“How is your new job?” A crumb escapes, falling.

“I am thankful to have one.” Careful, collected, but unable to avoid my family’s stream of questions. I reflect, the way my bargain-bin cassette instructed.

A miniature rake scrapes across the artificial garden on my desk. A grain of sand escapes.

Raphael Bastek is a Polish-American office worker. He lives with his beloved cat, Yuna.