Lady Bird Lake

The creek widens and goes slow, and you come out on a gravel path beside a lake. You know the sound of the gravel. Turtles are lined up on a log. The path runs on to a flag, orange, on a wire stake, beside the Congress Avenue Bridge.

Next to the flag is a sign with letters made of squares. It says LADY BIRD LAKE, and under that, 34 STEPS. Under the sign a plank says AGAIN, worn pale in the middle by thumbs. There is no next.

Under the plank, in small plain type: Map data © OpenStreetMap contributors.

On the bridge above you people are standing at the rail with paper cups, not talking. It is almost seven.