Cody Staebler

Who are you?

            A man of no massive height or diminutive stature, who is easily lost in a crowd, and has a look of kindness in his eyes. He is advanced in age, but not quite to the point of expecting the end of his life. His family has grown and moved out. He is empty at work and cold like a robot in his actions, already done with the working part of his life, waiting until the day closure comes to him upon swift darkness. Not the end of his worries because he is content to see what surprises happen, and knows that he cannot have anything taken away that wouldn’t be in time. He contemplates all the things that have no answers. He is not one to be concerned with looks as he is balding and what hair remains is white like old paper, but he paints the house, mows the lawn, and other things he has done his whole life, for his wife. One day, while taking a break from mowing his lawn, he gets a glass of iced tea and sits on his front porches steps. As he sips his tea and watches the shapeless clouds, he lets his thoughts wander.

A stranger who walks by asks the man a simple question.

            “Who are you?”

            The stranger continues his walk when the man does not respond. He is mad at the rudeness the man has shown, but expects it from an old man whose time has passed. The old man is sad, but cannot answer. The man realizes that his name is not enough.