My Cardboard Balcony

The Mob Was Swarming by Belinda Roddie The mob was swarming up the avenue like an unctuous blob leaving a slick trail of anger and misinformation. You were helplessly watching against the rail of your balcony, coffee cooling in your mug, as the slimy monstrosity oozed down the street, both growling and howling like a wounded animal. You could see the eyes - the eyes! - all glowing from the mass, tinged with the colors of rage and denial, stained teeth grinding and shattering like glass as the lies they believed in turned to bile in their throats. And thus, the mob would swallow all in its path, continuing to grow.

I was craving a sandwich, and I needed some cash, so I made a mad dash to the ATM to pick up some green stash. The blinking lights on the console gave me super grim news; my bank account was wiped out (good ol' financial blues). So I sat by the bus stop, begging for change, aching for two slices of bread with cheese and meat that was free range.