Michael Dorris Quote
How long does it last? Said the other customer, a man wearing a tan shirt with little straps that buttoned on top of the shoulders. He looked as if he were comparing all the pros and cons before shelling out $.99. You could see he thought he was pretty shrewd.It lasts for as long as you live, the manager said slowly. There was a second of silence while we all thought about that. The man in the tan shirt drew his head back, tucking his chin into his neck. His mind was working like a house on fireWhat about other people? He asked. The wife? The kids?They can use your membership as long as you're alive, the manager said, making the distinction clear.Then what? The man asked, louder. He was the type who said things like you get what you pay for and there's one born every minute and was considering every angle. He didn't want to get taken for a ride by his own death.That's all, the manager said, waving his hands, palms down, like a football referee ruling an extra point no good. Then they'd have to join for themselves or forfeit the privileges.Well then, it makes sense, the man said, on top of the situation now, for the youngest one to join. The one that's likely to live the longest.I can't argue with that, said the manager.The man chewed his lip while he mentally reviewed his family. Who would go first. Who would survive the longest. He cast his eyes around to all the cassettes as if he'd see one that would answer his question. The woman had not gone away. She had brought along her signed agreement, the one that she paid $25 for.What is this accident waiver clause? She asked the manager.Look, he said, now exhibiting his hands to show they were empty, nothing up his sleeve, I live in the real world. I'm a small businessman, right? I have to protect my investment, don't I? What would happen if, and I'm not suggesting you'd do this, all right, but some people might, what would happen if you decided to watch one of my movies in the bathtub and a VCR you rented from me fell into the water?The woman retreated a step. This thought had clearly not occurred to her before.
How long does it last? Said the other customer, a man wearing a tan shirt with little straps that buttoned on top of the shoulders. He looked as if he were comparing all the pros and cons before shelling out $.99. You could see he thought he was pretty shrewd.It lasts for as long as you live, the manager said slowly. There was a second of silence while we all thought about that. The man in the tan shirt drew his head back, tucking his chin into his neck. His mind was working like a house on fireWhat about other people? He asked. The wife? The kids?They can use your membership as long as you're alive, the manager said, making the distinction clear.Then what? The man asked, louder. He was the type who said things like you get what you pay for and there's one born every minute and was considering every angle. He didn't want to get taken for a ride by his own death.That's all, the manager said, waving his hands, palms down, like a football referee ruling an extra point no good. Then they'd have to join for themselves or forfeit the privileges.Well then, it makes sense, the man said, on top of the situation now, for the youngest one to join. The one that's likely to live the longest.I can't argue with that, said the manager.The man chewed his lip while he mentally reviewed his family. Who would go first. Who would survive the longest. He cast his eyes around to all the cassettes as if he'd see one that would answer his question. The woman had not gone away. She had brought along her signed agreement, the one that she paid $25 for.What is this accident waiver clause? She asked the manager.Look, he said, now exhibiting his hands to show they were empty, nothing up his sleeve, I live in the real world. I'm a small businessman, right? I have to protect my investment, don't I? What would happen if, and I'm not suggesting you'd do this, all right, but some people might, what would happen if you decided to watch one of my movies in the bathtub and a VCR you rented from me fell into the water?The woman retreated a step. This thought had clearly not occurred to her before.
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About Michael Dorris
The Broken Cord, which won the 1989 National Book Critics Circle Award for General Nonfiction, was about dealing with his adopted son, who had fetal alcohol syndrome, and the widespread damage among children born with this problem. The work helped provoke Congress to approve legislation to warn of the dangers of drinking alcohol during pregnancy.
He was married to author Louise Erdrich, and the two had a family of six children. They collaborated in some of their writing. They separated in 1995. He committed suicide in 1997 while police were investigating allegations that he had abused his daughters.