“Who’s breaking?” Abby asks. Cal leans over to take the shot. The pool balls shatter.
The TV buzzes. “…says he does NOT use racial remarks and comments on oil prices…”
“Look, another one” Cal remarks.
“Another what?”
“Another destroyed person.”
“Destroyed?”
“Destroyed.”
Abby does not respond.
“You can’t do things like that, Cal.”
“You hear Sam’s with Lizzie now?”
“Cal, you hear me? It’s not ok.”
“I didn’t even know they were friends.”
The TV buzzes “…break-in at a charity shop has put a damper on the holiday spirit…”
“Do you think existence is cohesive?” Cal asks.
“What? I don’t know,“ Abby says.
“Then why do people always want it to be? Everyone’s always trying to make everything fit together, and it doesn’t belong.”
“She’s doing okay. In case you’re wondering,” Abby says.
“Your turn.”
“Cal, you should visit her.”
“Watch out for the 8 ball.”
“Cal.”
“You’ll have to deflect it.”
“Cal!”
Cal does not respond.
The TV buzzes “…local girl in the hospital today after an altercation at her college. We were unable to reach the school for comment.”
“Ever think about how easy it is to break your toes?” Cal asks. “They’re so fragile. I don’t know why I haven’t broken one at this point.” She sinks a yellow. “I thought I broke one once. I tripped over a ladder and thought, this is it. But it wasn’t. The little toothpick was perfectly fine.”
“Cal,” Abby interjects, “why did you do it?”
“You ever run on a treadmill?”
“I guess.”
“Doesn’t it make you want to punch something?”
The TV buzzes “…have received suspicious looking packages confirmed to be pipe bombs…”
“You know, I almost asked Sam out,” Cal says. “He was into me, too. Would have said yes.” She sinks a yellow. “He’ll find the one now that he’s over me. That’s just how it goes”
“Come on, Cal, why?”
“You’re snookered.”
“Why?”
“Good luck making that shot.”
“Why?!”
“I have anger issues.” Abby is silent. “That’s what you want me to say, right?” Cal sinks a yellow. “It’s probably true.”
The TV buzzes “…a dog becomes a local celebrity this week when he started skateboarding for charity.”
“In all of time, we only experience a few moments, a blink of the eye,” Cal says.
“What does that have to do with anything?”
“It sucks, that’s what.”
“Look, Cal, I get it―”
“That’s bullshit.”
“What?”
“You spent the whole game asking me why. Now you say you get it.”
“No, Cal, I―”
“At least be consistent.”
The TV buzzes “…local police confirmed the assailant is another young woman from the same college…”
“Cal?”
“Your turn.”
“Cal?”
“You want to hit it soft so you don’t foul.”
“Cal.” Cal pots the 8-ball.
“It felt good.”
“What?”
She sets the balls up in a neat triangular pattern. “It felt good, Abby. That’s why I didn’t stop.”
“Shit, Cal, she’s in the hospital.”
Cal straightens up.
“Who’s breaking?”
