Space in a Chair

Bodies being carried out of rubble pop up on the TV screen. The sounds of families wailing over the death of a loved one pour into our living room. I look for the remote in order to quickly change the channel to more age appropriate show. A cartoon – hell, even Jessie. Only I can’t find the remote, of course. My kids hungry eyes, thirsty for information, soak up this tragedy that is playing out on the screen. I stop looking for the remote and start staring at the gruesome scene. Those poor people. I stand up and turn the...