Expansionism (Unfolding Saga, Pt. 2)

At the sink I tapped yesterday's disc of compressed espresso grounds out of the metal filter basket and rinsed it, scooped some fresh grounds into it, pressed it, locked the arm tightly into place and pressed go. Out the kitchen window two men were walking down the alley and I could hear them talking but I couldn't tell what they were talking about. Ryan was stirring.

I found an empty cardboard box and sat down on the floor next to my suitcase and began rummaging through my clothes, trying to think of what I might need. Ryan and I both figured it would get cold that night, somewhere in the lower 30's. 4 pairs of socks, 3 t-shirts, sweater, 2 pairs of pants, fleece. . . Ryan got up and walked into the living room and threw a pair of cotton gloves into the box on his way to the espresso machine. He cleared his throat, muttered "Uuugh", and then tap, tap, tap in the sink with the metal filter basket and a rinse. "My jeans, t-shirt, and tennis shoes will have to do for hiking," I thought.

I got cleaned up while Ryan was packing his bag and then he showered and before long we were down the stairs, through the courtyard and on the street at the car with Juneau. It was 8:30 AM. I was going to borrow a backpack from Steve, Dawn's neighbor, but even with the box our things fit nicely in the trunk. I opened the passenger door and Juneau jumped inside and stood on the back seat. I sat down and closed the door and Ryan got in and started the car.

We were at Dawn's duplex by 9:00 AM. Her neighbor, Steve, had agreed to let me borrow his pack and I can't remember if Ryan stepped inside his house to get it or if it was sitting in Dawn's living room when we arrived. I unpacked the box from the trunk of the car and on Dawn's front lawn I unpacked the box of my clothing into the pack. Juneau had run into the backyard and was carousing with Dawn's dog.

Later that morning while sitting in Dawn's living room I asked her, "What's your dog's name?"

"You haven't met Jeff?" she asked.

"Nope."

"Really?"

Smiling I put my hands over my heart and jokingly said, "I know, Dawn, it seems like we've known each other forever," only she continued packing her bag and said, "Yeah, I know."

But before that, once I finished packing my bag I made my way inside and Ryan was looking at the bags on the couch, looking at the doorway to the kitchen, looking at me. And then cleared his throat.