today around 1:45 i turned the corner at 14th and 9th and walked north

a woman had dropped her trader joe's grocery bag

she was helped in picking it up

her and three others carefully held out freshly lit cigarettes

it was raining

i passed them and watched two women saying goodbye outside a bakery

then a woman who worked in the bakery came out holding two receipts in one hand

she talked to one of the women and the other looked concerned, said a few things but left as she had intended to