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The Uprising Sarah, Carla, and Pootessa lived in the nasty valley. What an ugly place. The air was thick with pollution—as were the minds of most residents. What few jobs there were only paid minimum wage. Crime was rampant. All three women lived with unemployed men. Carla got a part-time job delivering packages. One day, she had to go all the way up the mountain. She was afraid of getting lost and that it might get dark before she got back, so she took Sarah and Pootessa with her. Pootessa had to lie and scramble to get her boyfriend’s permission. As Carla’s ’83 POS Crapmobile chugged up the mountain, Sarah noticed and commented on the fresher air, the better view, and the fewer people. At the top of the mountain they delivered the package to a woman named Sophia. She invited them to sit in her garden and enjoy the sunset. It was quiet and still, except for a breeze high up in the treetops. The wind in the trees sounded like a rushing river, far away. The temperature was perfect. Sarah felt at home for the first time in her life. She felt so good that she could not find words to describe it. Pootessa broke the silence to say, “All men suck.” “In the valley, that’s mostly true,” Sophia said. “So why would you want to pick from that lot? Maybe it’s your choices that suck.” Pootessa looked like she was going to throw up. “You gotta play the cards you’re dealt, Sweetheart.” “Not me.” Sophia smiled. “I demand a fresh deck any time I feel like it. In fact, I sometimes choose not to play at all.” The sunset dotted the I's of inspiration and crossed the T's of tapestry. Sophia invited the three friends to come back and visit any time, and they did come back often. On one visit, Sarah said, “I get so disgusted trying to tell people what it’s like up here. I can’t get anyone to come with me. I just know that if they’d try it they’d love it.” “Same here,” Carla declared. “My boyfriend thinks I’m crazy. He also thinks I’m lying about it.” Sophia shrugged and said, “Why try to talk anyone into anything? And why keep running back and forth between here and there? Why not just bring your kids and move up here permanently?” Carla made a sound like one who has just damn near stepped on a rattlesnake. “That sounds great,” Sarah admitted, “but my man would never go for it.” “I’m not talking about him, Sarah. I’m talking about you…and your kids.” “I’d get my head knocked off,” said Carla, “if I tried to get Brutus to move up here.” “Then don’t. Just come up yourself.” Pootessa scowled and growled, “I’ll tell ya one damn thing: you gotta bloom where you’re planted, lady. I’ll stick with my man, Belial, through thick and thin!” Sarah, Carla, and their children moved up the mountain. They began to respect themselves, to feel competent and complete. Sarah’s husband could not stand living without her and the kids. He too moved up the mountain. They were happy. Brutus never came to visit Carla. That was good because Carla met a great guy up on the mountain. He had been there all along. Their minds, spirits, and bodies meshed perfectly. Carla never dreamed that life could be so much fun. Pootessa lived an unhappy life and died in fear. Her clichés did not serve her well. Some people would rather be right than happy.
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