Saturday, June 30, 2018

Little Boxes

Little boxes, some zooming right, some left, some turning in mid-zoom to hurry back the direction from whence they came.

What powers the little boxes? Determination to arrive at a destination? Fear of the point of origin? Or merely a desire to move?

I watch from a safe vantage and think of stories to match with the boxes. The red one contains a mother in a hurry to get home to the stove, with little ones fresh from some sport's practice and yelling simply to be yelling. The frenetic box seems to be pushing, jumping at stop lights both to stop and start. No pausing to “smell the roses” for that red box.

Here comes a dark blue box, so dark as to almost be black. It travels sedately — no hurried braking here. Each stop carefully made; each start eased into. Oh, what's that — a turn signal? A planned deviation in its course is telegraphed to other boxes in the vicinity. One can almost see the inhabitants sitting serenely in the comfortable seats, their daily lives mapped and accounted for. They speak softly to each other about the happenings of the day. When all necessary words are spoken, the box is filled with silence.

Other boxes pass my vantage. A large white box is loaded with ladders and tools for the craftsman inside. It has a sign painted on the side proclaiming the owner to be the “Best Fix-It Man Around”. The box travels proudly from place to place. No loitering for this box; there are appointments to be kept – money to be earned.

A small sporty box has windows rolled down with music blaring. At this time of day young people must be traveling to school. The box bristles with energy, visibly bouncing at the light in time to the music. Be careful, sporty box, and get them to classes safely!

An old box is piled high with stuff. Is someone living in the box? It moves slowly as if its various moving parts need oil. It's destination seems uncertain as it starts to turn and then stops. I watch as the dulled and dented box moves out of sight. I wish I could call it back and see if help is needed.

I look at the parked box nearest me. I will enter this box in the near future and join the stream zooming along. What will my box say to someone watching?

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