Daily story, June 20, 2025

The paddling pool arrived just as the weather broke. I carried the rain-spattered box inside. We’ll want it again soon, I thought. Since I cannot leave a parcel unopened, I took it through to the kitchen and took a knife to the packing tape, but my hand slipped and made a long, clean incision through the plastic inside. I let it drop to the ground, and carefully put the knife back in the drawer. Then I went out into the garden, and lay below the storm.