Long & Short
December 21st, 2020
Starring: A & B
The community park. A & B sit on the metal bleachers of the baseball field.
A
Fired.
B
Like furloughed?
A
Like fired.
…
B
What happened?
A
Long story.
B
Can you give me something? Sparknotes? First chapter?
A
If I’m telling it, I have to tell all of it, and I already told it separately to my sister, brother, partner, an employment lawyer, and each of my parents.
...
I do care about you. But me not telling you now is me caring about you.
…
B
So...then how can I help you?
A
I don’t think you can outside of being you.
B
...but in being me do you want me to do? Like should I try to make you forget everything or make you feel better or refer you to someone hiring...?
...
Silence is also an option.
A
Uh
I mean I don’t know. I don’t want you to say nothing, but I don’t know what I want you to say.
B
I don’t either.
A
So say something. Literally anything, I don’t care.
B
Ok
...
Today is the shortest day of the year.
A
Right, it is.
Cool.
B
So...no matter what happens today, at least it’ll be over faster.
A
Mm.
…
I mean it’s not any faster, it’s just less daylight, right?
B
No yeah
But like in your head it makes a difference. For me it does.
A
Right.
Only gets longer from here.
B
Yeah.
A
Not longer, brighter.
B
Yeah.
So that’s good.
A
Unless you like more darkness.
B
Noone does. Sometimes it’s just easier to find.
A
Anything else?
B shakes their head.
A
Why aren’t you...
B
I don’t know if I’m helping so I self-imposed the silent option.
Starting now.
…
A
Thank you.
B
No prob
or um
B flashes the thumbs up. They sit together, quietly.