tardigrade

a tardigrade survived exposure to outer space.

i read that on the break room computer while the toaster was burning one side of a bagel and accusing the other side of sabotage. the article said the tardigrade had been exposed to outer space and survived. i said, "good for you," because nobody was there to hear me except the fridge, which is still running for office.

i counted thirty-seven moth-shaped holes in the paper towel dispenser.

they were not holes. they were the little flowers stamped into the metal, but once i saw them, the dispenser had a moth problem. i moved three chairs in front of it. a customer asked if we were closed. i told her we were open and the wall was under review. she left with a soup that had too much sodium and not enough fear.

the tardigrade is a microscopic animal. it can curl up when conditions get bad and wait. this is called cryptobiosis, which sounds like a password a landlord would use to enter your apartment. i do not like that the animal has a professional response to the universe trying to kill it. i do not like that a moth has wings, dust, and the confidence to appear beside my face.

i checked the back door twice. there was no moth. there was one receipt stuck to the floor, shaped badly enough to become one if i let it.

the tardigrade went to outer space and came back. the moth only has to enter the room.

please keep the lights on until morning.