Зима тревоги нашей

           Iputthedisreputableandprobablydangerouspieceinthedrawerbelowthecashregister,pulledoutacleanapron,andwrappeditaroundmymiddle,foldingthetopoverneatlytoconcealthestrings.

           Isthereanyonewhohasnotwonderedaboutthedecisionsandactsandcampaignsofthemightyoftheearth?Aretheyborninreasoninganddictatedbyvirtueorcansomeofthembetheproductsofaccidents,ofdaydreaming,ofimagining,ofthestorieswetellourselves?IknowexactlyhowlongIhadbeenplayingagameofimaginingbecauseIknowitstartedwiththeMorph’srulesforsuccessfulbankrobbery.Ihadgoneoverhiswordswithachildishpleasureadultsordinarilywillnotadmit.Itwasaplaygamethatranparallelwiththestore’slifeandeverythingthathappenedseemedtofallintoplaceinthegame.Theleakingtoilet,theMickeyMousemaskAllenwanted,theaccountoftheopeningofthesafe.Newcurvesandanglesdroppedintoplace,theKleenexnudgedinthedoorlockinthealley.Littlebylittlethegamegrew,butentirelyintheminduntilthismorning.PuttingthescaleweightonthetoiletchainwasthefirstphysicalcontributionIhadmadetothementalballet.Gettingtheoldpistoloutwasthesecond.AndnowIbegantowonderaboutthetiming.Thegamewasgrowinginprecision.

           Istillcarrymyfather’sbigsilverHamiltonrailroadwatchwiththickhandsandbigblacknumbers,awonderfulwatchfortime-telling,ifnotforbeauty.ThismorningIputitinmyshirtpocketbeforeIsweptoutthestore.