(For Bruce)

Like Driftwood

I love peeing off the balconies. We have 312 in total,
divided among the 16 floors that I'm restricted to. After
work, I make my dinner and then watch the sunset from one of
the western balconies. Every Sunday we're all given a
cigarette each, and sometimes we talk to each other, me on
my top floor with the guy above me on his lowest. It's best
to smoke with other human beings around. Otherwise, I'd
rather they not see me when I pee off the balconies, or pick
my nose, or run screaming through my 5th floor until I
collapse, sobbing on the dark balconies to the north, facing
the sea.

That was the deal, and I don't regret it. Complete and utter
privacy, 16 floors of freedom and Sunday cigs, in return for
me being a productive member of society and doing my job for
5 hours a day until I die.

But then, sometimes I see, far below, pieces of trees
floating in the sea, green leaves touching the base of our
tower. I'm not jealous... I just wonder where they come
from.