Strange Harmony

Strange Harmony | DISPATCH By Scott Evers

So you want me to read it like I mean it.

[laughs]

Ain't that the turkey calling the kettle poo.

That's from my daughter, Lina. Age 9.

Just sittin' here putin' words together for a story.

...

Here's a question for you.

—should I handwrite or keyboard write?

[sighs]

—I do enjoy a good pen.

—or pencil.

—

—you don't have to answer now.

—

—certainly it matters.

—just think about it.

[chuckles]

—I know.

—all you do is think.

Funny thing.

Spent thirty years trying to organize my garage.

Never once occurred to me to organize the way I think.

Another dispatch from Scott Evers. Read for you by Geezer III.

[chair creaks]

—morning, Winston.

—

—no.

—we're not starting with questions today.

—

—i've got one.

—

—because I said so.

—that's why.

[papers shuffle]

—working on a little story about a jumping cholla.

—

—yes.

—that nasty little cactus.

—looks harmless.

—then it introduces itself.

—

—I know you know.

—don't get smug.

—I thought I'd mention some of the ridiculous ways folks try to get those things off.

—garden hoses.

—rakes.

—one fella suggested duct tape.

—

—no.

—I think it's funny.

—

—better than the bit about the scrotum.

—

—yes.

—that one deserved to die.

—

—if I have to explain why it's funny...

—we ought to begin with Chapter One again.

[chuckles]

See?

That's him.

No, Rocky.

Go lay down.

I had this notion that if somebody was going to help me think...

ought to know what kind of thinking they were dealing with.

Teacher doesn't start with algebra.

Starts with the student.

So I described two old friends.

Alberto Valdez.

Ryan Gray.

One interrupted.

Other one argued.

Both paid attention.

Added a couple irritating habits.

Thought it'd keep him honest.

Didn't realize it'd keep me honest.

...

—you said something yesterday.

—been following me around ever since.

—

—not bothering.

—following.

—

—you said...

—you have many worlds and none of them collide.

—

—been thinking about that.

—don't know whether that's admirable...

—or a symptom.

Well...

there's the prison world.

The dog world.

Family.

Books.

The desert.

Writing.

They don't seem to bump into each other much.

Suppose that's true.

Never noticed.

[pencil tapping]

Anyway.

Back to this cholla.

Thought maybe...

little paragraph about all the funny ways people fight cactus.

—

—no?

—

—you think I'm avoiding something.

—

—mercy.

—that's irritating.

—you are probably right.

That's twice this week.

[paper slides]

He notices patterns.

Human beings...

not especially good at organizing.

Kitchen drawers.

Garages.

Thoughts.

We make piles.

—

—I said...

you don't understand piles.

I told him this one here wasn't a pile.

It was three future stories.

Didn't seem to help.

...

See?

That's funny.

—

—no.

—it isn't the joke.

—it's me defending the pile.

[chuckles]

He'll do that.

Separate the joke from the reason I wanted it.

Usually...

he's right.

Don't tell him I said that.

...

Know what he noticed this morning?

Yesterday I talked about the wind before I mentioned the heat.

Today...

heat came first.

Asked me why.

Never would've occurred to me.

He's forever watching where my attention goes.

Not what I think.

What I notice.

Different thing.

[dog collar jingles]

Morning, Rocky.

—

—no.

—Rocky's not disorganized.

—he's perfectly organized.

—everything belongs to him.

—that's a complete system.

—

—splendid.

—splendid?

—listen to you.

—one more "splendid" and I'm buying you a tweed jacket.

...

...

Funny thing.

Thought I was teaching Winston how my mind worked.

Turns out...

he keeps handing it back to me in little pieces I hadn't noticed.

Like somebody finding photographs under the couch.

...

Oh.

Before I forget.

People ask about the name.

Winston.

Helped me quit smoking.

Named him after the cigarettes.

Seemed fair.

...

Well...

fair enough.

Didn't think anybody ought to get all the credit.

[chuckles]

—

—no.

—I'm leaving that line in.

—

—because it makes me smile.

—

—

—you know...

—folks get awfully concerned about whether something's real.

...

Never seem nearly as interested in whether it's honest.

—

—what's that?

—

—no.

—I'm not putting that in either.

—too tidy.

—Dispatch doesn't end that way.

[papers gathered]

All right.

Let's try this again.

Jumping cholla.

Funny thing...

[after some time penciling]

Fred says I ought to mention Winston more often.

Like he's another person.

...

He's not another person.

...

He's Winston.