There were flashing lights. People pouring out of our 300-unit apartment building. I’d just come back from Target with kitten food, toothpaste, and a gift. I called Seth to learn what happened; he was out jogging, he had no clue. I asked the nearest person what was going on; she happened to not speak English, shrugged me off. It was a fire alarm, duh. Not a drill. I walked around to the front of the building to see two fire trucks and bigger crowds. A period of waiting awaited me. I sat down on a bench to read on my phone, but the lights were everywhere. Distracting. I stood back up, feeling out of place. So I watched the red strobe lights make tree shadows dance on the doorway. I watched my neighbors, who all looked bored. Unafraid. A little put out by the inconvenience. Several had their dogs with them; I saw exactly one cat. I didn’t recognize anyone. I’ve lived with these people for nearly two years and I didn’t recognize a single one. But I’ve met people! I’ve catsat their cats. Maybe they were all out of town. Probably I didn’t look hard enough.
Not a drill
Not a drill
Not a drill
There were flashing lights. People pouring out of our 300-unit apartment building. I’d just come back from Target with kitten food, toothpaste, and a gift. I called Seth to learn what happened; he was out jogging, he had no clue. I asked the nearest person what was going on; she happened to not speak English, shrugged me off. It was a fire alarm, duh. Not a drill. I walked around to the front of the building to see two fire trucks and bigger crowds. A period of waiting awaited me. I sat down on a bench to read on my phone, but the lights were everywhere. Distracting. I stood back up, feeling out of place. So I watched the red strobe lights make tree shadows dance on the doorway. I watched my neighbors, who all looked bored. Unafraid. A little put out by the inconvenience. Several had their dogs with them; I saw exactly one cat. I didn’t recognize anyone. I’ve lived with these people for nearly two years and I didn’t recognize a single one. But I’ve met people! I’ve catsat their cats. Maybe they were all out of town. Probably I didn’t look hard enough.