Eating the Pets

Eating the Pets

 

(Bare tree, fallen leaves.  Two men on a bench.)

 

-They’re eating the pets.

-They’re eating the pets?

-Dogs and cats. 

-People’s pets?

-The pets of the people, yeah.

-Can't be true.

-I read it.

-It's been debunked.

-Debunked?

-Debunked.

-Debunked! (seeming surrender) True, not true?  How could I have known?

-How could you?

-I heard it.

-You heard it or you read it?

-They’re eating the pets.  Are you even listening?

-Of the people who live there.  I know.

-Good.

-Good.

(eye each other warily)

-You making it up?

-Creating a story.

-Wha'?

-I have to.  They’re eating the pets.

-You’re creating a story that they're eating the pets because they're eating the pets?

-I don’t know.  You don’t know. (shrugs) Who knows?

-They’re not eating the pets.

-People say they are.

-Because you told them!  You told them they’re eating the pets! 

-I did and I didn’t.

-(sighs) And they believed you.

 -How could we not know?  We read it.  We heard it.

-(sighs) At least you learned your lesson.

(pregnant pause)

- What about the geese? They’re missing.  And I think I know why.