The shipping container that is currently on fire and blanketing East Vancouver in fumes comes from China and was on its way inland. Last year, over five hundred containers of trichloroisocyanuric acid passed through the port without catching fire. Set the number of accident-free days back to zero, somebody in communications quips in an email. Calls are pouring in to the city from people with respiratory problems, claiming to be on death’s door.

Check out my new story The Modern Intimate on Joyland Magazine. Many thanks to Joyland, and especially Joyland Vancouver editor Kathryn Mockler.