Sometimes I catch a sliver of a phrase that contains within it a shard of true insight both innocent and intentional. It could be from a book, A song, an animated film, a graphic novel, someone on the street, or an unexpected observation from my rapidly unraveling mind. Regardless of the source, with each fragment a tiny piece of an infinitely overwhelming puzzle becomes imperceptibly clearer. It is melancholy of the purest sort, consuming and unapologetic in demanding my remaining attention.

Well, my quest to obtain a Wii has failed utterly and spectacularly. How could this happen? With hundreds of thousands of these things circulating the country, why are they so unobtainable? Aside from the worthless cocks tying up systems in the pursuit of profit, I’m certain there are some supply-chain issues plaguing the undulating horror of Chicago. I got up early this morning thanks to my ever present alarm clock: the L train, took a shower, and killed some time to waltz down to the local Best Buy roughly twenty minutes before it opened.

Amanda, I won’t tell you not to worry over your mother, nor to break your vigil, though these past few weeks have been an unjust burden. Like the rest of your friends and family, I can hope for the best, and pray that is enough. Neither can I speak for her, though while I remained incoherent and delirious after my heart surgery, I was glad for the company. You’re doing everything right kid, just don’t go overboard.

Side note: all I have to say about the recent elections is: thank $deity for the new era of sweet, sweet gridlock. We’ve finally turned the master valve for the broken water main of our Democracy. I’m not saying the Democrats are the harbingers of change, but I’m expecting the next two years to be blissfully silent, which is almost as good. Susan, if you could do me a huge favor and bring this to the Foss reunion, I’d greatly appreciate it and gladly repay with anything you ask.

“See those things over there?” Sam asked, pointing down a surprisingly pristine sewer tunnel. Shadows lurched and shifted in a rolling mass, not quite yet exposed to the flashlight Sam sliced through the darkness. “Kinda.” Ben squinted where Sam was pointing. “What are they?” “Hell if I know. There’s a lot of ’em, they’re coming this way, and we’re in the God Damned sewers. You stay here and get autographs, I’m getting the hell out of here,” he quipped, already moving toward another open tunnel.