Annie is eleven and she reads the newspaper religiously. On the way home from nightshift, Mom stops in at the 7-11. Annie prefers paper to online, though she's sorry a bit every day for the trees.

As it's summer, Annie takes the paper out back, under the oak. There is the little iron table and the heavy iron chair. Dad is passed, the pond he made is filling with silt, yet there's still water enough for the lotus—its flowers float cosmically pink.

Annie reads the news. The president battles Congress. The lost celebrity is found broken in the hills. Unemployment rises or falls. Congress battles the president.

As it's summer, Annie has next to nothing to do. Late lunch with Mom before Mom goes to bed. Wander the yard with bare legs and feet. Miss Dad with his pink and soft hands. Talk to the neighbor's black and white cat. Ask him why he always wears a tuxedo.

After the news, Annie visits her friend. Sandra is seven. She doesn't much care for the news but she's specially nice. You can play with any of these, says Sandra, sweeping her hand over her collection of trucks.

What to know about Sandra is that she wets the bed. Annie discovers this only today. Sandra, Sandra's mom says, is much younger than you. Annie excuses herself in a rush.

Annie sits under the oak. The crows crow-crow at each other. Mom is inside preparing late lunch. Annie is scared—she's much younger than you. How the little green frog, ka-plash! hits the pond.  

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*"The quiet pond
A frog leaps in,
The sound of the water

—Matsuo Basho


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