The Bureau of Dreams to be Continued by Edward Drobinski - HTML preview

The Bureau of Dreams to be Continued

Page 532

being the best writer to personally maintain an active presence on Goofreads. Besides, the moderator stands behind her chest-of-drawers-imitating-a-podium; thereby demonstrating that she is the only one in the room sufficiently bright to not be on the floor imitating the uncomfortable Maharishi in search of Mia. Double besides; no one has anywhere else to go on Thursday evenings. Triple besides; why can’t they just give you all the pills you want? Fucking fascists.

It’s time to go. With no small difficulty and a few groans not adequately muffled the congregation arises. Perhaps somewhat induced by the unsteady, wobbling legs, the congregants exchange two second cuddles. They are careful to maintain a two foot distance between crotches while each says; “Wonderful meeting” or some other incomplete sentence with those two words complemented by two others. The reserve demonstrated is at best the result of a shyness. At worse it is the perfunctory result of the logical ice mixed with a sociably acceptable pretense. At worst the actual act of “cuddling” is replaced by the common manifestation politely referred to as “grin and bear it.” This tends to be most strongly exhibited by the married couples and long term partners. The moderator slowly walked among her flock. Her well-practiced, condescending smile has been perfected at the residential real estate job she has suffered for the past