he asked his daughter to text him The moon was melting into the sky

                                                                          he liked the sentiment but thought he might be able to say it better

when she did text it to him he replied an oval of butter melting under a thin rind of blue marmalade

she replied Ooooh he heard her Ooooh more than read it her Oooohs were sensational you were fortunate if you ever heard one it made your skin go goosebumps 

that evening as he walked he pointed the moon out to anyone he crossed

crossing them – they hadnt noticed – something about being too busy to see to look up into the sky – Ah he replied you take things for granted

they blustered Obviously, you’re retired.

he didnt say one way or the other

he let them think what they wanted they would anyways

when he was a boy and learned what retirement was he laughed he knew he wouldnt be able to retire afford to retire

and he was okay with that even then

retirement meant having a career

                                    and there was no fucking way he was going to have one of those

he was passionate about Life living would suffer no confinement and its attendant horseshit

                                                                                                   he didnt own a suit

he had a sport jacket he bought forty years ago

a concession he made in order to attend a wedding

he made it a point to watch the sun set 

he made it a point if not to watch the moon then to go outside spend five minutes and say goodnight to it

he was usually at work before sunrise

0849,  Twosday,  11  2. 20

1105,  Twosday,  11  8. 20