Evan and Elle met for drinks

Conversations at the Bar
(Evan and Elle met for drinks)

In a bar anywhere, Evan and Elle met for drinks.

This was an anniversary of sorts, a ritual of others,
at whatever bar of wherever-where, 
they began sharing observations.

Elle spoke first.
“On the way here I saw two muggings,
 one assault, and four separate occasions
 of people shooting up in the streets.”

Evan shook their head.
“That’s a shame. I saw a kid help an elderly man
  cross the street. You should have seen
  the looks on their faces. The man was stoic,
  yet tender. The kid was proud and beaming.”

Elle gave a snort.
“That’s nice. Hey, did you happen to catch the news?
  They’re thinking about going to war with Syria.
  Iran is threatening to attack Isreal if we do.
  More shit keeps coming out about the NSA.
  Nothing is private anymore. 
  Everyone’s nastiness is out in the open.”

Evan sighed and nodded.  
 “So I’ve heard. Did you hear that scientists 
  have used gene therapy to repair heart cells?  
  And they found a way to convert stem cells
  into immune cells that attack and kill cancer.
  Cancer, freaking cancer. Isn’t that amazing?”

Elle shrugged. 
”I don’t see the point. 
 Everyone’s eating themselves and each other alive out there.
 I see it in the streets; I see it on the news. 
 It’s happening here; it’s happening on the other side of the globe.”

Evan nodded.
“I see the point everywhere.
 The point is everything. 
 It’s selfish and it’s celebratory. 
 It does well by everyone involved.”

Elle nodded slowly.
”I just don’t see it that way, you know that.
  In fact, why do we keep having this conversation?
 Year after year after year. Nothing ever changes.”

Evan took a long and thoughtful drink.
He looked up at Elle, smiled, and gave them
a one armed hug. 
“C’mon, you don’t know that for sure.
Now drink up. The next one’s on me.”

8.28.13
M. L. Michael

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