New York City, October 16, 2016

★★★ The light out the windows was unlovely, with off-colored clouds closing off diffident sunshine, but the air was cool and fresh-seeming. Ill will grew inside as the light improved outside, till the more aggrieved of the children agreed to take a walk to the sporting-goods store. Thick contrails stretched overhead on the blue, and the boy’s shadow bounced along in front of him. The end of the line outside the much-admired bakery was lost to view from the other side of the avenue. By the time a pair of shinguards had been acquired, the whole sky had clouded over again. Before long, just as quickly, it was clear again.