as the midday heat bullied the neighborhood, a couple well into their sixties decided enough is enough. without giving so much as a word to each other, they unsheathed two of their blue lawn chairs on their stoop and straddled them--shiny, indigo war steeds. the bermudaed couple, like jaded sentries, never saying anything to each other, just looked and looked at the platoon of pigeons wilting at the eaves of the building across theirs.
then, the woman started reading her fan magazine while the man fanned himself, and at regular intervals her, with this crisp, glazed poster of a spanish soap opera star. the smile of the actress was as cool as a little poem of kindness or a song in praise of a love so perfected it could go on without being uttered or sung.
