Thursday, September 13, 2007

Yesterday at lunch at the mall south of here.

Among the food court restaurants from many countries, and surprisingly good food.

A table under the skylight.

Two old men. With hats and jackets from 40 years ago. Playing cards. The cards were bent and dull- the arc of fingernails. The game wasn't recognizable. They spoke in tongues. Of some kind or other. Just not immediately recognizable either.

But I suspect it was slavic in nature. Just because.

And I think that they probably have memories of apple trees in bloom in the old country and the thighs of young peasant women. And the smell of the soil after it rained. And the smell of the machinists shop. And the smell of the ocean while crossing. And the smell of cabbage in the apartment hallway in the new place.

3 comments:

Anonymous said...

The Italian chop salad (with ceasar dressing) from the pasta place near the magazine stand is pretty good if you watch out for the starer in overalls who shakes his knee nervously, he's a serial killer, pretty sure.

(S)wine said...

wow,nice image.
and i believe you that they were eastern europeans.

slyboots2 said...

I can only hope that he is a serial killer. The Pacific NW needs more of those.

And thanks Lx- it was one of those really rich moments that I enjoyed studying.