 |
| Click image for more vignettes |
The Goineses were at their dining table when Mrs. Goines’ phone rang. She answered it. Whoever it was, she didn’t recognize them. “You have the wrong number ... That’s okay. No problem.”
Her phone rang again within seconds. Goines waited to see what Mrs. Goines would do.
Without speaking, she hung up.
Goines raised his eyebrows.
“The same woman. She might be drunk.”
“Or maybe she just miskeyed and tried again?”
A minute later the phone rang for the third time.
Goines couldn’t wait to see…but Mrs. Goines said, “I’m not going to answer it. I think she’s drunk.”
“Or perhaps religious?” Goines interjected. “Maybe she thinks if she believes hard enough it’ll be the right number?”
Goines immediately felt a pang of conscience – interesting phrase, he thought, “pang of conscience.” Whoever was ringing Mrs. Goines’ number, who was Goines – or anyone else – to judge what was behind it, whether she were religious, or what religion might have to do with it?
Or what the caller wanted, or needed, or was after? Or who she was, or thought she was, or needed to be, in her own world?
Or what might be on her mind?
“Or perhaps religious?” Goines interjected. “Maybe she thinks if she believes hard enough it’ll be the right number?”
Goines immediately felt a pang of conscience – interesting phrase, he thought, “pang of conscience.” Whoever was ringing Mrs. Goines’ number, who was Goines – or anyone else – to judge what was behind it, whether she were religious, or what religion might have to do with it?
Or what the caller wanted, or needed, or was after? Or who she was, or thought she was, or needed to be, in her own world?
Or what might be on her mind?
Hadn’t Goines said to someone only the day before that his own mind seemed to have a mind of its own? Look what it was doing to him now, interrogating him, second-guessing him, grilling him.
Enough conscience prickings, smartings, stitchings, tinglings! Enough, enough!
| Copyright © 2013, 2022 by Morris Dean (aka Moristotle) |
Nine yeas ago, I don’t think Goines could have appreciated how much his regard for the complete stranger would burgeon, his need, perhaps, to connect with life in all its manifestations. Had he always been a world adventurer, only lately beginning to mature?
ReplyDeleteBrilliant! I have never seen "breaking through the fourth wall" occur in literature, as when Goines analyzes his own use of "pang of conscience." What are all the walls here: nine years, page to screen to reader. I'm already lost. Can't wait to read more.
ReplyDeleteOh, my, Pat, I think you may just have taken first place in the competition to be my favorite critic!
Delete