the conversation

the Kramden’s had supper

upstairs at the Norton’s last night.

I woke-up this morning thinking:

sitting at the neatly assembled table,

with the good dishes in place as if

it was company, what did they talk about, or

specifically, how did they talk?

what was the tenor of the conversation?

was it uncharacteristically normal?

was it quietly reserved, and measured

with friendship’s idle chatter?

was there any hint of a scheme brewing or

some sort of subterfuge lurking on the horizon?

did Alice and Trixie veer off to their own

matters of subject having nothing to do with

Ralph or Ed?

was there smiling involved?

were there polite gestures in passing

the salt across the table one to the other?

was a toilet exposed within the frame

of the setting of the scene?