The Fixer
October 29th, 2020
Starring: A & B
The living room. A is staring at a blank TV, jamming a multitude of buttons.
A
Aw fuck.
B pokes their head in:
B
You good?
A
The TV’s down again.
B
Did you try the full reset?
A
Yeah, I did the whole reset and it still isn’t connecting.
B
Hm.
I can try.
A hands the remote over to B, who talks through the steps as they do them:
B
Sooo we’re gonna press “hard reset”
A
Right.
B
And then disconnect the plug
A
Yep.
B
And then wait like 30 seconds or so
A
I did a little more, just to be sure.
They both wait. Then:
B
And then...the power button
The TV turns on, no problem.
A
What the fuck
I promise it wasn’t working
B
It’s fine now we’re good!
A
No I’m serious I did the exact same thing you did and it didn’t work
B
Well so long as it does right?
A
No.
B
It doesn’t?
A
This always happens. I try my ass off to troubleshoot something and then you come in and click click boom you fix it in one go!
B
So...are you mad at me?
A
Yeah! Well...no. I’m not mad at you you, I’m just mad that you can fix it, and when you fix it, I can’t help but feel like an inept butthole!
B
I hope you know that I don’t think of you as an inept butthole.
A
I know you don’t! You’re a kind, generous person! And that only makes me feel more like an inept butthole!
...
B
I...I don’t really know what to say.
Sorry?
A
No I’m sorry. I’m sorry.
I’m just a little fragile as of late.
B
I get that
...
Well if you need someone to listen or talk it out just know I’m here—
A
I appreciate it. I promise you’re uh...you’re doing enough.
B
Cool.
Well let me know if it stops working again, or something.
A
Thanks.
Will do.
B walks back into the other room. A stares deeply into the TV, trying to find meaning.