New York City, November 4, 2015

★★ The jack-o’-lanterns had begun to soften and sag, mouths furred with mold, overnight in the tropical warmth. The light hoodie was a talisman to carry over a short-sleeved arm, in accord with the richly golden leaves in the gutters, despite the bright and unreal haze. Bare legs and shoulders were out again, tanless and unprepared. A flash of light from a chrome grille announced a black SUV creeping up on the crosswalk. By late afternoon, up on the roof, some chill had reestablished itself on the air. Cargo cranes stood in the smoky distance downriver, their shapes like giraffes against the lowering light.