Through Illuminated Grating
(written on Aug 8th, 2004)
 
 
            Footsteps can be heard on the linoleum. Darkness becomes light with a flick of a switch. Knobs have previously been adjusted to the setting '5' and elements have begun to create heat. A small box made of ceramic brick and metal, no bigger than a microwave or miniature television, contains the new warmth and is read by pyrometer. Time passes until the device states that it is at or around eleven hundred degrees Fahrenheit.
            Rose aura tinted glasses slide into place on the bridge of the nose, and a black cloth beanie is added if no hair tie is being used. Large grooved knobs are turned until needles on meters dance and jump. Regulators are adjusted to fulfill desirable PSI amounts. A smaller red knob is turned, valves release gas, and a striker is used to create a momentary spark. Flame emerges from the cylindrical tip of the major/minor torch. Another small knob, this one grey, is turned and more valves release a stream of oxygen, which immediately mixes with the propane. The flame becomes much more blue, hissing loudly. Regulators are readjusted to compensate for the pressure in the hoses. Fingers touch glass, and consciousness burns away like the haze on amber-purple in an oxidizing flame.
 
            A metal door is pulled from its magnetically open position and swung closed. Knobs, small grey and red, are turned to completely close the open valves. The flame disappears. Glasses and hat (if used) are removed, and a large black plastic knob is positioned to 'OFF'. Eight hours pass as elements cool at the same rate as ceramic brick and borosilicate glass.
            An overlapping train wreck of muscle conveniently stored in a large cavity within a certain human being's head calculates facts, creates assumptions, and formulates ideas. The voice that can be heard within this individual's psyche states clearly that it cannot be sure what exactly is now safe within the ceramic walls of the 84BD annealer. 'What have I made this time?' the voice wonders as the scene fades to credits.