see that tiny tiny kid in the background by ray school? i watched him ride off the playground, out the gate, rounding the sidewalk, and crossing fifty-seventh street. i kept looking at him throwing the ball for the dogs, looking over at his mom still on the playground, and finally starting to run after him at the same time as his mom. by then the lady from the green cleaners was there and waited till mom fetched him.

i was conscious of the kid but also of comet who might also have run after me, but otherwise i watched like he was the kid on his big wheel in the shining, immobilized in the audience way, rapt, except instead of following him like a spirit camera i watched him circling from a stationary point until he veered off. maybe the mother was in the same spell, thinking he would have his freedom and come circling back so proud.