An Empty Glass

Author's note: These characters are part of a larger story yet to be written. I just wanted to tool around with them for a while, get a better feel for them.

The glass sat on a bar stool next to the faux-art-deco stainless steel lamp in the corner of the apartment. Dan had been staring at it for nearly five minutes when Carrie came and sat next to him on the couch. He didn’t notice her. He was lost in thought, boring a mental hole into the translucent green glass.

“Dan,” said Carrie. “Earth to Dan. Come in, Dan. The apes have gained sentience, and now they demand literature.”

“Hrm?” Dan turned to her.

“You have got to be the worst partier on the planet, you know that? All you’ve done tonight is making odd remarks whenever you feel you need a beer, get the beer, drink the beer, and resume staring at nothing.”
“I’m not staring at nothing, Carrie.”

“It sure looks like you’re staring at nothing.”

“Well, I’m not.”

Carrie sat back in the couch and sighed. “You know, everyone else is excited to be here. All the actors are feeling up on each other, and Gene’s over there… doing whatever Gene does.” Gene was, in fact, having a Socratic philosophical discussion with a houseplant over the morality of said houseplant, all the while surrounded by most of the partygoers. Some were so inspired they began to dance interpretively.

Dan glanced at the scene. “Wow. That fichus plant has more talent than the lead actress tonight.”

“See, Dan, it’s things like that that make people not like you.”

“I never asked to be liked.”

“Could it hurt?”

“Yes.”

Carrie paused for a moment. “Of course it could.” she said. “That isn’t the point. The point is, you need to get off this couch and at least look like you’re having a good time. You just had your first play performed, got a standing ovation, and all you can do is sulk.”

“I’m not sulking.”

“Well what the hell are you doing?”

Dan slowly turned to her. “I’m looking at that glass over there.”

Carrie looked at him, then the glass, and back to Dan. “So?”

“So, I’m looking at it in order to figure out where I am.”

Carrie stood up, walked over the glass and knocked it over.

“Where are you now, Dan?”

Mood: creative
Now Playing: Oslo in the Summertime by Of Montreal