Listen: twenty-nine short conversations
Page 15
Merlin—Well and good.
Randolph—Mordred is taking credit left and right for it, of course.
Merlin—I’m going to turn that turncoat into a stoat.
Randolph—Quite right, Sir.
Merlin—After all is said and done, we have it now, don’t we? It’s ours. It’s Britain’s.
Randolph—Rightfully so, Sir.
Merlin—Can’t help feeling a little guilty over the Irish though.
Randolph—Send them some rainbows, Sir.
Merlin—Randolph, you have a keen grasp of International Politics.
Randolph—Yes, Sir. Thank you, Sir.
Merlin—And it’s popular, eh?
Randolph—Quite. I hear the tourist trade is up 37% in just one week. There’s talk of an inn, a roadway, and a couple of food stands.
Merlin—Good, good. An unequivocal hit, then.
Randolph—Ye-es.
Merlin—You seem hesitant.
Randolph—There was a suggestion about the entranceway, lining it with topiary in the shapes of the Twelve.
Merlin—Inappropriate.
Randolph—Yes, and, well the name, Sir?
Merlin—Yes.
Randolph—Some people want to call it something else. Woodhenge was such a bust, there’s talk that we need a catchier moniker for this one.
Merlin—Hm. I’ll think on it, Randolph.
Randolph—Quite right, Sir.
Merlin—Anything else?
Randolph—I hesitate to mention it, Sir.
Merlin—Randolph.
Randolph—Well, the blood sacrifices, Sir. Some people are taking exception to them.
Merlin—Nitpickers.
Randolph—Yes, Sir. There’s also talk about Avebury wanting one, too.
Merlin—Imitation is the sincerest form, eh, Randolph?
Randolph—Quite, Sir.
Merlin—(striking his forehead) The Giant’s Dance!
Randolph—Sir?
Merlin—For the name.
Randolph—Ah. Quite euphonious.
Merlin—Oh, and Randolph, is the Queen about?
Randolph—Yes, Sir.
Merlin—Can we squeeze her in before the King?
Randolph—(allowing himself a small smile) I believe so, Sir.
Merlin—Tell her I am ready to show her the Bull again.
Randolph—The Bull, sir?
Merlin—She’ll understand. The Bull, Randolph.
Randolph—Yes, sir.
Acknowledgement:s
Stories from this collection have previously appeared in the following:
‘Listen’ in Arkansas Review
‘The Hen Man’ in The Wandering Army
‘Subject: Email Eros’ in Thieves Jargon
‘The Plot to Kidnap Stonehenge’ in From the Asylum
‘Chin-Chin on Golgotha’ in Sugarmule and Unlikely Stories and in the chapbook, Short Story and Other Short Stories (Parallel Press)
‘His Last Work’ in Art Times
‘Hypnotic Induction’ in Raging Face
‘The Lita Conversation’ in The Cerebral Catalyst and in the Southern Hum chapbook The Lita Conversation
‘Write Em Right’ in Eye-Rhyme
‘At the Zoo’ in Bewildering Stories
‘What Lemmy Found in the Woods’ in Torkstar Underground Fiction
‘Barbra and Chuck Said We’d Like Each Other’ in Internet Fiction
‘My Continued Conversation with the TV’ in Girls with Insurance
‘The Heart is a Transmission’ in Juked
‘Mitmensch’ in Stranger Box
‘Where’s the Game’ in Chick Flicks Ezine
‘Punk Band’ in slightly different form in In Posse Review
‘Chin-Chin in Eden’ in slightly different form in Lonzie’s Fried Chicken, poetrysuperhighway, and in the chapbook, Chin-Chin in Eden (Still Waters Press, 2003)
‘Talk about Talk’ in Cautionary Tale
‘Adman’ in Heat City Review
‘Conversation with the Headless Man’ in The Journal of Experimental Fiction
‘Spring Ahead, Fall Behind’ in The Starry Night Review
‘My Continued Conversation with the Ghost of John Lennon’ in Yankee Pot Roast
‘My Continued Conversation with Insomnia’ in Dream Virus
‘My Continued Conversation with the Ghost of my Father in Skive
‘She and He in a Swivet’ in Pindeldyboz
Part of ‘My Continued Conversation with my Father’ appeared in The Journal of Modern Post
The Final Thankyous.
To Cheryl, Toby, Chloe, Sadie Mesler my Mother, Mark, Mark, Mark, Mike, Marshall, Marshall, Steve, Steve, Stephen, Robb, Susan Why, Michelle, Elea Guru, Melinda, Marsha Cubed, Margaret Cubed, Donald, Boz, Eddie, Tim, Tom, Christine, Bobby and Larry, Elise, Debbie and Neil, Jeff, David, David, David, Chuck, Sam, Louise, Kathleen, Nicki, Arlene, Jaybird, Larry, Rebecca, Trish, Scrabble Kate, Father Kate, Henry D, Lisa Z. who calls me Corey Story, Wardo the Magnificent, the Good Folks at Thesaurus.com, Dr. M., Dr. P., Sue the Single, Sue the Sister, Ray, Gracie, Syrie, Joe Taylor and the Numinous Livingston Press, Paul at Wood Works for his arts and smarts, Nannette Divine whose real name is Nannette Divine, John Pritchard The Mayor of Midtown, Marly, Selah, Doug, Rick Barthelme, Dave Markson, Suzanne K., Rick Powers, Bob Butler, Miles G., John G., Cary H., George S., Alisa, Ashley, Dan, and the great dialoguers, Mr. Albee, Mr. Beckett, Mr. Pinter and Mr. Mamet. And, like everything else I manage or don’t manage, this is in memory of my father, Al Mesler (1921-2001).