The park bench: a place to watch, meet, and greet. Sharing a bench with someone. It’s not your own personal seat. Chairs are so individualized. Sitting on a bench with someone is consoling, like non-starters in a game. Sharing a bench can be loving.
Benches are the place of interaction. They are a staple setting in comic strips as a backdrop for conversation. Or if just one person is sitting on the bench, it becomes strikingly contemplative.
