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gently on a watery foundation that could not support it； and soon； like ancient Atlantis； those lands were lost beneath the waves。 In the skies flocks of seagulls in flight disappeared； as did the military and civilian aircraft in the affected regions。 Tourist； pilot； exchange student； airman； and junketing congressman were all treated equally and ruthlessly。 The air itself was instantly changed； the replacing air either noiselessly filling the void； or； if air pressure differences were too great； violently expanding。 Titanic booms were as mon as soft whooshing。
As the effect reached the East Coast it continued on land。 Streets； cars； homes； office buildings t and fast…food restaurants were replaced with forest； grassland； ice； lakes； and ocean。 With the artifacts of mankind went the people who constructed and inhabited them。 Men； women； children； rich and poor； teacher and student； Muslim； Christian； Jew； and atheist； all whisked away together。
The effect was systematic； but not thorough。 As the effect washed across the planet's surface； it rippledt leaving some regions untouched。 People； awakened by thunderous booms； looked to see neighborhoods sundered； their houses intact； the other side of the street impossibly changed。 Inhabitants of other large regions slept through the night； untouched； unknowning； only to wake to confusion。
New York City
TIME QUILT： SATURDAY； 8：35 P。M。 EST
Mariel rocked by her open window； her hands crocheting while her mind listened to the sounds of the autumn evening。 She didn't get to hear the sounds very often anymore。 Summer used to be the best time； but now everyone had air conditioners； and if Mariel opened her window she heard only the hum of electric motors。 When she first came to live in her apartment all the neighbors would open their windows in the summer； and Mariel would sit and listen to families arguing； or the sound of radios or hi…fis。 There were the sounds of people talking too； and sometimes Mariel could make out a sentence or two and follow the arguments。 She never joined in； of course…that would be invading her neighbors' privacy； but she couldn't stop herself from forming opinions。 Behind it all was the backdrop of the sounds of New York City； traffic； honking horns； and occasional police sirens。
Mariel could hear the Ibarras having an argument two floors above her。 Some of the argument was in Spanish； so she couldn't follow it well。 But the rhythm was familiar to her； she had listened to so many arguments in her chair by the window。 She didn't have to understand the words to know the argument was about one of three things： money； family； or the kids。 Those were the topics when she moved in back in 1955； and it had been those three topics ever since。
Mariel could also hear the sound of a stereo from the MacGregor's apartment below her。 From the sound of rap； she knew their son was playing it。 It also meant his parents weren't home yet； because they always made him wear earphones when he played rap。 Mariel also knew he would be on the phone to his girlfriend at the same time。 Sometimes he talked and laughed loud enough for Mariel to hear； and it would embarrass her。 She was often embarrassed by the way boys talked to girls today。 But still she always listened。 It was better than the madeup stuff on the afternoon talk shows。
The air was cool； but Mariel didn't want to close the window。 So instead she went to the kitchen and put the teakettle on and then got a blanket for her lap。 Mariel returned to her chair； picked up her crocheting； and listened to the argument again。
It was winding down now。 The Ibarras never stayed mad at each other for long； not like the Venuccis； who used to live next to her。 How many years ago？ Twenty at least； she decided。 Now； the Venuccis knew how to have a fight。 They yelled。and screamed at each other； sometimes for hours。 Sometimes Mrs。 Venucci would throw things and Mariel could hear glass shattering or things banging。 When they first moved in Mariel had feared they would hurt each other； but when she saw them in the hallway the next day they never had cuts or bruises。 One day Mariel stopped Mrs。 Venucci and told her she worried about her。 Mrs。 Venucci smiled and assured Mariel she was not in any danger。 〃Sure；〃 she had said； 〃we fight hard； but we make up harder。〃 Mariel knew that was true。 The Venuccis raised seven children in that apartment。 The Ibarras must be the same way； Mariel believed。 They had five kids。
