I kneel bedroom heating vent silence broken by indecipherable prattle laughter variety show television. Vent two foot by two connects heated downstairs kitchen and living room with unheated upstairs bedrooms. Cover thin wrought-iron grate cut in flowery patterns curlicues swirls. Lean forward and kitchen light up through grate casts face in elaborate mask of shadows. Casts face in elaborate mask of shadows. Lift grate from heating vent. Look down through opening. On kitchen stove a caldron of thick red sauce bubbles around a stock of meatballs and sausage, braciole and pepperoni.

Sauce-splattered white enamel stove.