From her second-floor window she watched as two cops moved the bearded man’s belongings from the shed-sized cardboard box that had been his home in the alley for weeks.
Pillow, water, flashlight, welcome mat, books. He’d come prepared. Set up house. Her quietest neighbor.
She always meant to say hi, but that’s not her way. Still, she worked into the wee hours every night with her window open. Separated by only 15 feet. She could hear him shuffle in his sleeping bag. She knew when he fell asleep.
The cops folded the box. Sigh. The nights would be lonely again.
© Copyright 2016 Kim Dixon Perez. All rights reserved.
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Kim Dixon Perez is a ghostwriter for experts who want to share their ideas and vision. Her specialty is making the complex simple. For fun, she’s turning Pasadena’s Municipal Code into haiku. Stay tuned … it will take her a while (it’s a long friggin’ code). She blogs at OCD Travel.
I think my heart just broke a little bit.
*Sniffle* Wiping a tear.
So much revealed by his possessions.
Perfect. A great story.
Thanks all! I appreciate you taking the time to read it 🙂 I can’t wait to read all the other stories throughout Micro March.
Great story enjoyed the read. His whole life in 100 words.
So much said in so few words. She captured those moments that touch us, stay with us, and sometimes change us.
Beautiful!
Your story is touching without being sticky-sentimental. Nice job!
Congratulations—-just printed it off to read in a little while…..
complex made simple
quotidian comes alive
Kim does it again
A comment in haiku … nice!
A most thought provoking statement about our world. I have been one of those cops picking up the discards of society. It is an endless disturbance within me.
I bet. It would be tough to have that job.
Oh my!
So much in so few words–
what a great choice to start the series–