interview

is this thing on?
[inaudible—
steel wheel and flint—
breathing out—
more inaudible—]

yeah man. two fingers. neat.
[off-mike laughter / on-mike laughter]
oh fuck no, don't you dare.
rocks are for wussies who
don't really like their whiskey,
but like to pretend they do.
[the sound of a glass set down on wood]
aintcha heard of a fucking coaster?
jesus. [more shuffling sounds]
it might be shit wood veneer, but
show some respect, willya?

[machine wheels turn—
new voice enters]
do you mind if we just to the chase?
can i be blunt?

[nervous laughter—
first voice returns— sound
of someone sipping]
sure, sure. let's get on with it. exclusive
access, might as well take
advantage of it. ask away ask away.

why do you eat them?

11 responses to “interview”

  1. tara caribou Avatar

    he-he-he… I enjoyed this

    1. michael raven Avatar

      Thank you! 💙

  2. Bob Avatar

    Good one. Enjoyed the interview form. And the mysterious ending.

    1. michael raven Avatar

      Thanks! I like ambiguity because it gives the reader agency to fill in the blanks and personalize the story in their head. 🙂

  3. chrisnelson61 Avatar

    Breaking into playWright territory. I like it!

    1. michael raven Avatar

      Thanks! I don’t know. Just mixing it up so see what happens.

  4. shredbobted Avatar

    I used to have a room mate from Panama. He said the two fingers were supposed to be index and pinkie.

    1. michael raven Avatar

      They aren’t?

      I must have been drinking Panama-style back in the day.

        1. michael raven Avatar

          Confessions of a recovering alcoholic, page 573