Visiting the Eastern Uplands: Maine Metaphor

What is it about that word? Aroostook. "The County," they call it in Maine.

She sat in the Ohio kitchen with books spread out, having just read a word. She said the word aloud. Someone little called. A door slammed. She stood automatically, walked a step, reached up and got out peanut butter. There was cold milk in the refrigerator, and bread speckled with cracked wheat on the counter. The word Aroostook was thickening against the roof of her mouth.

It's been years, but that's how she rememb...