Originally posted on Peace Corps Thailand Magazine:
Michael Marano, 129 TESS A Year Without Drinking/ The Little Bird and the Light: Two Stories, One Ending Little Bird The little bird is scared. The Light has left the cage. The bird calls out for It to return. Summons It. Prays to It. Closes its eyes, goes…
Strings of Fear
Originally posted on Peace Corps Thailand Magazine:
Michael Marano, 129 TESS 45 Seconds of Terror I feel another spoonful of curry-soaked rice drop onto my thigh. My legs are crossed at the 1-foot kitchen table we eat at every night and Apple is perched on the edge of my knee. Name and I wait for him to finish eating so we can…
A Big Gay Spiritual Journey
Originally posted on Peace Corps Thailand Magazine:
Michael Marano, 129 TESS A Big Gay Peace Corps Spiritual Journey A story of strength, peace, belonging, healing, pride, freedom, forgiveness, and acceptance. I love you, but… I sat in the church I had grown up in, where I was baptized and attended my father’s funeral, where I…
See You Again on the Next Time
Originally posted on Peace Corps Thailand Magazine:
Michael Marano, 129 TESS I asked a question that’s only ever been answered in my favor by liars, “Is this going to hurt?” “Yes,” the Peace Corps nurse replied, holding a long, thick needle containing the typhoid vaccination, a shot that afforded me a trip to Bangkok, scheduled…
One More Time
Originally posted on Peace Corps Thailand Magazine:
Sun, Dtang, Bpam, and Mick Michael Marano, 129 TESS It’s early November and we’re playing Face Off, a game that by now my students can run on their own, but with only 4 months left in my service I fight to be the host, not ready to stop…
Falling in Love in the Peace Corps
Originally posted on Peace Corps Thailand Magazine:
Michael Marano, 129 TESS I arrived at Peace Corps Staging in San Francisco surrounded by a fortress of buttons and wool. Before I entered what was sure to be an onslaught of icebreakers, I fastened my shirt all the way to my chin, feeling safer with every clasp,…
River Rise
Originally posted on Peace Corps Thailand Magazine:
Michael Marano, 129 TESS River rise, carry me back home. I cannot remember the way. River rise, carry me back home. I surrender today. – India.Arie After years of drifting, too afraid to grab the steering wheel, my boat ended up in an arroyo covered in rust with…
The Mystery of the Tooth in the Sock
Originally posted on Peace Corps Thailand Magazine:
Michael Marano, 129 TCCS I touched my finger to my nose to remember whether or not I had already washed my face. It slid faster and was greasier than the oiled up milk belly of a drunk on life 6-year-old at the bottom of a slip-n-slide. Grossed out…
Just Love
Originally posted on Peace Corps Thailand Magazine:
Michael Marano, 129 TCCS “There’s nothing left… Just love. That’s all there is. Love.” * When I heard that it was my dad who said those words I was at first alarmed. Not only was he mostly unresponsive at the time, but I had never heard him say…
Not Taking It On
Originally posted on Peace Corps Thailand Magazine:
Michael Marano, 129 TCCS There are a lot of things you don’t have to take on. – June Diane Before I joined the Peace Corps I assumed that I would be cut off from all technological communication, sending letters through the mail that would end up in the…
An Island Curse
Originally posted on Peace Corps Thailand Magazine:
Michael Marano, 129 TCCS In moments of intense excitement, I tend to feel invincible. Thus was the case as I stood in front of my mirror with a beard trimmer and a pair of dulled scissors and decided to give myself a haircut. I wanted to look good…
The Stories of Michael Marano 