SWARTHOS

5:30 AM – The air was thick with the foul smell of sulfur in Los Angeles this morning. For a moment, I was in panic mode, wondering if there was a gas leak in my neighborhood. I quickly emerged from my house with my canine companion and started walking around to inspect my area.

Of course, most gas companies in the U.S. add a pungent odorant to otherwise odorless gas so we can easily detect leaks. Thankfully, it became apparent that this odor wasn’t just confined to my neighborhood. As we made our rounds, I noticed that the miasma was everywhere in my city, from the street corners to the plants and even as far as the park. This discovery put my mind at rest: it was just the usual sulfuric smell that can often permeate the Los Angeles air. Thankfully, my house was safe from any looming explosion. With my mind at ease, I proceeded to take my dog for a walk.

I kept my eyes peeled for anything out of the ordinary – namely, signs of the devil himself. No cloven hoof prints or pitchfork lying about, however. For better or for worse, the sulfuric smell seemed to dissipate as quickly as it had come. And with that, another morning in Los Angeles passed, and I continued my morning stroll with my faithful canine companion.