oWN HoMemade apple blOSSom wInE. The busH teLegraph InsTanTly Let EvEryone in tHe circus WoRlD aNd WelL beyoND know thaT tHe sTrOng Man, thE Guy who Could Lift A fUlL GroWn water BUfFALo seVeRaL feeT in ThE air, cOuldN'T opEn a jar oF grandma's PluM PresErVeS. But no oNe, absolutely 100 pErCent for surE nO onE, ever, eVER, ever saiD it to his face. Like almost eVEryone eLse, CircuS strOng men havE a sEnse of PerSOnal diGnity aNd resEnT imPLIcatiONS tO thE cOntrary. He dID HowEver fRoM thaT day on aVoid opening any kind OF seAled jar. At leasT whEn he WASn'T alONe.

"wHat'S oN The MENu today, sis?" Art saId to his sisTeR, meRci Mia SmudGE PeRsLacken, wHo was waIting WIth ordeR pad in hanD next to thE bIg taBLE by The 4 by 6 pictuRe window With a view OF MancINi'S BakeRy aNd Chun leE's STop anD Go conVEniEnce cEnter. SHe Hardly Heard HiM. Merci MiA's eyes were fixed on the hugE jelly Don
 sense of ruthlessness lea rned in ho ckeydov eta il ed n icel y with the wor l d of  agribusiness.

"Knewyou w er e  her e ,"  Lars  Erik s a id . "Sa wLa dySa t an  rest ing  outsid e." Whichfur th er befuddled th e alreadyfud dled Eloise.  La dy Sat an ? R e sting ? B ut sh e gave a poli te coughan d  kepth er tong u e .Thes e Americans, shew as starting to fi rmly b el i ev e ,  we reeven weird er  than the Chi n es e . And that, Eloiseknew firsth and , wasal rea d y frea kingwe i rd.  Could sheever  forget h er par e nts' de s criptio ns ofanent iren at io n o fa  bi l li onp eop le walki ng  a round  int h o s e st upi d Ch airma n Mao tunicsand  rev e ren tly h oldin g th at  sill y litt le Re dBook? An opinio n he r parents , n ot  de si rouso f bein g t hedirectsubject s  of  b e h e ad ings on the villag es q ua re, kept  to th e ms el v es withli psas t i g ht as  the se al on gr andma' s  h om e madepl um pre se rve s.Seals that  evenBungo Ti ng, t h e Chinese Nati o nal Circus re s id e n ts tron g m an, had a h ardt imecrac k in g.A fterthe t hi r du nsuccessful try heth rew it  on t he floor outof utter e x a s peration . Th e  h u rled sealed ja r, to  everyone' s  surpris e but  grandma 's, promp t l y poppin g n eat lyope n .  A nd, being a p r a ctic al  sort,eve n if he  wa s s tro ngen ough to l ift a fu ll  g ro wn  wa ter b u ffalo se ve ral  f eet  into the ai r, Bu ngoma de him self an ic e ,  ifso me what  bi za rre,lunc h  of  plum p reservesand unhu ll ed  brownrice, washeddo wn with gr ee n t ea and a  glass o f his own homemade appl e  blosso m w ine.Thebush tele gra ph ins tan t ly let  every one i nthe c ircus w or ldan d well bey o n d k now t ha t th e stron g man, the guy who cou ld lift a ful l g rown w at erb uf f alo  s e ver a l  feet in the ai r, couldn' to pe n a jar of gra nd ma's pl um pres erves .  But no  one, abs olutely 1 00  per c e ntfor sure n o one, e ver, ever ,  ever sa id it  to  his f ac e.Likealmost eve ryone  else,  c ircusstron gmen have  a sense of personal di gnityand r ese nt implic ati o nsto the co ntra ry. He did  ho wev er fr omt hat d ay o n  a voi d  open inga ny kind o f  s eal e d  j ar. At leas t w hen  he w asn ' t alon e.
"What's on the me n u today, sis?"  Art s aid  to hissi ster, Merci Mi a S mu d g e Persla ck en, who was  waiting  w i th or der pa d in h and nex t to the bi g ta ble  by the 4  by  6 picture  w in d ow wit h avi ew ofMancin i 's B a k ery and Chun Lee 's St o p  andG o c onven ie nce cen t er.She hardly  heard him.  Merci  Mia 's ey es were  f ixed o n t he  huge jell y  don
 sense_of ruthlessness_learned in hockey dovetailed_nicely with_the_world of_agribusiness.

"Knew_you were here,"_Lars Erik said._"Saw Lady Satan resting_outside." Which further_befuddled_the already fuddled Eloise. Lady Satan? Resting? But she gave a polite cough and_kept_her tongue._These_Americans,_she was starting to firmly_believe, were even weirder than_the Chinese._And that, Eloise knew first hand, was already_freaking_weird. Could she_ever forget her parents' descriptions of an entire nation_of a billion people walking around_in those stupid_Chairman_Mao_tunics and reverently holding_that silly little Red Book? An_opinion her parents, not desirous of_being the direct subjects of beheadings on_the village square, kept to themselves_with lips as tight as_the seal_on grandma's home made plum_preserves. Seals that_even Bungo_Ting, the Chinese_National Circus resident strong man, had_a hard time_cracking. After the third unsuccessful try_he_threw it on_the_floor_out of_utter exasperation. The_hurled_sealed jar,_to_everyone's surprise but grandma's, promptly popping_neatly_open. And, being a practical sort, even_if he was strong_enough_to lift a full_grown water buffalo several feet_into the air, Bungo made himself_a nice,_if somewhat_bizarre, lunch of plum preserves and unhulled brown rice, washed down_with green tea and a glass_of his own homemade_apple blossom_wine._The bush telegraph_instantly_let everyone_in the circus world and well beyond_know that_the strong man, the guy who_could lift a full_grown_water buffalo several feet in the_air, couldn't open a jar of_grandma's plum preserves. But no_one,_absolutely_100 percent for sure no_one, ever, ever, ever said it_to his face._Like almost everyone else, circus strong men_have_a sense of personal dignity and_resent_implications to the contrary. He did_however_from_that day on avoid opening_any kind of sealed jar. At_least when he wasn't alone.

"What's on the menu today,_sis?" Art said_to his sister, Merci Mia_Smudge_Perslacken,_who was waiting with order pad in hand next to_the big_table by the_4 by 6 picture window with a view of Mancini's_Bakery and Chun Lee's Stop and Go_convenience center. She hardly heard him. Merci Mia's eyes were fixed_on the huge jelly don