Musings

[The same photo-insert appears in the Seattle Times that appears in the local trash magazines and online. There is a disclaimer that the Times is in no way associated with the publication, which is multiple pages of color and black and white images.]

( The Carnival )

The red mailboxes scattered about the carnival seem entirely harmless, vaguely cylindrical, of American make, painted in haphazard fashion with rough brushstrokes relatively recently. They sit on white wood pickets, and next to each there is a waist-high wood podium, rickety and heavily weighted, with two strings dangling from the side. To one string is fastened a pink pencil that never dulls; to the other string, a marker that leaves deep red in its path. Each podium sports a pad of cheap paper, pink and lined, of the kind one can tear the top sheet from the rest. There always seems to be another paper when one is torn away.

The podiums are labeled with little wood signs, painted white and laid with large black lettering: "5 cents." Upon closer inspection there is a subtitle: "LETTER TO YOUR LOVE." Upon even closer inspection there is smaller lettering under the word 'love': a hand painted addition says, "or enemy."

The mailboxes, rather than opening like the traditional kind should, have a slit in the top, making tampering difficult. A similar slot in the podium takes the nickel donation--though the penny-pincher may find his or her letter is delivered regardless of payment.