April XIII

Across and Down

A Black Australorp rooster in a heather brown tweed blazer and cream cable-knit sweater standing at a walnut desk in a book-lined study, a Scrabble board and tiles before him, warm afternoon light through curtained windows, brass desk lamp glowing

The board had been between them for an hour, and neither had apologized for the silence. He placed the word with the certainty of a man who does not play for points — one plays, he had long believed, for the pleasure of the word itself.

13 April 2026

The Pimento