I’m taking the opportunity of dipping back into a Sue Vincent’s #writephoto prompt from 2018, as a continuing thank you to Sue for the stimulus she gave me in my writing and as an example of being careful what you wish for…

‘Hello. Lovely evening.’

‘Yes.’

‘Balmy. Given the time of year.’

‘Indeed.’

‘Mind if I…?

‘Sure.’

‘Funny, isn’t it? The sea.’

‘Funny?’

‘You know. How it looks, you know, not like water.’

‘No.’

‘No?’

‘Yes.’

‘Ha! I suppose I should explain.’

‘Ok.’

‘To me it looks like Mercury.’

‘Mercury?’

‘The mineral, not the god.’

‘Thermometers.’

‘That too. It’s so slow. What do you think it looks like?’

‘Cellophane.’

‘Really?’

‘No.’

‘Ha! Joke.’

‘Maybe.’

‘Can I ask a question?’

‘Sure.’

‘You only ever answer with one word.’

‘Yes.’

‘Is there a reason for it?’

‘Yes.’

‘Are you going to explain?’

‘No.’

‘Can I guess?’

‘Sure.’

‘New Year’s resolution?’

‘Kinda.’

‘Isn’t that cheating? I mean, ‘kinda’ is really ‘kind of’.’

‘No.’

‘No, it isn’t, or no it’s not cheating.’

‘Either.’

‘Or both.’

‘Perhaps.’

‘So a resolution? What kind? To be, you know, mono-thingy?’

‘Sorry?’

‘You know where you only use one word?’

‘Monosyllabic?’

‘Yes!’

‘No.’

‘No?’’

‘Yes.’

‘We’re back in one of those yes-no loops, aren’t we?’

‘Suppose.’

‘Must be tricky, though, only using one word. I mean, at work say.’

‘Retired.’

‘Or at home.’

‘Single.’

‘Shopping.’

‘Online.’

‘Isn’t that two words.’

‘Polyphonic.’

‘You sure?’

‘No.’

‘What then?’

‘Portmanteau?’

‘I thought that was luggage?’

‘Maybe.’

‘Still, it’s a lovely evening, isn’t it?’

‘Yes.’

‘I’m Chris by the way.’

‘Gustang.’

‘Unusual.’

‘Grandpa’s.’

‘Apostrophe’s ok, are they?’

‘Sure.’

‘And are you here for a reason, Gustang?’

‘Yes.’

‘What’s that?’

‘Waiting.’

‘Waiting? Like, for Godot?’

‘No, waiting until you bugger off so I can watch the sunset in peace. Geez.’