Walking the Dog

Walking the dog, across open fields with the sun breaking through the haze of morning. From the jukebox walkman (for a change - I usually like the peace), come the opening bars of Out Of This World. "This is your day," sings h, and I wonder why at the same time as acknowledging the inspiration. Fields, haze, one foot in front of the other as the song unfolds and reaches its climax. I feel slightly moved, releasing a sigh just warm enough to be visible on the still dewy air. My head tips back, leading my still-waking eyes to focus on a B-52 bomber. As it lazily crosses the sky, no doubt heading back to Fairford after a mission, I am surprised I didn't notice it before. I decide to change the soundtrack to something appropriate, but even as my fingers press the buttons, the huge aircraft shimmers into the mists of morning. Only the first line of the song is reached before the plane has disappeared altogether, the morning sun's gentle rays obscuring its dark shape as I am left with the music and the words, "Can you make it... on your own?"

And I wonder why.