PHOTOS AND TEXT BY AMBER KIDNER

Says our resident contributor based in India, “Delhi is a stressful city to live in. Most people say so and that is my experience as well. I’m often drained of words and empathy and playful impulses. Author Lydia Davis and her very short stories guide me once again in attempting to apply words and images to some of our family’s encounters these past few months.”

TINY BALL OF FUR

We drove down tight and cluttered afternoon streets. We parked our car and exited it. We climbed a dark flight of stairs, passing open doors with people staring out at us. At the top of the stairs, we were led into a dimly lit room with a bed against the wall for us to sit on. And in the corner was a puppy for us to buy.

ONLINE PLANT

In a fit of desperation I bought a plant online. I didn’t want to, but a couple years of going without plants and a clever use of Facebook by an online nursery did the trick.

The plant arrived all stapled up in a cardboard box. I cut it out and its leaves dropped to the floor like Charlie Brown’s Christmas tree.

I won’t do that again.

FORT

He said, “It’s like we moved our fort.”

And I said, “You’re right. Thanks for saying that.”

PHOTOS AND TEXT BY AMBER KIDNER

Says our resident contributor based in India, “Delhi is a stressful city to live in. Most people say so and that is my experience as well. I’m often drained of words and empathy and playful impulses. Author Lydia Davis and her very short stories guide me once again in attempting to apply words and images to some of our family’s encounters these past few months.”