401

He had done it a hundred times with tunnel vision. The mind numbing commute had thrown him into grayness daily. Today his haze of thoughts dissipated and he took in his keen surroundings. It unexpectedly cleansed his consciousness and he smiled in the stillness of it. He walked in the door beaming and it was returned by all.

Condo Heaven

She bravely smiled and tried hard to accept her new home. The appliances were shiny and new, the wall to wall carpet was white and fluffy, the bathroom had modern fixtures. This impressed everyone. But the sink was in the wrong place, her bed faced the bathroom door and she had to crane her neck to see blue sky. Most of all, she missed her garden terribly.

The Spoon

His eyes glazed over as he sat at the table alone. His siblings long excused, were off and playing Wii while he felt chained to the dining chair. “There are starving children in Africa,” he was reminded. Contemplating this, he wondered if oversalted, stinky, cold soup could possibly be appealing to anyone. After making a long list in his mind, he squeezed his eyes shut, put the bowl to his mouth and gulped it back. He licked his lips and felt grateful for the first time.

Tracks

It was initially hard to relax into it. To let go of the details worming though his mind took massive effort. Every exhale released the backlog of documents, the emails to be returned, the presentation that went wrong. He mentally packed it into the filing box in his mind labeled “pressure’” and focused on going home. It could all wait until Monday.

Circuit Board

He had to get her attention. His words meant nothing when he tried to speak to her and she was blind to the subtleties of his actions. It was as if they were communicating in a different language and living cultures apart instead of under the same roof. His last act of desperation was to cut her off from her life. It maddened her enough to face him and finally listen. They found they had more in common than they thought.

Hanging In Wires

He fully intended to do it today. The anticipation brought sleepless nights so he repressed the anxiety and bolstered his confidence in defiance. But the guys saw through the false bravado and taunted when he bailed. It wasn’t the first time and he would have no choice but to stay and watch. Tomorrow was another day, he reminded himself, and it was.

Father Doesn't Know Best

He wanted to celebrate his legacy. Now that his father was gone he could see the beauty in the decisions he had made with his concretely logical mind. The family business wasn’t for him, his father knew that and nonetheless encouraged his passions as he struggled to understand them. He realized now that they had not been so different. And with that he had no qualms about changing the recipe for his pasta sauce.

Everyone Was Doing It

Everyone was doing it. The timing made perfect sense. Had she known what she was in for she might have been more practical about her decision to have kids. But she had woeful misgivings about the way things were turning out, the overwhelming feelings of guilt, a life peppered with fatigue and yes, she admitted it quietly, jealousy. She sank into these new emotions, felt them keenly, and moved to the next stage of utter love

The Glass Ceiling

The grand plan had only lasted so long. He frantically tried to find someone to blame for the inconsistencies in the material that had ultimately led to the calamitous leak that was now affecting the entire structure. His building, his dream, his potential for fame, now dashed. He stood surrounding by superiors, inwardly horrified and did some fast thinking. With a face of ultimate cool he presented an elegant solution. It was all back on track again.

The Heat Of Her Sweat

He was glad she was home. He had waited patiently for her to return from her daily run, looking forward to the heat from her flushed cheeks with the flavour of sweat still clinging to her body. The ache to crush her into him was at the top of any possible list of anticipatory events today. But she was still doing her stretching and wanted nothing to do with him at the moment. He’d have to wait until tonight.

Black Spider Red

He lived and died by the motif. The design was his, a childhood scribble turned into self-branded logo. It marked all that he had done, this evolution of passion and art governed his lifestyle. To him it signified killer strength and solo tactics. Sadly, once a year, it’s meaning was lost to all.

Cheers Chappie

"Well, we have rum, and Pepsi, and ice - let's see how that goes", he said. This was his memory of his favourite Uncle instructing him on fixing cocktails. Ever the host, dapper and unruffled, defining old school charm with his brand of savvy cool. Since he hadn’t inherited this attitude, he studied and learned it. The day he passed away, his tears mingled with the liquor as he made a drink in his honor.

The Mens Room

It was easy to look at it critically now that it was over. She felt no shame in what she had done. It was dirty but it was part of the experience. At least she could say she finally did it, performing fully, to the best of her ability. One-upping herself, she thought it might be better to use a non-bleach cleanser next time.

The Phone Booth

She repressed her natural inclination to call them. It had been months since she left home. She had her reasons, though time had forced them to evolve and in the spaces of silence she could hear their protests. The need to speak weighed on her, but embarrassment made her keep walking. Maybe tomorrow would be different.

Overpass

The reminder rose on a daily basis. Inconsequential to other drivers, it heralded memories that she refused to abandon. Their young courtship had grown from lusty love into maturity. The bridge represented days of palm pressing strolls, secrets told, promises made, and a connection that would last a lifetime.