Closing in on 4pm. Sun's back, peeking through curtains and reaching even for the more distant corners of the room. A bus just released a crowd of kids near the stop, filling sidewalks and afternoon with avid chatter and screaming that just slowly disappears, splits up by street and houses. Still a bit to go. And, as always, hoping the knots that tied lose ends together will last for at least an evening of not paying too much attention.