The writing jobs have been slow and cash flow is tight. The wife takes matters into her own hands to cut expenses. She’s talking to herself out loud and curt enough for me to hear: Eating out, gone. Unused gym membership, gone. Cable, gone. We adjust to this simpler way of life, which is more time at home, without cable. What she failed to consider was the effect on our donkey. Law & Order is on cable. We try to appease him with daytime network shows with a court-like environment: Judge Judy. Judge Mathis. Judge Joe Brown. None of them do the trick. Our donkey becomes unruly, kicking the back door each day around three o’clock, then taking his frustration out on the aluminum siding. I estimate the damage. It’s two-plus years’ worth of cable in repairs.

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I restored the cable for our donkey. I know the math doesn’t work in my favor in this hard season, but it’s not about the math. That small gesture also restored our internet service, which prompted me to purchase a discounted box of Dutch Masters cigars online. I thought about writing our donkey a note, suggesting he might want to share them with the foxes and other wildlife who find their way to our firepit. But our donkey has never been a strong reader. Instead I left them without the cellophane wrapping by the remote control, which was another gesture worth more than words.

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Header photograph by Jen Ippensen
Header artwork by Jordan Keller-Wilson