They Said

Rushing in, out of breath;

“Sorry…sorry, (gasp), I know

it’s been a while… (gasp),

ugh… sorry… What have I missed,” I asked.

“Nothing,” they said.

“Nothing? I mean, I haven’t written

anything in like, weeks and you’re telling

me nothing has happened in that time,” I asked.

“Yeah. I mean, a virus is like, killing everyone,

and there’s like President stuff happening,

but yeah… nothing really,” they said.

“I guess that’s good. I suppose,” I said.  

“Yeah,” they said.

“So I sort of ran in here, like I was

late for my own funeral so I just thought

that, you know, I might have been missed or

was missing something is all. I guess,” I said.

“Yeah. No. We’re cool,” they said.

“Cool. Cooool…,” I said.

Raps fingers on edge of desk.

“So, anything I can do,” I asked.

“I dunno. You have any poetry or

stories to write,” they asked.

“I don’t know,” I said, “It’s been a

little bit, but I’m sure I can come up

with something interesting or profound.

Something whimsical or thoughtful.”

“Neat. So… go ahead,” they said.

“Right. No Problem…,” I said, “no

problem at all…”.

A quick nervous clearing of the throat

and slight cough.

“PLAGUE!!!” they screamed.

Off they ran.