The teakettle called to her from the kitchen。 Then with her cup and saucer she returned to the window。 The Ibarras had moved on to making up； and there were no voices now。 A few minutes later the rap music suddenly died； and Mariel listened to Cathy McGregor scolding her son and telling him to do his homework。 Then Mariel was left alone with the sounds of the city。
She looked down into the courtyard below。 It used to be filled with little garden plots； some with flowers； some with vegetables。 It was mostly paved now； and ugly garbage Dumpsters sat here and there。 The only garden left was Mariel's。 She only grew flowers now。 She used to grow vegetables till people began stealing them。 She wouldn't have minded if they ate them； but most of them were smashed against walls or thrown through windows。 Still； the flowers were pretty and a stark contrast to the ugliness of the asphalt and Dumpsters。 Mariel loved the garden； but it was harder to grow things ever since the high rise went up across the courtyard。 It was an office building； all glass and steel。 Mariel hated its sealed glass windows。
Once long ago； Mariel had a friend who lived in the building that used to be where the office building now stood。 Sometimes when the kids were at school； Marie！ would meet Gertie for coffee and talk。 In the summers their kids played in the courtyard together； and Mariel and Gertie would visit or garden。 Gertie moved to Florida years ago and was long dead now； and the building she lived in was ten years gone。
Mariel's life in the apartment had started out quietly； just her and Phillip。 Then the children had e； filling their lives with activity and stress； stress she missed now。 When the three children were growing up Mariel had lots of friends； most of them the parents of their children's friends。 Phillip's work gave them friends too。 There was business entertaining and dinner parties。 If they weren't guests； they were hosts。 They were involved in their children's schools too。 School plays； music lessons； and a myriad of other activities kept them constantly on the go。 Mariel had scarcely a minute to herself in those days and relished the few hours a week she could sit by the window and listen to the sounds。 Then the children had grown。 Now they all lived in other states and called infrequently。 She had Phillip for a few years after the children were gone； and many friends still； mostly connected with Phillip's work。 Then Phillip died suddenly； and with him went the parties and many of her friends。 Soon all Mariel had were acquaintances； no friends。 Now she only went out three times a week； and then only to do shopping。 She used to go to church on Sunday； but then the church had closed and moved to a new location in a better neighborhood。 Now Mariel watched church on TV； but it was hard to make church friends through a TV。 Her life was quiet now； like the end of the arguments she listened to over the years。 Mariel longed for the activity again； for someone to argue with。
Mariel looked up at the sky for stars。 But the bright moon and city lights meant she couldn't see any。 The city wasn't the place to look at stars； Mariel knew。 She never had a good view； of course； but when she had something to do； something to occupy her time； she never thought about stars。
Now Mariel thought about the stars and the moon； and other things； a lot。 Her oldest son wanted her to move to Ohio with him。 She could see the stars there； he assured her。 But she didn't want that。 She didn't want a piece of his life。 She wanted her own life； even if it was mostly memories now。 No； she would live in the apartment until she became a memory too。
Mariel turned on the TV and flipped through the channels with the remote control。 As usual there was nothing on she wanted to watch。 Sometimes she thought of getting cable TV。 The television guide told her she could get shows like 〃Father Knows Best〃 and 〃Mr。 Ed〃 on cable。 It was expensive； though； and she hated paying for what she should be getting for free。 She finally settled the dial on a situation edy。 The laugh track told her the jokes were supposed to be funny； but they weren't。 They were bathroom jokes for the most part； and Mariel had never liked that kind of humor and she didn't appreciate the filthy language in her home。 She turned the channel to a TV movie。 A young couple were kissing open…mouthed。 The woman was naked from the waist up； and Mariel could see the side of her left breast pressed up against the man's bare chest。 Mariel had been shocked the first time she had seen this on TV； but now it was routine and boring。 She supposed the networks would soon have to show all of the actress's breast to keep people interested； and she only hoped she wouldn't live long enough to have that on he