Out the Window

Under the table
Under the bed
Inside a box
Inside her head

Hiding wherever she could, to find herself a spot. A spot to hide. A spot alone. She loved the corners of the house, but always came when she was called. It was scrabble. It was checkers. It was mastermind.

The pace would pick up. His steps were shorter and more confident. He smelt of success this morning. He was talking to himself in mock conversation in preparation for the 11:30 management compendium. Today was the day that would make all the difference. This was where life would start! Success would come crashing through his door and he would finally be revered for his contributions.

She found a gift.
She laid it down.
She looked at him
but how he frowned.

He looked around the room but said nothing. She didn’t crave affection but she took a step forward. She wasn’t sure if he saw her gesture or not but seeing him walk into the other room dented something in her. Listerine washed away his success.

She’s been saving it up,
That perfect spot,
Keeping it up her sleeve;

She’ll take the risk,
She’ll make the jump,
From here she’ll take her leave.

She brought a distraction as a peace offering. She could not understand his need to seek out the new every day. Anyway, it was that time again. Time for work and she’d found the best place she could in such a small apartment. She knew he wouldn’t look on top of the closet because it was brand new. It was the best spot in the whole world up there. She could see down into the quiet little back street where she saw a mouse run out of the rubbish bin. Life, she though. Life, living outside nature. Life finding its solutions where it could. Life surviving. This was really the best spot she’d ever found. She could tell because he was starting to say bad words and his footsteps were getting heavier and closer together. Words rang louder and louder. They were indecipherable now. All she heard was the pained irritation behind them. She looked back to the waste disposal in the lane. Right next to it was a parked truck, which came right up close to their balcony.

A series of stepping stones safe and sound.
A sort of ladder taking her to ground.

Inviting her away from another day spent the same as the one before that. It was like instinct had taken her. She was out the window; on the back of the truck and into the lid of the rubbish disposal and onto the ground. She scurried to the end of the street and saw a sea of legs moving with purpose. She looked back. The truck had gone. She looked forward. She moved into the sea. Stay close to the building. Someone’s coming. Jump left. Jump left again. A foot connects. Run low.

Empty green plastic
bottle of pop

Shopping mall
Division wall
Graffiti hall
Uniform
Little soldiers off to war
Scattered clouds above it all

Stop! Go!
Give way!
Go slow!

Water the roses
Sell the flat
Read the paper
Catch the nap
Mark the essay
Kick the cat
White shiny tiles
Slippery when wet

Someone watching me watching a lady watching the man cringing and laughing and fearing the mob and bumping around with his backpack banging into people’s heads, with his backpack with his name with his phone number put there by his mother with his headphones with his 50’s music with his maniacal laugh distracting the mourning flow.

The sun is out. I know because I can see it hitting the tops of the buildings. I make it to the corner and look left. I see the gulls. I see the pigeons. I see the figs. I feel the pangs. A tourist takes a snap. I cross the crossing legs and crossing lanes into the oooooooopeeeeeeeeen spaaaaaaaaaace. I feel the pangs. Green grass and watery spray. A man washing his face. He turns around and softly places his hands together and bows his head to me. A blessing from the city. A man asleep under his baseball cap. The city’s convenience. I feel the pangs. A waft of freshly prepared nourishment. The city’s deception. I feel the pangs. I follow the scent like Pépé Le Pue. I feel the pangs. The city’s offering. I feel the pangs no longer.

A middle-aged woman of two found the body of a renowned homeless city icon today in the bushes of Hyde Park. The man was reported to have been shot in the stomach in the early hours of this morning. The woman said that she came across the body due to movement in the bushes surrounding the body. A stray cat had wandered in and was feasting on the corpse. This death follows a series of murders of homeless people in the area and the public are warned to avoid the park after dark. Stay tuned because after the break we’ll have today’s sports news and the weather.

He removed his feet from the coffee table in front of him and placed them on the floor, paused and took a closer look at her nose. Normally, she was black all over except for a white spot on her nose. Today the spot was red. He patted her on the head and took a closer look and noticed a funny smell coming from her.

Silence.

He ran to the bathroom and didn’t come out for a long time.