Roundabout

 

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“You stopped.”

“No, I didn’t.”

“Yes, you did.”

“I never stopped.”

“And yet, you have nothing to show.”

“That’s pretty harsh.”

“It’s pretty accurate.”

“If I stopped now, I’d never know if I was on the brink of something.”

“And yet, you stopped.”

“I didn’t stop!” A foot stomped.

“OK, show me your work.”

“What? No.”

“Why not?”

“It’s my work. It’s not ready.”

“Uh-huh. Is there anything there at all? Anything?”

“No, but that doesn’t mean I stopped.”

“So what DOES it mean?”

“I’ve been exploring. Wondering.”

“Wondering about what?”

“Everything. It’s all wonderful, isn’t it?”

“You’re stalling.”

“There now — that’s a good word. I’m stalling.”

“And what are you waiting for?”

“A very good question.”

“You’re waiting for a very good question?”

“No, you have one, a very good question. What am I waiting for?”

“And …?”

“I’m waiting for the page to turn.”

“The page won’t turn itself.”

“Yet here I am, waiting.”

“What’s the difference between stopping and waiting?”

“If I have to explain, you’ll never understand.”

“So you didn’t stop. You’re waiting.”

“Exactly.”

“Foolish.”

“I fooled you, didn’t I?”

“Just for a moment.”

“Fine. I stopped. But I can start again, anytime I want.”

“OK, then, let’s see you start.”

“I’m waiting for the right time to start.”

“There’s no time like the present.”

“True, but it may not be the right time.”

“When will be the right time?”

“I’ll know.”

“Do you know what you’ve done?”

“What’s that?”

“You stopped.”

“No, I didn’t.”

“Yes, you did.”

“I never stopped.”

“And yet, you have nothing to show.”

“That’s pretty harsh.”

“It’s pretty accurate.”

“If I stopped now, I’d never know if I was on the brink of something.”

“And yet, you stopped.”

“I didn’t stop!” A foot stomped.

Published by WarrenBluhm

Wordsmith and podcaster, Warren is a reporter, editor and storyteller who lives near the shores of Green Bay with his wife, two golden retrievers, Dejah and Summer, and Blackberry, an insistent cat. Author of It's Going to Be All Right, Echoes of Freedom Past, Full, Refuse to be Afraid, Gladness is Infectious, 24 flashes, How to Play a Blue Guitar, Myke Phoenix: The Complete Novelettes, A Bridge at Crossroads, The Imaginary Bomb, A Scream of Consciousness, and The Imaginary Revolution.

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