Days 5 and 6

It has been a minute. We write to you from Belton, Missouri where we are caught in some rain, but indoors at Jakob's Aunt Michelle's house.

We left off in Minneapolis, where we were preparing for our reading at the Walker Art Center's Open Field programming. Jakob, Katie and Amy decided to introduce the tour to whatever audience would assemble, and then read "Song of the Open Road" by Walt Whitman, which talks of traveling. Then, we'd ask questions about what it means to leave, be left, and stay, in order to encourage dialogue and inform our own writing of the road while on our tour. Our audience was wonderful. An inter-generational, responsive, generous crowd joined us at the picnic tables and we are really grateful to them and to Scott for having us and sharing stories. We ended by reading a few poems each. A big, big thanks to Minneapolis, to Katie and Adam and Freya and Sadie, to the folks at the Walker.

Jakob drove through the night to Missouri during numerous torrential downpours and really intense wind. Amy snacked and we talked about our feelings and told secrets. We reached Aunt Michelle and Uncle Kelly's house and fell asleep at around 2:30 AM. In the morning, we hung out on the porch with Michelle and cousin Kayla (hey girl!) and then set off for Kansas City! We ate, we walked around, we met up with John Paul and cousin Josh and had a muffiny time! Exclaim! O, Pioneers!
Kansas City was warm. Finally we got to wear around our short jean shorts, which is part of our reasoning for going on tour in the first place. Anyway . . .

We then went to the Brick for dinner, where there were delicious vegan and meaty options for everyone, including a reuben hot dog which might have been the best thing Jakob's ever eaten. We then got a call from Wick, Jakob's long time friend who has been working hard, unbeknowst to us, to get us a reading here for a while. Amy wants to say something about nobility here but can't get it together. You go Amy. So then Wick did get us a reading AND it's at Mud Pie, a vegan bakery and cafe! Tonight! At 7pm! Also, Jakob simultaneously got a phone call from his boyfriend Vea (see entry Day 4) who surprised him by buying a Mega Bus ticket to Kansas City! And now he's here! Triple whoa! We got to meet John Paul's lovely girlfriend, Brittany, and then we went to her place. She lives in an amazing loft that overlooks Kansas City and some lively skateboarders at the local parking garage. Thanks for having us, Brittany!!

To summarize: great reading in Minneapolis. Triumphing over wind and rain adversity. Reunions with some wonderful folks. Vegan bakery reading. Brittany's loft. Come to Kansas City.