Not what you expected

On a cold February night, you see men queued up outside the bodega — oh, they are buying flowers. It’s Valentine’s Day.

In the Park, you see people doing pull-ups. They must be practicing to jump the turnstiles in the subway. Or would that be another exercise?

The woman with the suitcase isn’t traveling, she is running away.

Two contractors drinking coffee: “We’ll make a little meet-cute, we’ll come up with something.”

“Only the first five cars will open at Glen Ridge,” says the conductor. “It’s foliage season. Slippery steps. Slippery rails.”

You wake up with aching hands. There are night guards for teeth. There should be night guards for the hands.

*

You buy an hourglass. You’re optimistic this will help you finish the novel.

You do not buy Frederick the mouse holding a red poppy. You can buy him when you finish the novel.