Life in Northern Towns II

Many of my most vivid memories of elementary school concern Mr. Carlson, my fifth-grade teacher. He was given to wandering off-topic into discussions of the difference between "conservation" and "preservation" of natural resources and/or the holy trinity of Upper Peninsula manhood: hunting, fishing, and trapping.

One day, he told us solemnly and unironically that he made a point to always shoot cats he saw in the woods, because cats kill for no reason. I like to think I got started on my cynicism early.