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Marathon runners. 2nd person from the left.

This one’s for you, son.

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author

Oooh really nice!

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Talking to herself

Laura muttered under her breath, still miffed about the bus fare change, even thought it had been in effect for six months. Going from $1 to $1.20 meant keeping a stash of dimes jingling noisily in her pockets as she walked to the bus stop each morning. She almost wished they’d raise it the extra nickel so that she could scurry to her destinations in peace. One bill, one coin. Even.

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author

Argh, that would frustrate me too! Relieved I don't have to carry coins.

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Playing Football.

There were many reasons why he didn't want to have kids. Personal and selfish ones, altruistic and sociological ones. Prudent economical ones and ineffably moralistic ones. But he did have one regret: he would never have a child he could play football with. So, he would often head to the parks to spot children playing football and then try to join in. In those moments, he was truly happy. Until one day, he lunged in with a two-footed tackle on a 7 year old and the kid's parents banned him from the park.

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(I feel the need to clarify that this is only partly autobiographical.)

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author

Thank god for the 'partly'!

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Daughter inquisitive:

Dad, did you notice the guy who's sneakingly drawing us?

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Oops! The kids always notice.

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author

πŸ˜…

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Bus stop top right (say it happens in Liège, Belgium):

Gosh! they are on strike (again)! we were supposed to inaugurate my friend's new yoga mat.

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two girls bottom right:

Left: Johnny Depp did well today!

Right: I don't like soccer.

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May 11, 2022Liked by Nishant Jain

Selfie with the medal (marathon runners)

Ford's a good friend and an accomplished marathoner. In his heyday, he ran all the marathon majors in a single calendar year. Captured here, he's taking his last selfie on the Earth; he'll soon be flying back to his home planet of Betelgeuse V. He sells shoes to space runners back there with his wives and kid. I'll miss Ford Prefect. I feel that's probably not his real name, though.

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author

One of the more wholesome intergalactic missions. Have you read Kurt Vonnegut?

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May 11, 2022Liked by Nishant Jain

Not really heheh. I've given up on reading because I can never read anything without feeling guilty for not reading the rest of the stuff out there. At this point this comment has become a cry for help.

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May 14, 2022Liked by Nishant Jain

I'm totally there with you! After being a voracious reader all my life, I now only read for information. When I read a novel, it feels dissatisfying to be a spectator instead of a participant. Time is now too precious to observe instead of produce. Then again, maybe that's not exactly where you are...

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That hits home. I hope we can more past this rut soon :)

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author

Haha. I have gone through such phases too. I would highly recommend taking a look at Breakfast of Champions.

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Will check it out, thank you :)

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May 11, 2022Liked by Nishant Jain

"Yoga Mat"

This tiny person reminds me of myself, because I love coffee and I recently got a yoga mat as a birthday gift. Perhaps we would have coffee together before yoga class and discuss the benefits and challenges of the exercises. (I also imagine that she is much more coordinated than me!) 😊

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She was almost *too* coordinated. Maybe this was a post-yoga coffee.

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Support (Marathoners).

At the finish line, I saw a lot of runners finish strong. Smiling faces, confident gait, no signs of worn muscles or exhausted energy. But I also saw this couple, one stumbling with their right foot, the other clutching their left leg. They supported each other and, together, walked it off.

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Nice one.

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Family. I watched them lay out the picnic blanket. The parents sat down and lay back. They looked like they needed to. The child, meanwhile, got going. He began with an outreach to the geese, but they were not interested in his offer. He shifted his attention to the boats. Then the clouds. Then the grass. Every few minutes he returned to the blanket to give his latest report to mom and dad.

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