early morning in the city

they put celine in charge, not me all she cared about were her salads she made one with watermelon and walnuts professor wilson loved it i mentioned that the bolsheviks were approaching from the east and he murmured please not now and reached for his handkerchief i turned to president martine the candlelight flickered on his pince-nez i said, the huns are approaching from the west and he turned to celine and complimented her again on the salad i received word this evening i told them that attila and trotsky are coordinating their final offensive i think, murmured professor wilson that celine has coordinated this dinner beautifully if you don't care, i cried why even put celine - or anybody - in charge i went on but static drowned out my words and their laughing replies i rushed out the french window and stood at the balcony the night was clear the city was quiet it hadn't rained in six months maybe, i thought they know something i don't