(JONATHAN) LETHEM, MOTHERLESS BROOKLYN - I've got Tourette's. My mouth won't quit.... If I were a Dick Tracy villain, I'd... be Mumbles.... The words rush out of the cornucopia of my brain to course over the surface of the world, tickling reality like fingers on piano keys.
| A. | Excessive talkativeness | LOGORRHEA |
| B. | Compulsive repetition of what's just been said | ECHOLALIA |
| C. | Scorching; ardent | TORRID |
| D. | Packing a lot of weight | HEFTY |
| E. | Hot topic among educators in 1996-97 | EBONICS |
| F. | "Get going!" (2 wds.) | MOVEIT |
| G. | Arachnophobe of verse (2 wds.) | MISSMUFFET |
| H. | Shakespeare character who said, "Rude am I in my speech" | OTHELLO |
| I. | Where Papeete is located | TAHITI |
| J. | Symbol of busyness | HIVE |
| K. | Overflowing; lacking reserve | EFFUSIVE |
| L. | "___ and Be Thankful" (Wordsworth poem, based on a headstone inscription) | REST |
| M. | Inclined to go on and on (hyph.) | LONGWINDED |
| N. | Given to goofing (hyph.) | ERRORPRONE |
| O. | Clotho, to Lachesis | SISTER |
| P. | Butterfly expert? | SWIMMER |
| Q. | 1990's rock star with the album "Odelay" | BECK |
| R. | Circuitous | ROUNDABOUT |
| S. | Back part of the skull | OCCIPUT |
| T. | Play set in the fictional village of Grover's Corners (2 wds.) | OURTOWN |
| U. | Literally, skill (2 wds.) | KUNGFU |
| V. | Trait of a blabberer | LOQUACITY |
| W. | Chitter-chatter (hyph.) | YACKETYYAK |
| X. | Pinhead | NITWIT |