pan-pan.

image by author.

(Knock, knock.)
Oh, I haven’t seen you enter.
(Knock, knock.)
Okay, so you’re here.
Yes. What you up to?

Crossword puzzle.
It’s all solved.
I know.
Did you solve it yourself?
No, I found it on the subway.

You brought it home?
Yes. Some of these are good clues.
Clues or answers?
Both. They comfort me.
Like?

Blow away — AMAZE
Iconoclast — REBEL
Broke bread — ATE

And then what happened?
What do you mean what happened?
Nothing. Just continue.

Reduces to pulp — MASHES
Anything else?
Hopelessly lost — ALLATSEA