Listen

Flask reports a challenge to sit and listen, in her neck of the woods. Intrigued, I sat out and listened.

Mostly, traffic, since it was about 5PM. Cars, and trucks idling, and the distant hum of traffic, perhaps even from the freeway. Squealing breaks, and tires. Funny, how newer tires squeak on the pavement at so little provocation. Motorcycles, busses, the odd snatch of a radio, a car door closing punctuated the dull roar. The bouncing clatter of a trailer behind a pick-up, a siren far away.

I could hear the "spare change" couple down and across the street shouting in their loud and carrying rasps. A cough, a woman's laugh, distant male voice,a neighbor opening his door, Spike barking, a shopping cart rattling along the sidewalk. Odd how clearly I could hear the distinct clatter of gears on bicycles rolling by. A small plane overhead. Thunder in the distance, wind in the trees.

And birds, the scrub jays claws as they land on the porch, pick up and carefully choose which peanut in the shell they want first, a whoosh of wings as they flap and soar away. The pretty finch songs, more distant chirps of unknown birds, a caw from a probable crow or blackbird. The jingle of a dog collar, the train-like click clack of a skateboarder. Faint footsteps.


Another bus, D opens the door, time to eat.