The Disillusionists cont'd...

Jay, Mike, May and Alexis sat around the fire. They ignored me as I returned and took the only thing available to sit on - a milk crate. Mike was looking at the day's rushes on the computer. Jay was in a talkative mood. "...I mean I went through a stage where I thought it was necessary to let everyone know my secrets. Now I think it's more important to just do what the word means, I mean, it wasn't just some guy who had an idea, it was developed over the centuries since the first ape hid somebody's banana. Who was I to go against that?"

"I would like to have a conversation without the words I, Me or Mine in it." May said to no one in particular although Jay looked aghast and went back into his default silent mode. Mike tried to keep things flowing although his attention was squarely on the computer. "So now you're a guy with a lot of secrets."

Jay blurted, "I know what you're saying but I like to think I don't have any." He counted the number of I's to himself.

"The first time I met Alexis," Mike said - still focusing on the computer, "she showed me a tattoo on her ankle that said No Regrets in German. So I said, 'You could look at it as - don't do anything you might regret later', and she looked at me with real... hostility. Like the thought had never occurred to her."

"You know," said Alexis, "I'm sitting right here." She scratched absently at her boot.

"You thought that since you had inscribed yourself with this message from stoner-dom, that it gave you free reign to do whatever the hell you want..."

Alexis focused two little lazer beams on Mike's head. She probably knew everything there was to know about this guy and still he had to treat her this way. She got up and went inside.

Mike continued without looking up, "The equally, perhaps infinitely more interesting concept... and now I've gone and spoiled the party." Mike grinned at us. No one shared his sense of humour.

"How about you G. Any kids?" he said, turning back to the computer.

"No. You?"

"Nope. So what, you've never been married?"

"No. I've been lucky."

"Why do you say that?"

"I don't know. It's something people say."

"Just anybody eh?"

"Okay, here we go." I sighed.

"Here we go what?"

"Is this part of the workshop? Part of the curve?"

"What do you mean?"

"Listen, I don't really have the energy."

"Okay. May, what about you?"

"What about me what?"

"Any kids?"

"Shut the fuck up Mike."