Dada 64

Everyone knew that work  as much as the rain would arrive soon. Only the pirates thought different, little wonder the rulers  categorised them as ‘vagabondi.’

Then the street lights suddenly came on, softening the first stars that appeared in the night sky. I felt my eyes starting to hurt after watching the changing light and masses of people swirl around for so long. The lights made the damp pavements glisten and the smell of the trees seem greener. Every few minutes the head- lights of the buses would  light up someone's  clothes or  hair fall down from under a scarf, a smile or a silver bracelet would be caught in an arc of light like a film itself.

A little while later, as the trams passed by less and less I decided to go home; the house would be empty that was true but if it was only me and it would not be the case for long. Someone would always rent Dada’s room. You can’t get these apartments anymore and the landlord would be glad of the money. Anything was good that would  keep me away from thoughts of the DaDa.Even my mother and father who I hated with their swollen dreams under the beneficent gaze of the authorities served a purpose in distracting me.

The night grew even darker above the trees and lights, and the streets below began to empty little by little, until the first cat slowly crossed the road, deserted once more.

Then I thought I should have some supper. My legs hurt a little from stopping and starting so much on the way home back. I bought some bread and noodles, prepared my meal and a hot pepper sauce and ate it in a bowl while standing up at the window. I smoked another cigarette, stood between the frames but it was cooler now and I felt a little uncomfortable. I closed the windows against the river and the stars the way I had always done.  As I stepped back into the room, I saw, reflected in the mirror, at the edge of the table some bits of bread were lying next to Dada old storm lamp. He kept it so many years and would like to tell stories around it.