[Writingworkshop] Hope

[Neale Morison]

09/06/2008 06:36

Hope

In the weak moment of waking, the shrill of the doorbell.
Who can it be at this hour?
Gingerly barefoot down the stairs,
Blinking in the brightness.
It's Hope.

You've caught us at a bad time, I'm afraid.
There's nowhere to sit.
All the furniture is sold.

We're probably not at our best.
The clothes are all packed.
We'll suck in our guts and try not to sag.
Darling? It's Hope.
You've seen the scars, haven't you?
The tufts, the moles, the discolorations.
The silver stretch marks, the wounds that healed.
Hope doesn't mind.

We'd offer you something, but nothing is left.
We did our best to eat it all.
We don't know when we'll get a chance.
A glass of water?
Sorry, no glasses. No water.

No, no, we don't have anything lined up.
Just going on spec, basically.
There'll be something.
No address, unfortunately.   

A gift? You shouldn't have.
So kind.
Look darling. Isn't it pretty?
It's just that we can't take much.
Our baggage is bursting.
Thank you so much for your interest.
Your advice.
It was lovely meeting you.
If you're ever down that way, do look us up.

-- 
Neale Morison
neale at nealemorison.com
http://www.nealemorison.com
31 Maple Ave #2, Cambridge MA 02139
+1 617 460 9969
nmorison at mit.edu