The apprentice

in the park across the hospital where the guy works, a dad is trying to interest his son to leave his stroller. he points towards the sky, at the plane leaving a heavy plume of trail. his hand, work-thickened with the thumbnail bruised black. the guy does not know i’m this close to him and knowing this is strangely empowering. with blithe unconcern, the kid continues to play with his hand-held device and the dad, unbeaten, pushes the carriage on, pointing at things to his son as if they are secret glyphs he has to absolutely master by the time he is on his own.