A shared umbrella.
7 July 2006
A year ago, I wrote in a short story heavily influenced by experience about the symbolism of a shared umbrella—in every case of its existence, it has been a witness to a basic humanitarian act—a routine compassionate sacrifice—its beneficiaries shoulder to shoulder, perhaps cheek to cheek, in the barest of shelters from harsh attacks from above (’above’ in its most general and immediate sense). Its occupants share a mutual interest in warmth and dryness, and though they can neither be warm nor dry, the empathy is perhaps more satisfying.