astute perceptions

Dad. 
 The word that often starts at fear, but ends in relief.  
 It provides protection that is invisible.  
 You just always knew it 
 and felt it.  
 It was always there. 
 Because when that word is spoken. 
 it feels like the worst things are okay. 
 Like every storm slows down.  
 Every tornado pauses.  
 Every fire mutes itself for a minute.  
 And every flood drains.  
 It’s words that have magic.  
 “Dad!” for one.  
 “Everything would be okay, son!” for another.  
 that changes the ferocity of events without changing anything.  
 The storm still has its fury. 
 The tornado still wrenches its guts.  
 The fire waits to roar again and the 
 flood will flood any second now.  But time has stopped.  
 You’re safe.  
 Shielded by something invisible.  
 You can’t tell what it is 
 Or where it comes from 
 Or that it’s even there 
 or was th...

There are consequences to Portfolio Night that are hard to fathom before they happen. One of them is forming close bonds with people who have a heart of gold. Recently in Miami during the craziness of the ADC festival, I realised that my German bank card wasn't working in the US. Thankfully everyone accepts credit cards in Miami - even cabs - so I wasn't left high and dry. But you can imagine my nervousness with very little cash in hand and only a credit card for the entire two weeks. (I immediately emailed my German bank, who funnily enough, replied in perfect English, 4 days later, asking me to resend the request in German, without which they couldn't possibly activate my card for the US. I believe they call this German humour.) On her last day, Laura Mendez​ came to me and handed me most of her remaining cash telling me that their trip had come to an end and that she'd like me to have the money, and that I could return it after I got back. She did this without...