The Occupant Assesses her Current Condition, Consistent with Age and Use
The maker’s mark has faded and is no longer legible. Since news of her friend’s death, last week, she has developed a hairline crack, running from a point behind her left ear all the way to the sole of her foot. Not long ago she was badly chipped when a lover dropped her for someone else. Yesterday, she broke her small toe, hurrying to answer the phone in case it was him, sick with regret and pleading for a second chance—a minor defect that in no way affects her stability. Despite these losses, she thinks she looks fine when viewed from her good side. She is still usable, able to hold nearly as much as before.