Saturday, September 23, 2017

The Little Room

The little room was uncomfortably warm in the heat of the afternoon. The Sun had streamed through the window and made it’s daily march across the bare, unfinished wooden floor from the door to the back wall and for a few short minutes would linger on the chair.

He stared at it mindlessly as a drop of sweat formed beneath his eye and ran down to his jaw, hesitated for a moment, gathering mass, and then continued to his chin and dripped to the table. His mind was weary and he felt like lying down, but the bed was still made up and since there would be no meaningful rest before the cool evening breeze came he decided to leave it. The neat simplicity of it comforted him somehow.

Finishing the glass of wine he’d poured for himself he rose and took the few steps across the room to the window. It was quiet and peaceful looking across the red tile roofs that stretched down the hill toward the sea, the reddish buildings and their blue window frames that may have once been the color of the sky itself. But he couldn’t help himself from thinking the scene was even more peaceful when it was cooler as more sweat dripped from his chin, quickly evaporating from the window sill.

He turned back toward the room, his eyes still narrowed by the bright sun, and for an instant the room looked the same as it had that day so long ago. The table, the chairs, the cupboard, the neatly made bed, the chair and the yellow summer dress lying on it glowing in the sunlight as if it were made of some magical material, thrown there in a moment of haste.

He clenched his eyes in a longing, hopeful moment and more sweat ran down his cheeks. When he looked again, his eyes cleared, and the dress was gone. He had known it would be. It always was, but each time there was the memory, and the hope. But for now there was only the wine, the empty glass, the bookshelf, the heat, and the slow rhythm of the passing days.

Sunday, September 3, 2017

Captain America

In an effort to seem less *better than you* Marvel Comics announced that Captain America would no longer be referred to in that manner. His stars and stripes motif will be replaced with an "autumn" colored ensem de-emfasising his nationality as much as possible. His new persona will be more international and not emphasize American exceptionalism or values in any way.

Since Captain America is out, as is any reference to America the first choice for a new name was just "The Captain"..... alas Captain Morgan now has that copyright protected...... "The Guy" was ruled out because Comedy Central now has ownership of the "guy" thing, and obvious gender implications...... so what Marvel was left with is just "The Man From That Country Between Mexico and Canada". His job, although less exciting than thwarting international bad actors is more satisfying. He now travels on UN paid private jets to international capitols counseling would be dictators on the distastefulness of world domination and the disadvantages of luxurious retirement on the Riviera or the horn of Africa. So adios Captain America... and Hola Man From That Country Between Mexico and Canada.

But that's just what an average guy thinks