Surprise

He felt a twinge of regret. It surprised him right after the door was shut and he surveyed his now quiet domain. Devoid of annoyance, demands and concessions. Devoid too of life flitting to and fro from room to room, filling it with a presence much more solid than something intangible had any right to be. The pressure pent up had been released. Instead of feeling relieved, he felt empty and lonely. But he shook it off, as he always did, and began his week-long interrupted routine to fill the gap.

Displacement

Something's not right. Her restless stalking around in circles does nothing to reassure him. He asks what's wrong. She stares at him, furious. Furious that she doesn't know. Furious that he expects a response to a question she can't answer. And that fury strikes the point of least resistance. Inwardly he flinches even as he adopts a bored expression and turns his attention back to the newspaper. Something much easier to understand.

The Sun and I

The sun is playing hide and seek with me. Just when I think I've caught it, it darts behind another cloud, peeks out, then flees to another, and another. Before long I tire of the game and turn back towards the building. But it has one ambush left. In a flash of bright laughter it sweeps me up in an embrace that tingles through a body raw with cold. I carry this warmth with me the rest of the day.

Stompy

*creak*

*stomp stomp*

*creeeeak*

***STOMPSTOMPSTOMPSTOMP***

The sounds of a restless soul in an old building.

Luke 2:8-14 (ESV)

"And in the same region there were shepherds out in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night. And an angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were filled with fear.

And the angel said to them, 'Fear not, for behold, I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord. And this will be a sign for you: you will find a baby wrapped in swaddling cloths and lying in a manger.'

And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God and saying, 'Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace among those with whom he is pleased!' ”

Today we celebrate the birth of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, the hope of a fallen world. Merry Christmas everyone, may your day be full of joy and the glory of God.

. . .

She pauses, distracted. Forgotten is the trash bag now dangling limply from her hand. The air's heavy touch brushes across her face. Its perfume surrounds her. She tries to decipher it, but can only think of the word organic. Woefully overused, but she can't think of anything else to describe the smell of abundant growth and life underneath, despite and perhaps even because of the damp.

She's been here before. Somewhere that's not here.

Pigeon: Impossible

Supremely amusing. The curiosity of pigeons will ruin us all!