Asunder

HELL ON CHURCH STREET BLUES

THIS IS ONE THAT IF YOU SKIPPED TO THE END YOU WOULDN’T MISS ANYTHING. What takes place between here and there is both no one’s business and beside the point at the same time.

The middle part concerns a round woman whose dog died on a transatlantic flight. The dog died in the woman’s arms right there in business class. It was very sad.

What happens next is the woman tells me the news in a delicatessen two weeks later. I was there for a turkey sandwich and french fries. I tell her I’m sorry and that it’s awful.

The real story, of course, takes place over those two weeks.

I find it helps to imagine the worst and work your way down.

For my part I spent each day of those two weeks waiting for the next to come and go gracefully. Then I attended the wedding of two friends. I overheard people talking about the chicken and fish, the oysters Rockefeller, the centerpieces, the hall, the bride and groom.

Everyone said they were a lovely couple and everyone was probably right.