Trask Avenue

This week’s Trifextra challenge is to write a piece between 33 and 333 words using the three words listed below. The words must each appear in the piece in the order given.

1 – cacophony
2 – soap
3 – insects

Restoration
As prescribed Leslie left her office at exactly 6:00. She headed downtown on Lexington, turning right on 40^th. She walked up Murray Hill, across Park and Madison, and reached 5^th Avenue. As was her custom she paused for a moment before continuing her journey.

The April air was crisp. In the distance the trees in Bryant Park were starting to bloom and across the street the famous twin lions guarded the library. She envied the patrons nestled inside this iconic landmark, blissfully sheltered from the cacophony of the streets.

Looking down 5^th Leslie saw the antenna atop the Empire State Building, her destination. She remembered when most of the building was visible from where she stood, but newer less elegant structures stole that away. A sudden gust whipped through, erasing her brief melancholy and cleansing her better than the finest soap in the world.

Over the years the price to go to the 102^nd floor skyrocketed, but she didn’t care. Leslie bought her ticket, feeling especially fortunate. The sky was clear; the view would be exceptional. Once on the observation deck she retreated to a corner. Unlike the tourists she stayed rooted to one spot. The next 30 minutes were all hers.

She marveled at the parade of buildings and imagined people inside were looking at her. She gazed at the East River and beyond. To the west the sun was setting fast over the Watchung Mountains, but tiny flecks of gold still danced off the Hudson. She looked down to the street. People always claimed pedestrians resembled insects from up here, but she never saw that. What always struck her was the sea of yellow, the mighty forces of the Taxicab Army hard at work.

23 years ago when Leslie decided prescription meds were not the answer to her stressful life, she began her Friday pilgrimages. Standing on top of the city, humbled by its majesty, provided her with perspective and restored her like no pill ever could.