vegetable beds sprawl across the rocky backyard
interspersed by sprigs of wild grass left to grow beyond weeds
beyond lawnmower fodder
"in the summer I like to lay back here and watch the bugs in the air."
I imagine centipede bugs spider bugs hornet bugs.
"oh
(more) this over here is the garden. its organic, all of it, so if you have some seeds feel free to plant them but they must be organic. the same with fertilizers and pesticides. none of that garbage. do you garden much?"
I think back to the garlic I unintentionally sprouted in my kitchen. Now the sprigs are tall, but the tips are flat. A few months ago the guy who mows my lawn mowed over all of the garlic.
"If I'm not busy, maybe."
"Will you be working full time?"
"No but I'm usually busy. So probably not."
She stood akimbo, looked at me straight and said,
"What's the worst part about living with people?"
Having to answer scripted faux empathetic questions posed by landlords intend on disavowing their privilege as landlord, I wanted to say.
she smiled too much and didn't wear a bra.
"Ah. Here's the kitchen. You can eat whatever you want, but we prefer that you cook organic. especially organic meat."
"yeah, that's a nice idea but I'm a grad student and I eat a lot."
"I think of meat as an extra special treat. like chocolate. I only eat it sometimes.when I do I like it to be humane and sustainable."
I like it dead.Dead and red. If its dead, who cares how it died? Why reckon with the past? Sure in an ideal world all killing would happen humanely. if you're going to be picky about it, why not just eat plants and save the killing for weeds?(less)
