safe from traffic

a woman walk out of the coffee shop to her car. scratches her nose while examining a ding on the hood of her car before opening the door. sipping a mocha java she pulls away.

a large black man in flannel threads and thrift store jeans walks behind her toward the liquor store where he will buy a pack of Basics and a fifth of Evan Williams.

it's cold enough to see your breath but the air doesn't smell of snow yet North Face jackets and wool hats are being doned. flumes are open. chimneys cleaned. firewood is on sale by the side of the road.

she told her child they were in the "black" area and he could not go outside.
she told her child to stay within the black fenced in area so he would be far enough from the street. safe from traffic.