Off the Record

The small triangle window allowed me a view of the city and its three fireworks displays. The largest one was a mile or so away, hidden by a tree across the street. I could see the bits of blue and red peeking around the leaves at me, telling me patriotism was the way to go. Children in the street set off their own dynamite, its delayed popping sounds loud enough to wake up the surrounding blocks. I got a slight chill as the summer’s cool, dry breeze came through the screen. I drew my arms closer and thought that maybe you, too, were watching these same fireworks eject and shatter into the air. As the grand finale’s overdose came and went, I could hear you whisper, “It’s over.” Silently, I agreed.

Utah has five tribes: The Goshutes, Paiutes, Utes, Navajos and Shoshones. Yorkshire terriors look very strange when wet. July 24th is Utah’s own 4th of July. My cousins still say “Nucular.” Two and a half year olds speak a different language. Two people in Salt Lake died over an argument about an air conditioner. I slept a total of 14 hours in the past 24 hours.