In Eli’s room, on top of a pile of school work, I noticed a first version of a short story he wrote for his English class.  He categorized the manuscript a “ruff jraft.” Ah, so Eli.

At dinner, I asked the others what they call the first version of things they write.

Grace: a sloppy copy

Lydia: a rough draft (“But I only call it that if I’m sure I’m going to rewrite it.”)

Jimmy: a piece of shit

There you have it.