Mostly overcast, the sky darkened abruptly this morning, a brief storm rattling the windows. Having Dad help me, I drilled grammar relentlessly, the absolute construction being my focus. I found the rules infuriatingly arbitrary. For hours, I sat hunched over the book, my head a tangled mess, my patience a flattened sack. Later, Mom came in brilliantly, her hands brandishing a slim package. My new high-end earpods had arrived! Pink, absolutely —inside and out— they lay nestled in a box embossed with a delicate floral fairy. Setup complete in minutes, the earpods worked wonders. They’ve become an instant refuge from our noisy routine, the world effectively silenced. Mom shouting mere inches away, not a sound would reach me. Only my selective music playing, the peace was absolute. What a wonderful product!