Mall Fountain
9:00 PM
South Hills Village, Escalator Landing
Water
Reduced flow. The evening mode: lower pressure, lower volume. The fountain murmurs instead of speaking. The last shoppers are leaving.
Ambient
Dying murmur of commerce. Escalator motor decelerating. The gate of the last store rolling down with a metallic rattle that echoes three times.
A modest fountain: a single jet rising from a square basin, surrounded by a low brass railing. It was installed to mask the sound of the escalator. It succeeded too well.
The security guard makes her first round at 9:15. She pauses at the fountain every time, for exactly ten seconds, looking at something on the bottom. She has never mentioned what she sees.
Coins
Modest. This fountain doesn't inspire wishes. People throw coins as they pass, out of habit, not hope. The coins feel dutiful rather than yearning.