at the sign of the carved wooden horse

[aslant]

eating lunch in the sunny lobby today i watched (while pretending to read my book studiously, meditatively, the body posed still and secure and sure) a large group of japanese businessmen (and one woman) filtered out from the elevators towards the front doors. they stopped and took pictures, briefly and efficiently, in front of the antique fire engine and the carved horse. i realized this and for a frantic half second wanted to leap out of the frame of their photos, but i looked up and saw i was too far off to the side. a second wave of their group walked out from the elevators. the whole group was uniform with dark expensive suits, briefcases, silent shoes. they were laughing, high spirits. they took another photo and i could hear the man holding the camera count down, using the only three japanese words i truly know. san, ni, ichi. three, two, one. the herd of them walked off, still laughing quietly and talking animatedly on their way out of the door.