We’re All Running

Dear Morris,

It’s been raining all day today, making everything feel miserable and gray. In the warehouse, all day long we could hear the raindrops pit-pattering against the metal roof. It sounded like little footsteps, like kids were running up and down the length of the building all day. When we weren’t busy finding pails to collect the water coming down through the rafters, we worked in silence. Like I said, it was a sad sort of day. Not even a hot meal at lunchtime could cure the blues.

A new guy started in my department today. The Lad. Lad and I opened things up, first thing this morning. I showed him the ropes, how to warm up the machines and get everything ready for the day ahead. After, we told each other stories. He told me about moving here from British Columbia, about how he spent time in prison there. He calls everyone “boss”, an old habit he says he can’t seem to break. I wanted to ask him what landed him in prison in the first place, but everything in time I suppose. We stood in one of the loading docks and smoked cigars, watching the drops come on down.

The rain has made everyone antsy. The young couple, in the house across the road, tried to get a fire going during a lull in the downpour but everything was already too wet. I watched them drag sticks and lumber across the front lawn, only to fail at producing any sort of flame and drag it all back again. I opened up the window in my bedroom, Linus and Mary had the place closed up all afternoon. I need fresh air to have any chance of sleeping soundly tonight.

I received a letter from Taryn today. It didn’t really say much of anything new, just a re-hash of everything we’ve said before. I don’t know where her head is at and it’s unsettling. We’ve both grown up so much in the last four years. We’ve changed. She’s changed. She’s different now. More confident, more sure of herself. Her words have more meaning and passion than before. No matter what happens, I’m glad to have known her. Kind, generous people are in short supply these days. Especially out here. Around here, it seems, everyone is running from something. Actually, most people are running from someone. But, in the end, we’re all running.