Exercises for the Recovery of Childhood

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You are waiting—waiting for what? For snow, you are waiting for snow to begin. Snow has been forecast for just after nightfall, falling, it will fall through the night, the season’s first snowfall. As wintry dusk falls over the street, you settle into a chair with a view of the window. You let your attention drift to the school day tomorrow—will the snowfall wipe it away? You remember that you are waiting, waiting for snow to begin. You focus again past the window and consider the dull gray sky. You let your attention drift to the temperature—is it close enough to freezing for snow to pile up? You remember that you are waiting, waiting for snow to begin. You focus again past the window. The sky has grown dark, now. You let your attention drift to the quantity of light—will you see the first snowflakes falling without turning the porch light on? You remember that you are waiting, waiting for snow to begin. You focus again past the window, where no snow has fallen. You let your attention drift to the radio broadcast, nearly audible from the other room. You let your attention drift to drifting snow, fields and roads covered with snow, snow in the first light of morning. You let your attention drift. You let your attention drift.