by Edward Mullany

After a while I heard the shower stop, and A. came out of the bathroom and into the bedroom and started getting dressed. I’d closed my eyes and was pretending to be asleep, but either she didn’t notice or was acting like she hadn’t noticed, in which case my effort at eliciting a laugh from her was in vain.

by Edward Mullany

On the other hand, the world has become so fatuous and insincere that I can’t help regarding it with contempt. I try to include myself in the sweep of that contempt, so as to be even-handed.

by Edward Mullany

Besides, their interaction wasn’t ‘shit’, that is an ugly word for it, it was merely a moment of fun they were trying to have, even if it was somewhat contrived.

by Edward Mullany

One of the anchors, a woman, was asking the weatherman about his choice of tie, which is something of a running joke between them. He was responding like he usually does, by hamming it up for her and for the camera.

by Edward Mullany

Eventually I got out of bed and pulled on my pajamas and went out to the kitchen to make coffee, though after I’d made it and had poured myself a cup and had begun to drink from it, I wandered back into the bedroom with it, and sat up in bed, watching the morning news.