Eating the Pets

Eating the Pets

 

(Bare tree, fallen leaves.  Two on a bench.)

 

R:  They’re eating the pets.

D:  They’re eating the pets?

R:  Dogs and cats. 

D:  People’s pets?

R:  The pets of the people, yeah.

D:  Can't be true.

R:  I read it.

D:  It's been debunked.

R:  Debunked?

D:  Debunked.

R:  Debunked!!

(seeming surrender) True, not true?  How could I have known?

D:  How could you?

R:  I heard it.

D:  You heard it or you read it?

R:  They’re eating the pets.  Are you even listening?

D:  Of the people who live there.  I know.

R:  Good.

D:  Good.

(eye each other warily)

D:  You making it up?

R:  Creating a story.

D:  Wha'?

R:  I have to.  They’re eating the pets.

D:  You’re creating a story that they're eating the pets cause they're eating the pets?

R:  I don’t know.  You don’t know. (shrugs) Who knows?

D:  They’re not eating the pets.

R:  People say they are.

D:  Because you told them!  You told them they’re eating the pets! 

R:  I did and I didn’t.

D:  (sighs) And they believed you.

R:  How could I not know?  I read it.  I heard it.

D:  At least you learned a lesson.

(pregnant pause)

R:  What about the geese? They’re missing.  And I think I know why.