Spring in the Hallway

"If nothing happens, the dust will drift and the heat deepen," from REASONS TO LIVE by Amy Hempel He meets her as he does everyday in the school hallway; conversations, the looking up and the looking down. If nothing happens, the dust will drift and the heat deepen. Tonight he meets her at his car; the shutting of a door the sound of rev and music, the driving here, the driving there. If nothing happens, the dust will drift and the heat deepen. Tomorrow he will meet her in the school hallway and find her staring at the carpet dust. The heat has deepened, but nothing has happened. Why she asks, are you looking up and down, and driving all around? Why the heat of car? Why the heat of music, and why the heat of this hallway? Summer is coming, George. SUMMER! I fear the dust has settled.