Jacket

JACKET (School assignment)
   
  The jacket, turned out, is thrown on the rocking chair. The soft polyester lining is shyly stripped off; sallow polyester cover set off by wilted white furry cuffs. Miserable, unnecessary thing. It lost all its beauty because of a broken zipper; it happened imperceptibly, approaching as a traitor. Suddenness annoys. I bought it in Russia, this Italian jacket. It stayed with me all these years, warm, nice thing that was admired by people. - Wow, what a jacket! Where did you buy it?
  It proved my past, me in there. It made a connection between things and time, when it was bought. Strange country, far away, cold and hostile, becoming closer and friendlier - if people living there sell such lovely things they are real. Perhaps they are like this jacket: soft and fluffy, unprotected and trustful. Little Teddy bears.
  Now it sits on the chair; and I don"t know what to do. My past betrayed me, should I buy a new zipper. Or let it go - to buy a new jacket. I"m opening the Sunday papers, looking at the ads. It"s the beginning of new season. My eyes are getting misty.