Ramone enjoyed a private thought then sprang onto the foot ledge, instinctively nodding to Carlos, his father, who slapped the truck twice. Dark smoke belched from the exhaust and they lumbered away. His son seemed contented. It blanketed Carlos in guilt. A “Day At The Office with Dad” had lasted six years. His selfish desire to stave off his boy’s important independence for one more glimpse of his admiration, had lured—chained, his son to a career he’d dreamt of escaping years ago.

Ramone would declare years later with youthful pride, “Society couldn’t exist without us!” While the two were coated in the filthy leftovers of people who’d achieved bigger things. They were garbage men. Nothing more. The street rats; human pigeons of the city. Dismissed and disgusting. Sure, father and son had shared countless memories on these orange-skied mornings. Carlos treasured them. But he’d never see his son on TV—the courthouse champion of the poor or the marching liberator at the head of those left behind. So many futures he’d robbed from the 23-year-old. Watching him daydream, Carlos imagined his future son and himself switching places on the stinking truck, with his grandson standing where Ramone stood now.

Ramone mulled a Saint-Exupery quote as he hopped back onto the truck. “You become responsible for what you’ve tamed.” It would soon apply to him. The new father. Yet it didn’t feel portentous. Inspired, he leaned out over the autumn leaves kicking up behind them and yelled, ”Dream of freedom and fall again!” Then chuckled. It wasn’t Saint-Exupery, but over breakfast Justina would get a kick out of it transformed into haiku. Maybe in the style of Buson. “A child begging for acceptance,” she’ll say. Her critique whenever he tried mimicking a master. But she’d lovingly do it while working magic in the kitchen; their new son’s spittle on her apron and every burner answering her commands. A goddess and a dream soon come true. He’d hang his overalls, set the table and have every sunrise with her and their little prince. The thought inspired him with original words he thought superior to Exupery’s:

“Heaven has nothing to tame.”