It’s sunny today. But Dad is still in bed, and he’s given me a thick book of English practice exercises—something pretty formal, like simulated language exams. It’s unbearably monotonous. My job is to finish the entire book, which is 200 pages long. I started yesterday and have reached page 130. I don’t think I’ll be able to finish it before midnight. On the other hand, there’s just too much going on lately, and it’s overwhelming. Focusing on this straightforward task is a good temporary escape, a moment of peace.