Holding glasses of vino tinto, they gazed across the bay, speculating about the silence under the sea. "Seaweeds swaying like palm trees," they all agreed, "quiet as the grave."

Tonight I saw a three legged bijon frise; it was missing its right hind leg. The dog jumped up on me when I entered my apartments elevator. I pet it before turning to its owner and saying, "He has three legs." The owner was a slightly overweight, middle aged woman who had on clear, chunky 80s reading glasses. She nodded at my comment lethargically. "He's very cute though," I said, apologetically. Before they exited the elevator I wondered if I'd said the wrong thing.