My Cardboard Balcony

by Belinda Roddie "Exit stage right, furiously making out with a bear." "What?" "Seriously, one of the best stage directions ever written by man." "Wait...are you talking about Shakespeare?" "Yup!  Winter's Tale." "...I'm pretty sure the direction is "Exit, pursued by a bear." "Oh, yeah?" "Yeah." "Eh." "What?" "Pursued by a bear, making out with a bear - what's the difference, really?" "Apparently there's no difference in your book." "Just because you haven't furiously made out with a bear in your life - " "And I don't plan to." "Not the animal!" "Still don't plan to." "What, do I not count?" "Shut up." "Awww, is someone shy?" "Shut up. It never happened. I was drunk." "Oh, Aaron...that's m...

"Kit, I need you to get me a new measuring cup! And a tablespoon. These guys are all stained and cracked." "Done and done!" I replied, shouldering my coat and grabbing my car keys. My mom let out an exhale from the kitchen as I left the room - a non-verbal "Thank you," in her book. My old van waited for me to wake it up from its groggy winter nap, and I started down the road toward the closest store.