J R

— Cut down waste, same reason they make these chairs so God damned uncomfortable afraid you’ll try to come in and dine. Napkins on the table people would use them if there’s none in reach they use the back of their hand problem’s manners take time why they won’t let you have any, time is money money’s the…

— Thank you Mister Bast, please don’t bother to…

— Like a gas station come in feed get out they, Mister who…?

— Oh I, I thought you must know each other, Mister Bast? She put the neatly folded napkin under the cup, — Mister Gibbs. We were terribly fortunate to run into him…

— Yes glad to help, what’s…

— No no Mister Bast I meant, he’s been…

— Mister Bast? Sorry didn’t recognize you Mister Bast, I want to congratulate you on that music appreciation program. Real milestone wouldn’t you say Miss, Mrs…

— No she she didn’t see it, I…

— Real milestone shame she missed it, probably electrify your whole teaching career Mister Bast have you talked to Mis…

— No I’m, no, no I…

— But he’s given up teaching haven’t you Mister Bast, he’s going to give his full time to composing. I think that’s quite courageous, really.

— Certainly is. Those who can do, those who can’t, teach. That it Mister Bast?

— Well I…

— Blessed is he who has found his work, let him ask no other sorry, that your knee Mister Bast?

— No I’m afraid it’s mine Mister Gibbs if you’d, if you could sit up a little straighter you didn’t finish Mister Bast, about these dancers you’ve been commissioned to write something for, is it ballet?

— Not no not exactly no, no there are only two of them they want something that’s, something more Spanish they want something with some class this bass player told me who’s a friend of theirs, I mean I guess he’s a friend of hers that’s why he sent me down there something like Bizet he said, they want something like Bizet only not Bizet, if you see what I…

— Certainly do yes, like Bizet was condemned for being something like Wagner but not Wagner by people who had never heard Wagner and couldn’t understand Bizet, that it Mister Bast?

— Well I, yes all I meant was…

— Yes we, we were talking about Wagner earlier weren’t we Mister Bast… she pressed one hand in the other as though to restrain her voice’s tremor in her fingers — about his, the conditions he needed in order to work scents and, and silks to touch and…

— Women, and women…

— Oh and the garden path yes I forgot, that he couldn’t concentrate if he looked out and let his eyes follow the garden paths because they led to an outside world, to the real…

— Led in.

— Pardon?

— They led the God damned outside world in.

— I, I see yes thank you, it’s rather like your studio isn’t it Mister Bast the one you were telling me about, where a vision can exist unfinished with a life of its own till the moment Mister Gibbs do be careful, tipping back like that these chairs are terribly untrustworthy, Mister Bast almost…

— Why our view of life’s misleading, Mister Bast.

— What? I don’t…

— I said our view of life’s misleading but of course we have bad seats, not some relation to James Bast are you? the composer?

— Well, well yes I…

— What I meant, genius does what it must talent does what it can, that the line?

— Mister Gibbs please we, we were talking about Mister Bast’s opera I don’t think you…

— What I’m talking about that whining tenor part he gives Ulysses real stroke of genius, comes off as a real sneak the only man who’s ever seen Ulysses clear whole opera’s the God damndest thing I ever…

— I don’t think we…

— No well that’s, that’s his opera Philoc…

— What I’m talking about Philoctetes real stroke of…

— No I’m afraid we’re talking about something else Mister Gibbs, an opera this Mister Bast is working on that’s quite…

— Like Bizet only not Bizet, thirty-seven years of failure get to die of a broken heart if you’re luckier than the outside world pounding down the garden path on us here now, concentrating what’s left of his dignity trying to keep his teeth in place…

— Mister Gibbs please…

— Spread the checked cloth over the rusty green table, if the lady and gentleman…

— And I thought, wasn’t it just heart disease Bizet died of and Carmen, they produced Carmen before he died and it was a great success…

— Three whole months before he died veritable lifetime…

— Excuse me sir…

— Mister Urquhart? he straightened back from examining the penciled name pinned under the fraying of the false buttonhole, — what can we do for you sir.

— It’s just the, these children, are you with them?

— Well let’s say they’re with us.

— Yes sir well they, the water glasses and the ketchup and, and the napkins if they could settle down at one or two tables, the other customers, to not disturb the other customers…

— Understand perfectly Mister Urquhart, refreshing to see a man in your position take his responsibilities seriously must be quite a task managing this establishment, wouldn’t think of…

— Yes thank you, thank you… he backed away eyes down, went for a fork on the floor behind a pillar.

— If the lady and gentleman wish to take their tea in the…