Daniel:		This is all vaguely apocalyptic. Is it your feverish mind's work?
Charly:	Yup. I needed a Tylenol and some bedrest.
Paula:	You know, at first I felt it was a metaphor for the Christ child's coming, and then realized it was more like, perhaps, one of the four beasts. Now I am realizing it is a frustrated writer... first draft, second edit... re-read... peer evaluation...
Charly:	Paula, you're the real deal! My clunky metaphors can't stand a chance agaisnt you... Hey, Daniel, what did you mean by apocalyptic? Was that "apocalyptic" in the sense of "world's end" or "truths revealed"?
Daniel:	Apocalyptic in the sense of the four beasts.
Paula:	Yeah, just like in Daniel's visons.
Daniel:	I haven't had any visions.
Paula:	The book of Daniel. I was just reading that today... It's pretty good reading for people who like gnarly description. Kinda like your mother and her "spawn," Charly.
Christine:	What's up, guys?
Charly:	Nothing much. Hey, Christine, what was that book you mentioned yesterday you were reading?
Christine:	The Bondwoman's Narrative. I just started it.
Charly:	Yeah? And how do you like it?
Christine:	Oof! The freaking introduction is 65 pages long! I was in the middle of it and thought about skipping ahead to the actual story, but then there's this post-introduction introduction, where the editor blogs about how he wonders if he did well by the manuscript and if the introduction will help explain it. So—
Charly:	Hold on, hold on... "Blogs"?
Christine:	Uh-hu.
Charly:	"Blogs"? What do you mean "blogs"? Is it like that Slate article I read the other day where they said the New York Times was "blogging" about the Augusta National Golf Club, where they said the Times was sort of churning and whisking yesterday's topic, adding new ingredients in incremental proportions in story after story until they build a 12-foot tall meringue? Is that what you mean?
Christine:	(Gives Charly a long stare before answering.) Has someone ever told you you're kind of weird?
Charly:	Yeah, I've felt that way before.
Christine:	Anyway, I've just heard some good news: Cracker Barrel has voted to add sexual orientation to their non-discrimination policy!
Charly:	You don't say.
Christine:	Yeah! You know, I started boycotting them years ago when I first heard about their discriminatory policies, but it's been so long, that I remembered it as being a racial thing! So, in October when I heard that you could rent books-on-tape from their stores and then return them at any Cracker Barrel store anywhere, I was torn. I was on a business trip, so I couldn't just get something from the library, and I didn't want to buy something and have to carry it back with me on the plane. I decided to stop in, see if I saw any "people of color" working there, and if not, I'd just leave. But, the hostess and the manager were black, so—Uh-oh!
Charly:	What?
Christine:	You don't mind me saying "black," do you?
Charly:	No. Why should I? Black is black.
Christine:	It's just that some people are sensitive about that. But I mean—c'mon! What do they call black people in Sweden? African-Swedes? How about Germany? Afro-Saxons? I doubt it. And I said "people of color" in quotes only because I don't really talk like that; it doesn't just roll off my tongue.
Charly:	That's cool. I, for one, am glad to hear someone use it so naturally... if not without being all self-concious, know what I mean?
Daniel:	(Lets out a big yawn.)
Charly:	What's up with you?
Daniel:	Oh, nothing. It's just that I had insomnia last night. Usually happens to me when I travel, so this may have been the first time it happened at home.
Charly:	So how are you feeling now?
Daniel:	I don't think I have the mental coherence to hold a decent conversation. I feel like I'm lacking the ability to focus for a sufficient amount of time.
Charly:	Yeah, you look kind of blurry to me.
Daniel:	You know, last night while I was lying in bed, I was thinking—Have you noticed how sometimes, when someone is telling you about something, how you start identifying specific thoughts and ideas as conversation worthy? And then you start thinking twice about commenting on some other people's conversations, thinking that your comment could be a new conversation in and of itself?
Charly:	Uh... Yeah...
Daniel:	Well, whenever I have such a thought I try to ignore it. I mean, if what someone else is telling you inspires an idea, it's almost fair that the idea should be associated with it through a comment at the moment rather than necessarily a new diatribe.
Charly:	Uh-huh, ri-i-ight... Well, Mr. Fair-pants, I— (Lets the last word hang in the air.)
Daniel:	Uh-huh, what?
Charly:	Uh... You know, I was going to say something regarding your "comments" and "diatribes" rant, but I can't focus know. This lack of concentration of yours, it's contagious.
Daniel:	Ha!
The Preacher:	Hey, gang! Wanna know what's in the Preacher's pants?
All the rest:	Ugh! Eew!
Charly:	Preacher, that's the scariest thing I've heard today.