Harlan? said Blurtso. Yes? said Harlan. Are you awake? Yes, said Harlan. What are you thinking of? Einstein’s theory of time, said Harlan. What? said Blurtso. You know, said Harlan, the discovery that time passes more slowly the faster you move. Is that true? said Blurtso. Yes, said Harlan. So I would live longer, said Blurtso, if I moved more quickly? Yes, said Harlan. And if I ran in my sleep, said Blurtso, I would get more sleep?
Harlan? said Blurtso. Yes? said Harlan. Why are elephants afraid of mice? We’re not afraid, said Harlan, we just don’t like to step on them. Oh, said Blurtso, that’s understandable. There’s nothing that breaks an elephant’s heart, said Harlan, like stepping on a mouse. Elephants are very sensitive, said Blurtso. Yes, said Harlan.
Hello, said Virginia, my name is Virginia.
Hello, said Ditto. Would you like a hay sandwich?
Harlan? said Blurtso. What? said Harlan. I’ve been thinking, said Blurtso, that we shouldn’t get a mongoose. Why not? said Harlan. Because, said Blurtso, it might make the snakes angry. You may be right, said Harlan. And the last thing we want, said Blurtso, is a barn full of angry snakes. That’s for sure, said Harlan. Right now, said Blurtso, they’re not bothering anyone, and they scarcely make a sound and always keep out of sight. That’s true, said Harlan. I’ve never even seen one, said Blurtso. Neither have I, said Harlan. I wonder if it’s sad to be a snake, said Blurtso, always keeping quiet and staying out of sight? I wouldn’t know, said Harlan, I’m never out of sight. Yes that’s true, said Blurtso, is it hard to be so noticeable? Sometimes, said Harlan. Do you ever wish you were a snake? said Blurtso. No, said Harlan. I guess snakes have it pretty good, said Blurtso, never being noticed. Yes, said Harlan, I suppose they do. Except, said Blurtso, that everyone hates them. Yes, said Harlan, there is that.
Harlan? said Blurtso. What? said Harlan. Did you hear that? Yes, said Harlan. Do you think our snake is back? said Blurtso. Yes, said Harlan. What do you think he’s doing? said Blurtso. I don’t know, said Harlan. Why do you suppose, said Blurtso, that people hate snakes? I don’t know, said Harlan. Have you ever been bitten by one? said Blurtso. No, said Harlan. I suppose they don’t all bite, said Blurtso. No, said Harlan, I suppose they don’t. What animals do snakes dislike? said Blurtso. I’ve heard, said Harlan, that snakes dislike mongeese. Have you ever seen a mongoose? said Blurtso. Yes, said Harlan. What do they look like? said Blurtso. They’re like ferrets, said Harlan, only bigger and with mean-looking noses. Do you think we should get one? said Blurtso. I’m not sure, said Harlan, we might be happier with snakes.
Harlan? said Blurtso. What? said Harlan. Did you hear that? said Blurtso. Yes, said Harlan. What do you think it is? said Blurtso. I don’t know, said Harlan. It’s coming from downstairs, said Blurtso. Yes, said Harlan. Can you hear any breathing? said Blurtso No, said Harlan. It must be very small, said Blurtso. Yes, said Harlan, maybe it’s a bird, or a snake. A snake? said Blurtso. Yes, said Harlan. Don’t they go south? said Blurtso. I’m not sure, said Harlan. They must, said Blurtso, Boston is too cold for a snake. Unless he’s in a barn, said Harlan. Yes, said Blurtso, with solar heating and laminated windows. You have laminated windows? said Harlan. Yes, said Blurtso. No wonder it’s so warm, said Harlan. Can snakes climb ladders? said Blurtso. I don’t think so, said Harlan, unless they’re circus snakes. Circus snakes? said Blurtso. Yes, said Harlan. Hey, said Blurtso, there he goes again! Yes, said Harlan. But that was a jerky sound, said Blurtso, it didn’t sound like a snake at all. No it didn’t, said Harlan. Unless, said Blurtso, it was a circus snake imitating another animal. Yes, said Harlan. Did you hear that? said Blurtso. No, said Harlan. That’s what I mean, said Blurtso, I think our snake has gone. I don’t know, said Harlan, snakes can be very quiet. That’s true, said Blurtso, we could have a barnful of snakes and not even know it. Yes, said Harlan. Maybe I should pull up the ladder, said Blurtso. There, can you hear anything now? No, said Harlan. Neither can I, said Blurtso. Maybe we should get some sleep, said Harlan. It’s going to be hard, said Blurtso, with the silence of the snakes.
Here are some songs I’ve written.
Cliffs of the heart
You can’t say yes
The best we can do
The snow is melting
Slipping into stone
Out of line
Kindness
Undo what’s done
Devil’s Sister
Liar sun
Because I love you
The hope it is
Letting go
Crossroads night
Take me there
All I want is a breeze
The beginning of you
Hell on the inside
The kingdom meant for me
Eight ounces of water
Go around
Catch, glide and shove
Too late for you
This girl do
Sleeping where the rich people play
Of all the gold
Echo
Afraid this time
Tenderness
A safe place to go
Seize the moment
Haven’t had yet
My Michelle
Cruel shapes
You made him a promise
Seventh day
My baby’s arms
More than the blues
Drink beer on stage
I’m in you
Save me
Giraffe
That was a nice walk, said Pablo, what should we do now?
Let’s go home, said Bonny, and play Sudoku.
That’s 127 for Ditto, 96 for me, and 16 for Pablo.
I told you we could fit, said Blurtso.
Hey… footsteps in the snow. I wonder where they’re going? Maybe I’ll follow them. Doo dee doo dee dee, dee dee dee dee doo… hey, what’s this? No more footsteps. I wonder what happened to the person who was making them? How can a person just vanish like that, and make no more tracks? Hmmm, maybe I’d better go see Harlan, and make sure he’s alright.