New York City, October 23, 2016

★★★★★ Even with the blinds closed, the brightness could be sensed somewhere overhead on the long slow ascent from sleep. Ropes swayed, branches tossed. It was chilly enough to bundle up against, but not so chilly that the bundling didn’t work. Clouds crossed above the avenue like perpendicular traffic. The five-year-old resisted wearing his hoodie, but made sure to bring a sun visor. The turn onto the cross street brought a roaring blast of wind over the ears. Rays of sun came veering in from unexpected buildings. A tire scraped the curb with a phlegmy gargling sound. The precision or the imprecision of brickwork was obvious. Children spun around the playground in various orbits on on individual high-speed vectors. The five-year-old took the slide sidesaddle. Gradually, harmlessly, fingers grew colder. The light floated above everything like a layer of oil calming the waters.