A person in white makeup offers balloons to children behind the old laundromat. The balloons have no strings attached, yet children hold them anyway. The person smiles. The children smile. No one who accepts a balloon has been seen at school the next day. The balloons remain visible in photographs of empty playgrounds.
"I told my daughter to say no. She said 'but he looks sad, mama.' I looked again. He did look sad. That was worse."
The Poster
A sign reading "WE ALL FLOAT" appeared on the alley wall last Tuesday. It was not there Monday. It is not paper. It is not paint. It breathes slightly in warm weather. The building manager has stopped asking maintenance to remove it.
"I took a photo to report it. The photo came back with the words 'THANK YOU' written below the poster. I did not write that. My phone did not write that. I now keep the photo as my lock screen. I do not know why."
The Shoes
They do not touch the ground correctly. This has been observed by multiple residents. The gap between sole and sidewalk is approximately one inch. No shadow falls in that gap. No light either.