Today I Did Not Thank God

Summer - Hannah

you are sitting in a round room made of red clay. the floor is dirt. there is a small opening in the wall to your left. there are three ceramic pots around a stone fire pit in the center of the room.

✝ look up  

you look up and see a venting oculus. you may be tall enough to poke your head through it, were you standing.

✝ stand up  

you stand up and peak through the vent, feeling the morning sun on your skin, and breathing the fresh summer air. you smile, as you lower back into the room.

✝ look opening  

you see a collection of items by the opening. you take a closer look.
dough, oil, wood, and a couple of matches.

✝ put wood in pit

you place the wood in the fire pit.

✝ light fire with matches 

you light the wood, but it quickly goes out. you have one match remaining.

✝ put oil in pit 

you douse the wood and stones in oil. the pit is glistening.

✝ light fire with matches 

you light the wood, and it catches immediately. the fire whirrs.

✝ put dough in pot 

you place the dough in one of the ceramic pots.

✝ put pot in pit

you put the ceramic pot in the fire. the smell of bread wafts pleasantly through the air.

shufshufshufshuf

your son unexpectedly enters through the entrance expectantly. you thank god, and decide to pray.

Fall - Samuel

you are in a large gray room made of stone. the steel furnace roars. the vent is obstructed, and reflects smoke back into the room. your eyes are closed, and they will not open. you hold your breath, tightening your focus. you feel the presence of your mother.

✝ look

you cannot look as your eyes are closed. your chest tightens.

✝ listen

the fire crackles and pops, dominating. your lungs are nearly bursting.

✝ breathe

smoke from the fire fills your lungs. you cough, cough, cough. then, you smile. the little lungs that could. you feel the urge to pray.

✝ pray

your voice echoes.

“thank you god for the smoke filled air. fresh air is only so awesome in comparison.”

you begin to hold your breath again. you are hungry, which reminds you of your mother. you begin to cry, and continue to smile.

Winter - Samuel

you are in a long black room made of wood.
there is no exit.
there is no fire.
there is no vent.

Spring - Nathan

you are in any old room.

✝ today i felt no dirt on my skin.

i do not understand today.

✝ today i lit no fire with matches.

i do not understand today.

✝ today i put no pots in pits.

i do not understand today.

✝ today i smelled no smoke.

i do not understand today.

✝ today i did not see my mother.

you did not see your father either.

✝ today i did not thank god, though i did cry, and i did smile.  

Samuel’s voice echoes.