Searching For Warmth

As The Report struggles to regain its composure after a rare airing of the once ubiquitous Original Evil Tie, Brian knots up the slender stripes of deep turquoise and worsted grey-blue.  She pulled her shawl more tightly around her thin shoulders and hoped it would stop the chill draft.  It was early spring, but she had awakened to frost every morning this week.  Bright sun belied the freezing temperatures, and the cloudless sky only meant crisper cold.  Her hands ached; she drew on old wool gloves with the fingertips cut off and set the teapot on to boil.  From the basket on the floor, she unearthed her knitting and sat down to work the arthritis out of her fingers while waiting for tea.