Walking down the street this evening

passed a parcel of pain in the form of firetruck, police officers, a man gesturing under a picnic table, and an ambulance. (He was a baby once, I thought.)

Down the street, the folksong quintet was playing something just a bit ominous. "Clap your hands, everybody, you'll feel better!"

There was a good crowd there. Not many were clapping. I joined them, also, not clapping, all immersed in a cloud of bad feeling / anxiety, but helped by the sight and sound of the musicians. Some tears came and went without spilling over.

The crowd watched firetruck come by and sound it's siren mournfully.

Then the mood lifted, just a bit.