Backward Days It started out like most days. I woke up and turned off the alarm. I got out of bed and pulled my clothes on in my usual way and did the things I do before leaving for work. As I sat down in the car, I couldn’t shake the feeling that something was wrong. I checked my wallet, my keys, my cel phone. I even checked the front door again to make sure it was locked. Everything was as it should be. But the feeling persisted. That gnawing, tugging feeling of discomfort surrounded me and grew tighter. At work, things seemed normal. Nothing overly unpleasant. And though my co- workers were all their happy same selves, I eyed them all suspiciously nonetheless. I have come to trust my instincts. When they tell me that something is wrong, I must be ready for evil to spring out at any time, from anywhere. I drank a large cup of coffee, for medicinal purposes, hoping the caffeine would lift me out of my mood, and just to have a cup of burning liquid at hand in case I needed to defend myself in a hurry. I drank the whole thing, though, before anyone attacked. A little later I was heading towards the men’s room. Nothing escaped my eye. I was an eagle hunting a mystery. My attention darted down aisles, noticed every customer, every hidden space. It might just be the caffeine, though. I have noticed that a large cup of coffee gives me just the extra bounce in my step needed to get me to the bathroom as quickly as I need to get to the bathroom after a large cup of coffee. The stall was occupied. I decided to finish at least half my business, so I went up and unzipped. It was then, searching for the fly of my boxers, that I understood. My fingers found no opening. There was no fly to find. A quick glance confirmed it. My boxers were on backwards. It all made sense. This odd sensation, this gripping feeling in my… guts. Once I remedied the situation, the day turned out to be pretty good. The lesson I learned? If I come across someone in a bad mood, be kind to them, because they may have their underwear on backwards and not even know it. And if they’re in a really, really bad mood, I suggest to them that they go check their shorts just to be sure.