It was written in chalk on the layer of bricks built into the pavement at the intersection of Vine and Spring. The quote, blue letters on a red and white background which gave it an almost patriotic look, read: “If there’s something in the eye, the whole body feels it”. Jacob and Michael were a pair of high school students walking home after the final bell had rung, the writing lay before them as they waited for the cross signal to tell them when to move. Jacob looked at the writing, then to the dark overcast sky and spoke, breaking a silence, “It’s a metaphor, eye and body represent first impression and the following ideas from that impression.”

“It’s literal not a metaphor,” replied his companion.

“It isn’t literal, it has to be a metaphor. When I cry my hands don’t feel it.”

“No, they don’t feel it directly. But they feel the tears when you wipe your eyes to dry them. They feel the pain when you clench your fists in depression or anger. Its not only your hands either, when you see something sad your whole body reacts based on that image. Ever hear the saying ‘the eyes are the windows to the soul?”

“Of course. Continue.”

“Well, your eyes always see the sadness first and your body (in this case the soul) reacts to whatever that may be. If a blind man was to be granted sight, his legs would never need the assistance of a cane to help him walk the streets, his body would no longer be dependant because he could rely on his eyes.”

“So, how does that relate to what’s written on the ground?”

“Look man. ‘if there’s something in your eye,’ the something in the blind man’s eye is vision. Then, ‘the whole body feels it.’ his whole body now has his vision to rely on and is affected.”

“Now you’re turning it into a metaphor.”

“No I’m not. I’m only giving an example, all be it a far fetched one, but an example none the less. All shapes and sizes, man, this writing can be related to any situation like that, whether a blind man is healed or a pebble flies towards your eye and your hands move up to deflect it. Once again, your eye would have the pebble in it, but your hands (body) move to stop it.”

“Interesting point, but it’s still meant in a metaphorical way.”

“Jesus you’re stubborn. Please, do explain.”

“Gladly,” Jacob smirked, “like I said man, it’s a metaphor. ‘The eye’ is what you see in a first impression of anything, and ‘the body’ is what opinions you make based on that impression.”

“That makes a lot of sense,” sarcastically.

“Shut up, I let you explain your theory.”

“Alright, alright, keep talking.”

“So anyway, it’s a metaphor.”

“You’ve said that. How about backing it up?”

“Give me a minute to get started. Alright, you’re walking through the south side, its dark, you’re alone. There’s a group of kids up ahead, they’re appearance tells you that they live in the area, and aren’t ones to mess around with. You make that opinion based on your first impression; what your eyes saw. ‘If there’s something in the eye,” what is in the eye in this case is the initial reaction to that group of kids. ‘Your whole body feels it.’ your whole body is the rest of your mind making choices and decisions. ‘Your whole body,’ is the thousands of thought processes that go off in one instant, it is the chain of events that lead off of every immediate impression you make. In your eyes is the impression of a gang, of them jumping you, based off of that impression you (your body) turn the other way, or cross the street.”

“Interesting…”

The cross walk light changed from ‘DON’T WALK’ to ‘WALK’ and the two boys ended their conversation. Before they had finished crossing rain began to fall, lightly at first then quickly changed to a downpour. As they reached their homes, the rain had washed the chalk writing away. The conversation which derived from it was nothing more than a memory, as was the what they had read. Their eyes saw, their bodies spoke and the rain had washed it all away.