Winter Jackets

I love being buttoned up in jackets in winter. I like that feeling of being snug, strapped in, protected against the cold, it's like a mother's love. Something to hold you all the way through. Secure. A good fit. A great fit. Double breasted is best, a double row of buttons buttoning me in. Right up my exposed flank, my front to the world, you might say.

That's the one thing I like about the winter. All dressed up to play.

Oh, and the cold on my face in the mornings, it's bracing, it reminds me that I am alive. The fresh air against my skin, giving me life, and energy, and breath, blowing any the stuffiness away. 

Air blowing into us. Air blowing over us. Air blowing around us. Giving life, and energy and drive, lifting us up.

Rub your hands together bracing. Heading out into the world facing. Grey skies above. All dressed up with love. Out in the world in a hug. Dressed up snug as a bug. Layers and layers. Just your face, hands and ankles, maybe, exposed to the cold day. The sky above grey. What a fabulous day.

Walking that way. Walking wrapped in warmth. It is a powerful way to travel A to B, steps in front of one another, a winter jacket wrapped around the tops of my thighs front and back, tightly counting the steps I take, until I get to where I want to go.

“Jeremy, how are you?”

“I’m good, Will, how are you?”

“Cold enough for you?”

“Cold enough to turn my balls to brass,” says Will. “How about you?”

“I don’t mind the cold, my balls, and I, are quite well.”

“Good to hear.”

“Is that the clinking that I just heard now?”

“I’m sorry?”

“Your brass balls? I’m sure there was a clink, clink, clink, just now.”

“Good hearing.” Will laughs.

“You will have to see someone about that? It could prove painful by tomorrow.”

“Tomorrow?” Will laughs again. “I’m feeling the pain now. Brrrr.” Will shook with the cold.

“I guess we can’t expect anything else now it’s winter.”

“Ah, the changing of the seasons,” says Will wistfully.

“I generally don’t mind the cold, it is the dark that I don’t like so much.”

“Nearly the winter solstice.”

“Then we start heading back in the other direction.”

“You must hate the winter solstice.”

“Worst day of the year.” 

Both Jeremy and Will laugh.

“But soon it will be lighter again,” says Jeremy. “By the end of July things are definitely on the improve.”

“Yes Spring, to get us all going again.”

“Definitely,” says Will. “Where are you heading?”

“Where am I heading? That is one of life’s great questions.”

“Ha ha. Where are you heading today? Not in life.”

“Oh,” says Jeremy. “To the bakery and then on with the rest of my life. How about you?”

“To the zoo to meet up with a girl I met out last week.”

“First date?”

“Yes, yes, first date. I think it will be great.”

“You are brave,” says Jeremy. “Taking a girl you have just met on a first date to the zoo.”

“Why do you say that?”

“Too much of a metaphor for the lives we lead.”

“What a funny thing to say.”

“Well, you don’t want her to see the primates flinging shit when they don’t get their way.”

“You say the funniest things Jeremy, you really do.”

“You don’t want to her to think what we might do when we are bored, or trapped.”

“Really?”

“Do you think she might look at you and wonder how much shit you might throw, and how often when you are put under pressure? Do you?”

“No.” Will laughs. “No, I don’t.”

“Our closest relatives, it’s got to make you wonder?”

“Make you wonder, perhaps.”

“Yes, yes, I guess.” Jeremy smiles broadly, he can feel the creases in both his cheeks.

“Only you, Jeremy.”

“Well then, enjoy your day at the zoo.”

“Will do.”

“Will, will.” Jeremy laughs.

“Ha?”

“You said Will do, but surely it should be Will, will.”

“Oh, I see what you did there.”

Will laughs.

Jeremy laughs.