Free Couch

There’s a rickety couch and side table perched on the curb at the end of the street, and on the arm of the couch is a sign that says, FREE.

I’m proud of them. How long did it take to inch their way out of that house? Did they have to climb upstairs from a basement, or navigate trappings of furniture down dark hallways? It’s clear no one cared for them anymore, so good for them.

Now, the terrifying wait for the one thing keeping them from freedom; a truck, and anyone willing to get them far away from here.

Rabbit Holes

I spend my time in rabbit holes, tunneling in endless fascination. I love the smells, the sounds, the look of the walls, and am delighted when they bend in directions I hadn’t thought of. I can spend hours down here. Days. Sometimes the maze behind me caves in and I wonder, how did I get here? But I love it. Up on the surface, there’s commitments, and questions about things I think I need to do. It never ends. Down here, it’s quiet. It’s simple. It’s peaceful, and I’m at ease.

That’s why I spend my time in rabbit holes.

Hot Car

If vehicle windows are cracked open, they will be marked and remain open to that level. If any window is smashed out by rescue workers to gain entry, it’s sufficient to seal said window with 0.25 mm clear polyethylene plastic sheeting and tape. The vehicle’s owner will be handcuffed to the steering wheel, and made it stay in the vehicle for the duration they left their child inside. The duration will double for dogs, as they are unable to perspire as efficiently as humans. The sentence will be carried out within 24 hours, at approximately the same time of day.

Overhead Projector

Kids get excited for new school supplies. Teachers get excited too. I got an overhead projector in my classroom, and couldn’t wait to use it. My back wouldn’t be to the kids anymore, making it so much easier to keep them focused.

Yes, that’s a buzzing fly, Kyle. No, don’t think he’ll hurt you. Just ignore him. Problem solved, moving on.

The fly landed on my pinky and projected a very detailed, three-foot bug crawling on the wall. The class shrieked. Because I shrieked. And I fell on Kyle.

I sent us both to the nurse’s office to settle down.

The Vandals

The gleaming girders of the new bridge never stood a chance against graffiti, even while it was under construction. The Engineer, however, came up with a solution to the headache.

Electrify the bridge.

Sure, the vandals might lose a finger. Or two. Maybe a hand. But it would send a clear message; Stay off the bridge. Secondly, it would keep birds away. The Engineer detested birds, and their mess.

Following a long silence, a Committee member spoke. “But, people would fall to the street below. In traffic.”

The Engineer acknowledged his solution seemed cruel.

“I suppose we could install nets…”

Tuna Salad?

There’s a time right before you hit the grocery store, and right after you’re hungry enough to eat what’s left in the cupboard, in any combination, that experimentation begins.

So I find a can of tuna. Tuna salad, easy. Just need a couple more ingredients, which I don’t have. Aha! The perfect substitute; Puffins Cereal. Hear me out. The salty, sugary coating replaces the taste of sweet relish and onions, and the hearty crunch stands in for crispy celery. Mixing them together, not so appealing, and I don’t have the stomach to add mayo, or mustard, but it was delicious.

Weekend Getaway

Every once in a while, I like to sweep up the family for a weekend getaway. Doesn’t have to be anything spectacular. Hit the beach. The desert. I call them up and say, “On my way. Pack a bag and meet me outside!” Thing is, when we get back… The kitchen, for one – There are scattered dishes that looks like they’re moving because of all the ants.

You guys, when I say weekend getaway, I don’t literally mean Getaway! Drop everything! Don’t flush, run! Police aren’t coming. A bomb’s not about to go off. Although now, looks like it did.