New York City, October 29, 2017

★ The palpably rising humidity at bedtime had become audible rain before sunrise. It was a slow splashing rain on the walk to the nearest, unappealing supermarket to get eggs. A small poodle in a raincoat high-stepped through the wetness; some smaller and silkier breed, also in a raincoat, huddled in a person’s arms under an umbrella. The rain abated for a while, then came back as still ordinary weather. Hour by hour the drops on the window grew bigger and more numerous. With the blinds down to watch a movie, early afternoon felt like night. There was nothing useful left of the day, regardless. Eventually, in the night, the real storm began heaving and groaning.