Nearby, a bench wrote its memoirs. “Wood You Believe It,” it was titled.
Chapters included “Chewing Gum and Other Betrayals” and
“Conversations at Midnight Between Strangers Who Pretend Not to Notice
Each Other Crying.” The foreword was penned by a particularly chatty
pigeon with literary aspirations.
Over in a clocktower that only told time when it felt like it, a weasel
painted portraits of feelings that didn’t have names. One canvas was a
blend of periwinkle and hesitation. Another was mostly teal, with streaks
of “almost.” Visitors to the gallery wept, then sneezed, then donated
buttons in appreciation.
In the land of unmade beds, dreams spilled across the floor and tangled
into each other like spaghetti in a washing machine. One dream—half
elevator, half childhood memory—climbed onto the windowsill and
announced, “I’m leaving to become a jazz musician.” Everyone clapped.
No one asked why.
A cactus ran for mayor of a tiny sandbox village. His slogan: “Sharp on
Policy, Soft on Hugs.” He debated a broken rake on live television. The
rake’s policies were full of holes, literally and metaphorically. The cactus
won in a landslide, though the sand was quick to point out it wasn't really
into politics.
Waffles began attending therapy. “I feel… boxed in,” one confessed. “All
these squares… they define me.” The therapist, a pancake with syrup
credentials, nodded and replied, “Let’s talk about your layers.” Meanwhile,
toast just sat quietly, hoping no one asked about the incident with the
butter knife.