Colored Streamers

Coloured Streamers
by Norman Mackinnon

Today, the inspector of souls came. He examined mine carefully. He even went so far as to open some of the cupboards. In one he found a mass of colored paper -- streamers they were. He asked me why I kept them. I lied to him -- I said to him because they make such a nice noise when they're shaken. I did not tell him they make me think of you. In their brightness and their gaiety -- for he would not have thought that reason enough.