The day’s rain continues to fall. I play Local Natives’ Cafe Amarilla as I stroll up Larchmont Avenue. Some shoeless children play in a children’s play gym, as their barefoot moms engage with them. The boutiques have already closed. The movie theater remains boarded up.

The song ends before I reach Starbucks. But not long before. It’s just a matter of sipping a hot beverage while awaiting Jack’s call. Surely an oil change can’t take that long.

Can it?

an hour later

another walk through

cold rain