Today’s
March 22nd, 2021
Starring: A & B
A rainy morning. In a corner of the house, there’s a table near the window, overlooking the big tree in the yard. At the table is A, painting on a canvas, held up by a small easel. Underneath the easel and covering the whole table is the day’s newspaper, opened up and spread out so as to not get the table dirty.
B enters, looking for A. B walks closer, watching A paint. A notices B and nods good morning.
B
Is this today’s?
A
Yeah. What do you think?
B
It’s great.
...
I was also talking about the paper.
A
Oh
Did you want to read it?
B
I was thinking about it today...
A
Oh.
Sorry, I figured it was okay to use. I can’t remember the last time you read the paper.
B
I don’t.
A
So you understand why I’m using it for something else.
B
Well...
A
You said you never read it. Nor do I, really. Most of the time it sits untouched all day, then we recycle it.
B
Always nice to have though.
A
For the one time you want to read it?
B
It’s like insurance. You hope you never need it, but on the day you do, you’re glad you have it.
A
So what's the local paper insuring us against?
B
Um...
Ignorance?
…
…
A
Well in that case...
A picks up their canvas, easel, and tools, and carefully starts to move them somewhere else.
B
Wait—
A
Read it. I want you—
B
Well not if it messes with—
A
It’s ok. Really.
Wouldn’t want you to be ignorant.
A smiles and exits. B turns back and exhales, looking down at the paper in all its expansive, wordy entirety. They sit down and try to read.