Em and the Big Hoom

by Jerry Pinto

I felt, instinctively, that when you had enough words like hypothesis, you would be able to deal with the world.

I was ambivalent. I think I am ambivalent right now. I think I am an ambivalence, toon taan toon taan toon taan, with a blue light on my forehead.

Victories evanesce quickly enough. Failure hangs around you like a cloak and everyone is kind and pretends not to see it.

You can cry in public as long as you do not sob. Tears are transparent. If you’re walking fast, if the sun’s too strong, no one notices. Sobs intrude. They push their way into people’s consciousness. They feel duty-bound to ask what has happened.