It's raining in Osaka, and I'm heading back from the convenience store, taking a wrong turn somewhere on purpose when I pass two retro cabinet cabinets on the sidewalk. They're busted and rusted, and an umbrella sits on top of one. There's an old TV and a cardboard box, both soaked.

Trying to find a connection, I look around. There's a large post office across the street and a row of houses, from circa 1970's Japan. One my side of the street, there's a blowfish restaurant (closed), a Chinese restaurant (open) and a little further down, an apartment building. Somebody apparently dumped their trash. A while ago.

I continue down the street, getting sprinkled with rain and kicking myself for not taking that umbrella. Brian Ashcraft

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