42. Catercorner
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`”Before your mother left me…”
~”Left us, dad…”
`”No, girls. Believe me: she only left me…”
*”Really, daddy? Reason I ask is cuz: wouldn’t that mean we’d have a mommy?”
`”No! No – I meant, the only reason she left is because of me — you were the reason she stayed around as long as she did. … I didn’t mean to imply that it only hurts me and neither of you angels.”
~”It’s okay, dad. She’s just confused.”
*”What’s confooshun mean?”
`”At this age? She’s still getting confused? Should I be concerned, Becka?”
~”What do you mean?”
`”Oh, lord: No! Not you too? I’d just die if you were suffering from confusion too. Everyone here seems to come down with confusion more and more. I’m afraid confusion might run in your mother’s side of the family.”
*”Mommy’s sick daddy?”
`”No, of course not, child. :;
:.: Oh, garsh. I hope that ‘No, of course not, child.‘ didn’t sound like I meant you should already know that information. I meant, like: don’t worry. She’s healthy. Know what I mean? Healthy instead of not healthy. Do you see the difference, babies? Lines of Communication are on the fritz everywhere you look. Sometimes we try to repair a given line by using something special; It’s called inflection; However, :.;
:..: this same thing can take some lines completely down altogether, rendering them utterly useless. Just as any tool made or used by man, it is also a weapon. //
/ If I had to pick a specific tool that represents the intangible one, I’d say it’s the boat for your words when you let them sail out of your mouths. How are you feeling? Hungry? Anybody? Pizza bagelers to the rescue?”
~”Dad, we’re fine. How are you holding up?”
*”Inflexum? The S.S. Inflexum!”
`”That’s right, honey. Good work. /
// Wait, :;
:.: I was telling a story. A moment ago: Wasn’t I? :.;
:..: Or was I? Was I? Hmm? :..;
:…: Wait..? Hmm. Hmm hmm-hmm.“
~”You were telling us the story about seeing her for the first time, in the far corner, straight away and across the room, diagonal-sy from the corner you were in. Corner kitties, you’d say. No – kitty corner from each other.”
`”Hm.”
*”Diametrec oppozishun, daddy?”
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