i didn't want to be late for ballet again, but i did want to refill my water bottle before i left. as i flurried into the kitchen, the strap on my bookbag caught the edge of a tray that i've been meaning to move for weeks. with a suitably alarming crash, about two dozen knives flew off the shelf, each of them miraculously missing my thighs, calves and feet. i spent a moment thanking the gods, in whose existence my belief had suddenly been revived, before filling my bottle and replacing the knives, in their tray, on the shelf.

ballet went well.