Once Emanuel realized that for him time no longer had a starting or stopping point, he felt free. It’s like a  Möbius strip, I can cut it down the middle line and it opens into a skinnier Möbius strip. Or I can slice it in thirds and have it open in two pieces chained together. Hmm, I’m sure that must mean something. He frowned and whispered. “I’m glad I’m neither a Möbius clockmaker nor timekeeper. Sit back and enjoy the ride!

This time he was riding a goose, one off the lead gander, flying east in a crooked V towards Lake Michigan. A murmuration of starlings over the freeway leading into downtown Milwaukee caused them to veer to the north so he was unable to peer down at the Summerfest grounds. But the flock’s honking would have drowned out even the Grateful Dead. Instead they headed towards the Lighthouse in Lake Park.

He could make out the bronze statue of Brigadier General Erastus B. Walcott on his horse. And shortly, as the geese came around, he saw that the gulls had given the General a head of grey hair.

They were now slowly approaching the lagoon and the Vietnam Veterans Memorial Park with its three red granite columns. The lead goose honked as they descended, banking for a gentle splashdown. Emanual drew his knees up to his chest and when his ride waddled onto the bank at the south end of the lagoon he was able to step off, his feet still dry.

He walked, head bent, towards the columns and largest of the granite pillars. The sun was almost directly overhead. Soon his annual visit would be over and he wouldn’t return for another year. He knew it was a year by the sun and shadows, even though it felt as if only a few short days separated his visits. Time no longer matters; it was like watching summer reruns.

Kenneth M. Kapp was a Professor of Mathematics, a ceramicist, a welder, an IBMer, and yoga teacher. He lives with his wife in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, writing late at night in his man-cave. He enjoys chamber music and mysteries. He was a homebrewer for more than 50 years and runs whitewater rivers on the foam that’s left. His essays appear online inhavokjournal (.)com and articles in shepherdexpress (.)com. Please visit www(.) kmkbooks(.)com.