This space? 25” x 25”. It’s all I need. Enough for my chair and TV tray. Those towers of magazines and newspapers won’t be there long. I’ll read them soon and cut out the articles I want to save. They say you’re supposed to have lots of unread books. Shows there’s always more to learn. You can’t expect me to throw out my bills and receipts? What if I’m audited? Can’t just toss that stuff in the dumpster. Somebody’ll steal my identity. I need all those pencils, pens and reams of paper to keep my finances straight. Those are bags of clothes I pick up at rummage sales. They don’t fit me, but I can use the fabric to make something. Cans of soup. C’mon! That’s practical. Disaster prep. Those old food packages and Tupperware are for future food storage. The kitchen cabinets are too full to house all my utensils and pots and pans. I’m going to start cooking more meals at home. Soon. That’s when I’ll use those packets of ketchup, mustard and sugar. Those little cups of cream won’t go bad. They’re all chemicals anyhow. Those coffee and soda cups are reusable. They’re not that dirty. I’ll bring the empty bottles and cans to recycling when I have a free day. Those banana stickers are just for fun. The peels are in the compost pile out back. Oh, I’ve got apple stickers too! Batteries need to be in the fridge. It keeps them from losing power. I’ve gotta double check those lightbulbs. Make sure they’re really dead. I like to keep old chargers. If I find an old iPad or iPod or cell phone, I’ll be able to use it. I’m going to watch those VHS tapes and DVDs eventually. There’s a couple of video players in that pile. Just gotta figure out which work. No. Those are stereos. Old machines are better than any of these new music devices. I just need to set one up. Then all the CDs, albums and cassettes will be put to use. I’m sure I have an 8-track player somewhere. That's my pile of Halloween decorations. Behind that’s Christmas stuff. Then miscellaneous: Thanksgiving, Valentine’s Day, Easter. I can use the patriotic decorations for both Memorial Day and Fourth of July. So what if there’s so much soap, shampoo and toilet paper in my bathroom. What if there’s another shortage? It’s all perfectly organized. And necessary. I’m happy in my little space. Observing all I own. My home. Tom Misuraca studied Writing, Publishing and Literature at Emerson College in his home town of Boston before moving to Los Angeles. Over 130 of his short stories and two novels have been published. His story, Giving Up The Ghosts, was published in Constellations Journal, and nominated for a Pushcart Prize in 2021. Recently, he had three stories published on the same day in Gabby & Min's Literary Review, Southern Florida Poetry Journal and Stolen Shoes Magazine. He is also a multi-award winning playwright with over 150 short plays and 13 full-lengths produced globally. His musical, Geeks!, was produced Off-Broadway in May 2019.
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