Case

Isn't "diametric opposite" redundant?
To ask is to be open to the possibility of failure.
Plato wrote that any succession of events leads to an intersession of ideals. Where is the humility in that? Aristotle was right: Plato was a childish sadist misanthrope.

At night while on Bell duty, Case would sneak up and bombard me with his false history lessons. With each recitation came a shortening of phrase, the meaning secondary to the sound or feel of the words. A history of "Increased secession from the Union" became a "ceased session" of Congress, then the Cesarean, Saran (the wrap) and urn; "diseased militants" of World War I became dilettantes, then a detante, taunt, aunt; inexplicably, the "Sears Catalog of Homes" was only reduced to catacombs. Listening to his game was like watching Narcissus by the sea, obviously frustrated by constant overlapping waves. When no words were left, having been reduced to inarticulable sound, Case dragged his blanket back downstairs. Then the bell from north tower would signal the hour, and I would ring my reply.