Here’s a story from my web series Dialogues: a Collection of Creative Conversations.

Like if you enjoy, and check out all the stories in the series.

1

—What are you to do with yourself, Andy? You’ve broken all your toys.

—Can’t we fix them?

—No, we’re going to have to throw them away.

—But I don’t want to throw them away. I want to fix them.

—They’re in pieces. How does it make you feel? Do you feel better, having broken all your toys?

—No.

—Well, Andy, help me pick them up and take them to the trash.

—Mommy?

—What?

—I’m sorry.

—I know.

—Can’t we try to glue them?

—No, glue and tape aren’t going to fix these. They’re kaput.

—You need to fix them.

—I can’t fix them.

—Fix them now. I need you to try to fix them, Mommy.

—Calm down, Andy.

—No. No, I won’t. I want my toys.

—If you break them, you’ve got to throw them away. There’s no sense in holding on to a broken toy that you can’t fix.

 

 

2

—What are you to do with yourself, Andy? You’ve broken my heart.

—Can’t we reconcile this?

—No, we’re going to have to separate.

—But I don’t want to separate. I want to mend this.

—My heart’s in pieces. How does it make you feel? Do you feel better, having broken my heart?

—No.

—Well, Andy, help me pick my things up and take them to the van.

—Jackie?

—What?

—I’m sorry.

—I know.

—Can’t we try to work this out?

—No, flowers and foot massages aren’t going to fix this. Our relationship is kaput.

—You need to come to terms with this.

—I can’t come to terms with this.

—Patch it up with me now. I need you to try to forgive this, Jackie.

—Calm down, Andy.

—No. No, I won’t. I want our relationship.

—If you break my heart, you’ve got to let me walk away. There’s no sense in holding on to a broken relationship that you can’t mend.

 

3

—What are you to do with yourself, Andy? You’ve lost your case.

—Can’t we appeal?

—No, we’re going to have to accept the verdict.

—But I don’t want to go to prison. I want to appeal.

—You’ve lost your case. How does it make you feel? Do you feel better, having the verdict at long last?

—No.

—Well, Andy, help me look over these financial documents so they can be filed.

—Helen?

—What?

—I’m sorry.

—I know.

—Can’t we try to appeal the verdict?

—No, appeals and delays aren’t going to change the outcome. It’s finished.

—You need to appeal.

—I can’t appeal this.

—Appeal the decision now. I need you to try to appeal this, Helen.

—Calm down, Andy.

—No. No, I won’t. I want an appeal.

—If you break the law, you’ve got to accept your fate. There’s no sense in appealing a cut and dry murder case.

 

4

—What are you to do with yourself, Andy? You’ve shit your pants.

—Can’t we clean them?

—No, we’re going to have to toss them out.

—But I don’t want to throw them away. I want them cleaned.

—They’re disgusting. How does it make you feel? Do you feel better, having shit your pants?

—No.

—Well, Andy, help me get these off to take to the trash.

—Nurse?

—What?

—I’m sorry.

—I know.

—Can’t we try to clean them?

—No, soap and water aren’t going to clean these. They’re ruined.

—You need to wash them.

—I can’t clean those.

—Clean them now. I need you to try to clean them, Nurse.

—Calm down, Andy.

—No. No, I won’t. I want my pants.

—If you shit your pants, you’ve got to throw them away. There’s no sense in holding on to shit-stained pants that you can’t clean.

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If you enjoyed this story-in-dialogue, please consider checking out the whole series. You can find the series here and a descriptive table of contents here.