Sunday, two bowls, no big plans
The evening before a busy week becomes a chance to stop preparing for a moment.
An original fictional story. Characters and events are imagined.
The list
Sam had written a list for Monday, then another list for everything that had to happen before Monday. By six o’clock the lists seemed to have acquired their own furniture in the apartment. His sister called to ask if he wanted company. “Only if you do not have any useful advice,” he said. She promised to bring none.
A small decision
They chose two rice bowls and put their phones beside the keys. While they waited, Sam watered the plant he had been meaning to water all afternoon. His sister looked through a box of old photographs. In one picture they were both wearing enormous winter coats, holding paper cups as if the cups were prizes.
Nothing to optimize
Dinner arrived while they were still arguing about where that photograph had been taken. They sat by the window and opened the containers. His sister described a very ordinary walk she had taken that morning. Sam realized he had not heard anyone describe an ordinary walk in detail for quite a long time.
Before Monday
After dinner, the list was still on the counter. The week had not become shorter or easier. But for an hour it had stopped being the only thing in the room. His sister put the photograph against the fruit bowl. Sam left it there, beside the things he would see when he made coffee.