Town & Country

 

I have always found more treasures within the city than I ever have along a country road.  A beetle working his way over a stone that happens to be in his path is hardly as poetic as an old man lost in his overcoat, making his way to the watch repair – still reliving old appointments, his watch remains his lifeline to his self-worth.

From an upstairs apartment window her familiar yell interrupts the friendly baseball game taking place on the street below.  Just as it was yesterday, the Green Buick is home plate and anything beyond Mitscher’s delivery truck is a home run.  She has made tomato soup and grilled cheese sandwiches.  Although she has gone through the motions of preparing lunch, she is lost, deep in the soap opera being played out before her.  Her concern that Erica’s pregnancy remains a secret for now is genuine.  Her hands unconsciously wring her apron, she feels herself once again breathing, as the camera moves in on Todd’s puzzled expression and they fade to commercial.

The beetle has lost his footing in his attempt to traverse a formable downed branch and flips upon his back.  Kicking franticly at the air, he attempts to right himself.  Soon exhausted, he slows but doesn’t stop, as he knows his vulnerability.

        Leaving the repair shop the old man closely examines his timepiece.  He reads again the farewell inscription on the back, unaware of the pop-fly plummeting rapidly towards Main and Fedora.

“Lunch.” Screeches the voice from the apartment window, catching the old man’s attention, he removes his hat to look up.

Crack! Goes the beetle’s hard shell, as the Blue Jay digs into his meal.