a cane a smile a blue fleece a many many minutes of local topic of interest

the exhaust is made to emit a whistling sound. extra money is paid so that when the accelerator is pressed, the exhaust pipe whistles. the exhaust is made to vibrate at a frequency and resonance and a particular pitch. more money is paid for this. the engine is a container for explosion. the air carries wisps of burning. the air supports unseen salt. the air contains the remnants of dead fish, spawned out, picked over by birds. a hat worn with symbol. symbol to convey support of an idea a place a team a conviction. thinly held conviction. conviction held in attempt to keep holder, held. allegiance to an idea more so an allegiance to a group. allegiance to a group so as to belong. so as to keep safe. so as to not starve. many interests and ideas. many occurrences and experiences. many thoughts. many, many distractions. laughter as a natural expression. laughter as a concept. a put on. a symbol of allegiance. grown up in the area, the interests and occupations of the area are of interest, of occupation. sit in the gathering space, talk of the interests. the common interests. live in the area, stay in the area, as the interests interest you. as the occupations occupy you. complain, sure yes maybe so. yes, complain. but, symbolically. but, to maintain allegiance, position, belonging. enter the small gathering space and look around, or, do not look around. feather all the faces with unassuming gaze. with noncommittal gaze. with non-obligating gaze. do not see what you do not want to see, or, pretend not to see what you do not want to see. avoid eye contact as you do not see, or, avoid eye contact as you do not want to be seen, do not want to interact. do not know what to say. more or less a “normal” kitchen. gas oven with three burners. diminutive fridge. sink. counters and cupboards. hot water. all that is needed to cook. all that is needed to prepare. to cut. assemble. all that is needed to clean. for tea, use a french press. an electric tea kettle to heat up the water. for coffee use a moka pot. use a steamer that is set on one of the burners. to heat water. to generate pressurized steam. when the water is heated, when the steam is built, there is an escape valve to keep the steamer from exploding. it is a container for steam but not a container for explosion. the steam escapes the valve with a vehement hiss. with an insistent rasp. the windows wear a thin fog of condensed warmth. some from the insistent hiss. some from the persistent body. outside it is overnight cold. inside it is like cocoon. the air carries the byproduct of burning. it enters you and brings you to water. it enters you and burns where it touches. sea birds shriek from atop picked over bodies. bodies contain a series of explosions. empty symbols are infused with substance only to go again empty. the air carries without holding on. that you cannot recognize that you are recognized by those who know you ought to suffuse you with tenderness. so you let it. and it does.