New York City, November 28, 2016

★★★★ The color of the clear sky was ever so slightly tempered by haze, but airplanes were sharp, arresting white against it. Hoods, hats, and scarves were sufficient for the people who chose to use them, and not necessarily even required. It was easy, after school dropoff, to walk on past the subway and to make a comfortable shopping circuit of the calm supermarket and uncrowded bakery. Outside the apartment windows, the work crew was grinding down the surface of the neighbors’ balcony, sending billows of dust to catch the afternoon light. A dust smell rode in on the heater, and dust coated the wood on the back of the couch.