Beyond Forever

We have two headless bison in the basement that stand against the north wall. One of them is bleeding oil from its chest. This caused alarm and the oil man came last night to asses the damage and replacement cost. These tanks were built back when things lasted forever and so far they have done well for the 29 years we've lived here. But now we are now beyond forever.

There's a new additive in the heating oil that has scoured the tanks creating holes, the oil man said. We are replacing a tank a day.

They were put in when doctors endorsed smoking in cigarette ads. And there was a speakeasy in this basement with a bar and a secret door and big fans for venting the cigarette smoke. The former residents cooked roasts drank whiskey and smoked and gambled down here. The women wore dresses wool coats and with matching hats and heels and men wore hats suits and brown shoes versus pajamas and slippers to pay a visit. 

Now here we are. The original owners of the house would not imagine life today especially our current political situation. 

How many families can we hide and feed down here? That is the question I ask my husband.