and then our exile

The MCE was packed today. (One day, Farooq, I promise we'll come to the Markaz. Where all you samosa-eating hostage-taking "beef biryani is better than chicken biryani" Pakis hang out. Till then, though, I am remain an acronym-toting masjid-goer, iA.) Uni finals are over (except for all engineering blokes, for whom i am sincerely sorry), and so many of those usually at SUB have egressed over. I think I saw KJ, but am'nt sure, as he was in profile and i was busy. but AA, ZK, MN, MJ, HaS, H, UG: beautiful people, all. Talked for a bit with Mustafa, lamenting the fact that we had to walk all the way to the University. In the Cold. But we are Real Men.
Anyhow. Shouting things across the parking lot at J*bakhanji, and then set off to Rutherford, thinking about the awesome khutbah of Shaikh Maher. Crossing Whyte, i watch cars drive in front of us on the crosswalk.
"i wonder if they realize they're doing something illegal? Not that I myself haven't zoomed in front of walking people in the past, but. We shall continue walking, and they must stop eventually or run us over. I hope they won't do that. I wonder what that would be like? What would one think? Or not at all? Oh, they've stopped. Good stuff. But hey, the person in the car that stopped--I've seen him before, haven't I? He looks kind of like someone who was sitting in the first row today, right in front of the Minbar. And a white beard that's kind of like Nasr's. And looks vaguely like Lara's dad, too. My hat is falling off, though--I mustn't let it fall to the muddy ground. City snow is mucky, muddy, depressing and mispleasing. {beep!} That car just honked at me. I'm sure it was at me. I wonder why? i walk. It is a crosswalk. People walk on them. --Oh no. Wait, never mind: it *is* Lara's dad. And look, there she is, too! Wave back. Should I say hello? Does my hair look alright? {hello!--cheerfully from an open'd window.} Hmm. {disjointed h-i-e-y trails backward, falters, drops.} Why trailing backwards, though? Why does it seem as though they're getting further away from me?
No! Feet! Stop walking! Wah! Insurrection! Hmm."

i have stolen these seconds from a task I've been assigned: searching out critiques of capitalism from various perspectives. I go. Rutherford is a good library.