Dialogue

It’s one of those dull Sunday afternoons I passionately hate. It’s the last bit of weekend and you should cherish it, yet I find myself disappointed and bored. I’m sitting, cross legged on the bed with a Sudoko puzzle. You are sitting in your leather armchair marking essay papers. The scratch of your pen bothers me - it's as if every scratch is sticking its tongue at me, reminding me that my Sudoko boxes are still empty. If you were doing the puzzle, you would be done by now. Yes I know, I know, you're more intelligent than me. I get it. So I start to colour the boxes in and I scratch louder than you. I scratch so hard the paper starts to tear but I continue. I scratch right through to my pyjama trousers, I scratch through the fabric, I scratch till I reach my skin.

- Screw this silence -

“I hate how we never talk anymore”

There I said it. You don’t even look up.

“I hate how we don’t understand each other”

Still no movement from you.

“At all”

You don’t stop marking your essays.
You arrogantly scratch your nose.

“Thanks for listening, asshole”

Yes I am being childish, yes I know. What are you going to do about it?

Nothing - still no response.

I can be more childish, I know you hate that.

“Maybe you should make some fucking effort”

Take that - you lift up your head.

“Calm down Suzy”

“No”

More anger.

“Fuck you”

“You can’t just throw a statement out there like that ‘we don’t understand each other’ – what am I supposed to say to something like that? What is it you want me to say?”

I don’t know. I guess you’re right. Shit. How do I respond? Shit, why am I not more clever with words, I could throw something out there, something witty and feisty and I’d smack those essays write out of your hands and smash your glasses and poke your eyeballs out and … -

“You don’t even know do you? This isn’t an argument Suzy”

“What is it then?”

“You’re trying to upset me or provoke me or I don’t know. You’re doing something and it’s annoying so please just stop it”

Oh you are an asshole aren’t you! The fury rages in my head but I have nothing to say so I leave and slam the door behind me, I know you hate that. Shit, still holding that stupid Sudoko booklet. I re-open the door and chuck it at you. I don’t stay to watch your reaction. I slam the door again.