He loves to fix things.
Jigsaws are his favourite.
I see him trying to put the world together.
The puzzle constantly moves.
States of uncertainty.
Boundaries change before his eyes.
Countries disappear.
I offer to help.
Tell him to fix the corners first.
Hopefully the pieces will stay in place.
Beatrice Rao was inspired by her grandchild.
I was resting in the park
when he came over.
Wary of strays,
I tried to shoo him away.
He edged nearer
asking for a rub and then
started showing off.
He galloped on his three legs
Danced with the leaves
I picked up my crutches
And started following him.
Beatrice Rao likes observing the stray dogs in Mumbai and listening to their stories.
“Can you see the baby elephant in the sky?”
“Here’s a wild horse galloping.”
Mum taught me to see stories everywhere.
In the clouds. In the waves of the sea. Chipped paint on the wall.
Wreath in hand, I stand outside church, straining to hear her say, Look up, girl.
Beatrice Rao has just discovered flash fiction and is working on the art and the craft of it.