the warmest place in my house is the vent under the pink tiled sink. sometimes i sit there and read old magazines that i've found while unpacking. i am happy sitting on the carpet and going thru old boxes of saved faded things and placing them in deliberate arrangements. quiet and the cat rubbing against my back and i bought my dad a pair of horton the elephant socks for xmas today. i don't give my dad presents, nor he me, but i had already grabbed them and paid before i talked myself out of it.

horton used to be my last name.

one xmas my dad stayed up late the night before folding and glueing tiny chairs and tables out of paper and toothpicks for me. they were from a book and they were all carefully brought to life with colored pencils and he made me a wooden box with windows cut in it. my dollhouse. and i drew pictures to hang on the walls inside and i imagined i lived there, not with him.