it was an uncomfortable perception

he replied to it

                   I think theres something wrong with my eyes

he had to say it out loud to hear how it sounded outside his head

he sounded convincing

                            I think theres something wrong with my eyes

yes  convincing

what was that that was wrongthat pricked his mindthat made him suddenly thenterribly uncomfortable 

he hoped someone else at some timesome other time perhaps experienced what he saw

it happened once 

he rubbed his eyes out of focus he thoughthe had been looking down into his coffee cup

then again

he didnt rub his eyeshe knew what he saw

he knew it the first time

two women had gotten out of their cars across the street and walked towards himtowards the coffee shop

at a distance beside their cars he saw young women late teensearly twenties but as they crossed the street they aged

they noticed him watching them

he preempted them A beautiful afternoonyes

they smiledthey werent creeped by his attention Yes. It is a beautiful afternoon.  

the second said I’m happy you noticed

he smiled and said Truth be known you compelled me

she smiled  a colour rose in her face  Why, thank you.

No  Thank you

that was it

a brief innocent acknowledgment a quiet flirtation

when the women left they again exchanged pleasantries Have a fine day

Thank you. I hope you have a fine afternoon and evening.

I appreciate that Thank you

they crossed the street

he watched

they grew younger with every stride

the second woman again she waved goodbye gaylyyouthfully to him before entering her car

they werent older women late thirtiesmaybe forty

late thirtiesmaybe forty on the coffeeshop porch under the enormous live oak that threw a gorgeous shade to cool patrons on hot afternoons  just up from a meandering creek

late teensearly twenties at their cars

it happened again

I think theres something wrong with my eyes

                                                as they walked towards him they aged step by stepthey aged until they were on the porch and were the age they were

they were still attractive

their features softened

they were womanly rounded

whereas at their cars across the street they were girlish eager  adventurous   as youth is   the world their oyster utterly confident

he wouldnt say they had been broken

what was wrong with his eyes

he decided nothing  there wasnt anything wrong with them

Theres nothing wrong with my eyes

                                       he had to say it out loud to hear how it sounded outside his head

Not a damn thing wrong with my eyes

convincing

for whatever reason that afternoon for those three women  he was shared tangential time 

time warmed up to himsmiled on him 

revealed what was 

what is

though had someone witnessed him in kindNO no  hed have to think on it  he didnt knowNot really  how hed feel about it

photographs presented that

                              but they were static  most of them didnt provide enough context to place oneself

thereby

          Out of Time

while these three women were In Time

selfishly

           he hoped itd happen again

0135,  Monday,  15  6. 20

1221,  Day-between-Two-Ts,  17  6. 20