There was a way by which the entire historical human population could be represented by two-square-inch rectangles of aluminum pressed together and formed into an ever-expanding globe in Rock's back bedroom.
Shortly after it was begun, the globe began to grow so rapidly that Rock was pressed against the back wall of the room. He found it hard to breathe. Panic came in short order.
Sunday, April 19, 2020
Friday, April 17, 2020
Nearly magical
Rock was with a handful of friends in a church auditorium to watch some sort of presentation. He couldn't remember exactly what the coming program would encompass, but he was at least temporarily indifferent. These friends of his, apparently spearheaded by Erin, the only one among them he would later recall, had arranged for him to sit beside a somewhat distinguished-looking middle-aged woman.
These friends sat on a pew immediately behind Rock and watched as the woman introduced herself.
"I'm an actress," she said. "I have made a lot of money over the years. I am, you know, really quite wealthy. My last name is so complex I don't believe you would ever learn to correctly pronounce it. My first name is, on the other hand, while considerably rare, is nothing you would have any particular trouble learning to say. Furthermore, I have always thought it was quite lovely."
Rock glanced back toward his acquaintances with a quizzical look intentionally exaggerated for the sake of humor. He wondered if this was all a setup, a practical joke of some sort.
"My parents explained to me that first names like mine were central to success," the actress continued. "There is something special—nearly magical—about its soothing and colorful sound that appeals not only to the elite but to the masses as well. They were from..."
Rock at last interrupted to ask the woman in a tone that clearly requested she please, oh god, tell him her goddamn name.
"It's Ashland," she said. "I'm sorry. I don't know why I always go on and on like that sometimes. It's something I have done forever. I have begun to work toward getting more to the point in my conversations, but it's always been difficult for me to find..."
These friends sat on a pew immediately behind Rock and watched as the woman introduced herself.
"I'm an actress," she said. "I have made a lot of money over the years. I am, you know, really quite wealthy. My last name is so complex I don't believe you would ever learn to correctly pronounce it. My first name is, on the other hand, while considerably rare, is nothing you would have any particular trouble learning to say. Furthermore, I have always thought it was quite lovely."
Rock glanced back toward his acquaintances with a quizzical look intentionally exaggerated for the sake of humor. He wondered if this was all a setup, a practical joke of some sort.
"My parents explained to me that first names like mine were central to success," the actress continued. "There is something special—nearly magical—about its soothing and colorful sound that appeals not only to the elite but to the masses as well. They were from..."
Rock at last interrupted to ask the woman in a tone that clearly requested she please, oh god, tell him her goddamn name.
"It's Ashland," she said. "I'm sorry. I don't know why I always go on and on like that sometimes. It's something I have done forever. I have begun to work toward getting more to the point in my conversations, but it's always been difficult for me to find..."
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