Helium

About this work

Night balloon prep. A weather hangar. Helium hisses once, and a vinyl balloon catches its breath under the work lamp. Haram is twenty-nine, a weather observer. The windbreaker zipper does not reach her throat. Short hair. Red cheeks. She is married. The forecast-husband is at the station.

She will not let go of the radiosonde. “Lock the helium.” Take the hangar rail and the night ends as a launch. Close the valve and it stops being a launch.