From: Caleb
Date: November 19, 2007 3:41:50 PM EST (CA)
To: Camille Croteau
Subject: Bolero

Dear Camille,

I wake up and my eyes are deep in my head. 3 feet deep into my head. Oh the world is cold today. I can tell because the windows are open. I opened the windows to diminish the stench of my apartment. I light a White Native Cigarette. I make a good pot of coffee. I turn on the radio. Benny Goodman's swing take of Ravel's Bolero is playing. Then they play the orchestral transcription, performed by the Montreal Symph. Orch. I take some off-colour milk in my coffee. It has curdled slightly. I do believe that life is purposeful and good. There is a message on my phone, from Levi, who tells me that he's had an all-night drunk, compounded by cocaine, and he invites me to share the wealth. He tells me he loves me. Harvest Moon is playing in the background. I save the message. I cannot go to see him, because I have to go to work. Ravel's Bolero is 15 minutes long. I wait the entire thing through, brush my teeth, and put on 2 pairs of pants, ready to go out into the day.

Fare well, Camille.

Caleb

**********

From: Camille Croteau
Date: November 19, 2007 4:16:57 PM EST (CA)
To: Caleb
Subject: Re: Bolero

Dear Caleb,

I wake up and my eyes are doing the backstroke. 3 feet deep into the sea. Oh the world is dizzy today. I can tell because the doors are open. I opened the doors to diminish their hazard in my apartment. I light a Cedar Vanilla incense stick. I swirl my spoon in a good pot of yogurt. I turn on the radio. Louis Armstrong's jazz take of What a Wonderful World is playing. They play the entire song, performed by who knows. I take some off-colour maple flakes in my yogurt. It has softened slightly. I do believe that life is absurd and beautiful. There is a message on my phone, from Caleb, who tells me that it's 9:30, maybe 10:30 cause he can't see the clock, and invites me to share a conversation. He tells me he hasn't seen me in a little while. I hear no music playing in the background. I delete the message. I cannot go to see him, because I have to sleep. Louis Armstrong's What a Wonderful World is 3 minutes short. I wait the entire thing through, brush my teeth, and put on a pair of legwarmers, ready to fade out into the night.

Fare well, Caleb.

Camille