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the night sky is clear -- street lights humming, bathing the boulevard yellow.
i can hear my breathing.
i can feel my chest rise and fall.
cigarette pursed between the teeth.
the dog is pulling, so i let Ellroy off the leash.
he gallops.
the little guy gets airborne and skids to a stop, sensing something.
looks back to me, like a beacon of safety/security.
so i go to him.
his eyes are big, black and wet.
pick him up, he clings.
literally -- paws curled on my shoulder.
nestles his face against mine.
it's grizzled right now.
haven't shaved in quite some time.
don't need to.
but it's grizzled and cold and numb and the smoke drifts up.
climbs my face and waters my eyes.
Ellory figets.
he licks.
nuzzles.
and i continue down the street, towards the mailbox.
netflix needs to be mailed.
but it's goddamn cold tonight.
nose froze, ears tingling, lips wet with chapstick.
Ellroy nuzzles again.
he's scared.
not sure why, but he's scared.
i'm really not sure.
maybe it's the emptiness of the street.
the asphalt glowing yellow, humming.
maybe that's it.
or the quiet.
it is very quiet tonight, spare the containers down at the docks.
they echo up along the coast, climbing the hill and we hear it.
ships setting sail to faraway ports -- horns blown twice, out the breakwater and over the horizon they go...
not even the ghetto bird is out tonight. no WHOOP WHOOP WHOOP overhead.
no spotlights ablaze among empty thouroufares.
it's just me and Ellroy.
walking.
just me and Ellory and I think I see someone out in the distance.
a dark figure, cutting across the street.
hunched and direct, going somwheres.
but he crosses, i loose him.
Ellroy nuzzles.
Ellroy licks.
I set him down and he just looks up at me.
Just sits his butt down and looks.
I ask him what's up.
his head cocks left, right.
maybe he understands, because he whines.
so I pick him up and we head out under the yellowed halogens, all alone -- the cars off at bars; shopping centers; work; who knows.
the people are gone.
maybe inside their homes.
with family.
friends.
i inhale deep.
hold it.
hold it.
and exhale.
Ellory and I keep walking towards the mailbox.
-- the night very cold. very empty.
