
Rebecca Zicarelli, of Bethel, left, reads her story while Reid Johnson, of Bethel, looks on. Stephanie Frykholm, of West Paris, is teaching several sessions of her writing classes at Cathi DiCocoa’s Main Street Bethel cafe. Rose Lincoln
BETHEL — Cathi DiCocoa is stoking her wood stove on a cold Saturday afternoon as 11 writers arrive at her Main Street restaurant.
One woman laughs as she recounts how she found out about the class, “I came to buy bread, “ she says.
Writer and Instructor Stephanie Frykholm, of West Paris, begins her introduction as DiCocoa tiptoes through and around tables depositing fresh baked chocolate chip cookies on a napkin beside each notebook.
Frykholm said DiCocoa had generously offered her restaurant space after the two met at Frykholm’s eight-week writing class at the Mann Memorial Library in West Paris this past Fall.
Most of the learners today are from Bethel, however one has driven from Norway and another has come from Andover. They sit at four tables in the eclectic space that, (besides the wood stove), has a bagel toaster and a tea station. A large glass vase by the toaster is half-filled with tinfoil balls. A sign requests patrons to recycle and deposit their foil waste.
Frykholm prompts the group. “Think of a memory you have of food and friendship, and tell about that ‘intimate act’ of sharing food together,” she says.
One by one the writers read aloud the story they wrote in the timed 10-minute period. Tomato sauce, carrot cake, goat milk, a taco, an apple, and an apple-on-a-stick are some of the foods that are central to the writers’ stories.
In the introduction Frykholm had explained that the class is not about editing each other’s work. Rather it is about learning to write in a stream of consciousness and without judgement.
Writers are not allowed to preface their stories before they read, nor are listeners allowed to comment. Instead, after each story, listeners toss out words or phrases they heard in the story.
“Nobody liked goat milk,” “udders were full,” and “tails-a-waggin’” are tossed back to the goat milk story writer.
“Thank-you,” is the only other allowed response, however, smiles and chuckles are inevitable, too.

Writing Teacher Stephanie Frykholm, left, of West Paris, said she appreciates Cathi DiCocoa’s generosity hosting her writing sessions at her Main Street Bethel cafe. Rose Lincoln
This was the first of a three-week series by Frykholm. Two other classes, Feb. 1 and Feb. 8, will be held at DiCocoa’s from 3 to 5 p.m. Subsequent sessions are titled: “Sustaining the Spirit” and “Enchanting the Heart.” Participants register for each $10 session separately.
Reid Johnson, originally of Minnesota, now of Bethel, said he was excited about Frykholm’s class because he loves to write. He saw the class listed on the MSAD-44 Adult Education roster.
Other classes offered through Adult Ed are on emergency preparedness, attracting butterflies to your garden and managing diabetes, for you or someone you love.
However at these other classes, learners should not expect a fresh chocolate chip cookie on a napkin.
Many other classes are being offered, too. The list is here: https://sad44.coursestorm.com/
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