THE AFTERNOON

- Did he say something?
- No.
- But he moved his finger a little there. I’m sure of it.
- No.
- What’s he watching?
- Ooh, I like that one. Which episode?
- The one with who cares.
- Sulky much?
- Dear God. Another afternoon in front of Netflix. They say human life passes in the blink of an eye. I blink and blink. Still here.
- I remember the cousin of Moses. Remember that? What year was that?
- I was there?
- Sure, you don’t remember? The earth shattered.
- Oh, yes. It was terrible. The year of locusts was especially busy, too. Was it before or after? That was a busy year.
- Yeah, it was.
- Remember the psycho with the axe? In 1964?
- Ugh, the terror!
- We worked day and night for that criminal.
- I was so hopeful when he bought that present for the girlfriend!
- Yeah, but then got mad and cut her throat.
- Why?? I was so disappointed, it started off so well.
- The girlfriend had Seth and Maya. I can’t forget their look, they were in such a shock, couldn’t do one bit, then dragged her out of there in a lightning second.
- Poor Seth, he always had to guard the murder victims. Even in the Buddhist temple.
- He almost got light-reviewed after that. Mother got upset, you know.

 ***

- Hey, I remember this episode now! Haha, it was funny.
- The first time it was funny. The second time it was funny in a different way, you know how you catch those mimics and gestures and some of the jokes you missed the first time? Even funnier. This is the fifth time and I’m about to puke.
- It’s not the fifth time.
- Oh, I think it is.
- Let’s go to the records then, shall we? 1998 June 18, 2 pm, the first time. The next day, 10 am, the second. That was the year he got sacked.
- Yeah, I know. The Dreadful Year of the Reruns.
- 2001, 2005. OK, you are right, this is the fifth time. Oh well, at least he’s happy.
- Is he now, poor dear soul? Good for H-I-M! I’m bored. So dead B-O-R-E-D. I want to do my job. Come on, you intricate piece of carbon, get up! Go to a bar and hit a guy! Walk in the dark alleys at night! Do bungee jumping! Something! Anything! Anything!
- Calm down crazy!
- I’ve never been assigned to such a dreadfully boring waste of oxygen. This is the worst one. EVER! The nuns had more interesting lives in the Vatican monastery, and that’s saying something.
- Did he move?
- NOOOOOO!
- Stop wriggling, you are squishing my wings!
- As if you need them!
- Just go over there, scootch . You are ruffling my feathers! I’ll tell on you to Mother!
- Oh you will? Tell Mother then! Just so you know, you are getting on my nerves too, you Big Bird! I’m at my wits' end.
- Creep!
- Light sucker!

***

- Wanna play a game?
- You don’t know any games. I’ve got thousands of lives I’ve spent with you to prove it.
- I do, too. Did he cut his finger on the soda tin?
- No.
- Oh, O.K. Well the game is, I’ll show you a colour and you’ll guess the frequency of the light.
- Mother, take me now.
- Hey, why am I getting on your nerves?
- You are dull.
- Take that back!
- No way.
- Jerk.
- Piss.
- I’ll watch TV now. I’ll turn to this side. Please don’t disturb me.
- Fine by me. 

***

- Hey, sorry for calling you dull.
- No problem, I went ballistic on you yesterday.
- I know.
- It’s just that, we need to cheer each other up.
- I know.
- Wow, we’ve just got an aural message. Says Seth is free now.
- Already? Five feathers say his assignment was murdered.
- You are on.
- We could learn about it when this fine specimen of a human being goes to sleep. Seth will drop by then. If this one doesn’t have a lady over and stays awake, of course.
- Haha, good one.
- Haha, right? As if.
- New episode. Did he attempt to get up slightly there?
- No, he just thought of it. But then he said “Meh”. Shocking. Even his thoughts are uninteresting.
- How many times have we seen this episode?
- (Sigh) Eight.
- Oh dear Mother.
- Unbelievable, I just can’t. Blinking and blinking. Nothing, seriously.

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