sun and shadows

When you've been home bound for days, you notice the emergence when you finally step out into the world. The echo of stone sidewalks and buildings. The sun and cast shadows.


Emerge, still foggy with flu, to take one strong son to school. One bright boy who is bigger and smaller than you realize. Blonde, shaggy teenager punk hair. This little boy who is almost 8. Remember 2nd grade? Remember math and sitting next to Matt Martin. Lying on the blacktop during recess to keep warm from the cutting midwest wind. This boy will remember this place.

Coming back home there are two stops due to a barren pantry at home. Cabinets that have nothing to satisfy the eminent hunger of one mother daughter pair. At the bakery choose half an olive loaf and four soft rolls. At the market, 3kg of apples, 6 pears, 4 kiwis, a bunch of celery and one of chicory. Chosen at random, guided by some underlying impulse, some unknown urge. They just looked good.