The Man in the Window

by Jon Cohen

And Yank, who was slow, but also wise, said, You see, we help them with their dreams. They come into the store with a dream: If I can just find this spring, my back door will be fixed, and if my back door is fixed then all will be right in the world. A man will want an extension hose for his wife’s washing machine. If I get the extension hose, I can fix the washing machine, and if I can fix the washing machine, then my wife will love me, and if she loves me, then all will be right with the world. You see how it works? We’re part of it, Louis. Everything that comes out right, the dreams that come true, we make it all happen. See how happy they all are when they walk out of here? That’s the look of dreams coming true.

“Oh Atlas,” she whispered. “What will we do?” Atlas was very still. Then he said, “Remember as best we can, Gracie. Remember that on a summer day, the three of us stood a minute beneath a tree.”

I’m as old as you are, so what goes for you goes for me. And I’m not sure forgetfulness is our problem. It’s remembering. We have too much to remember. It gets in our way, distracts us, makes us believe we’re there when we’re really here.