My peripheral vision mistook the conifer shrubs for people. I never looked directly at them, I just assumed that they were up to no good as I walked toward the security guard sitting next to the entrance of my apartment building. I self consciously ran over a few things I could say to the guard when I passed, so as not to make it awkward or anything. He turned out to be a prop— a mannequin all dressed up in a security outfit.

“Fine night.” I said to him.

His alert eyes were painted inhumanly blue for some low budget reason. I looked over at the group of mischievous conifers and finally saw them as the harmless figures they were.

“Keep an eye on those ruffians over there.” I said.

“They’d kill mother nature for a few drops of wintry rain water. Don’t doubt it, uhm, Melinda.” I made up a terribly ill fitting name for him and went on my way.