You were saying?

Nothing. If you’re not going to say anything important, why say anything at all?

No small talk, he said. Speaking about weather, work, some notion that’ll change the world, he spit in the dirt. Everybody thinks they have something to say. Something important. But it ain’t so, the campfire was burning down. People think, if I could just get my two cents in, they laughed. Always trying to get their two cents in.

I’m done with folks, he stoked the embers. An orange glow was all that was left. So petty. Self-involved. The worst are celebrities. Actors, news anchors. They think they’re changing the world. Curing cancer. Always talking their point of view. Hollywood. Hollyweird, he snickered. A bottle of whiskey was passed between them.

No, no, no. It’s the politicians. No matter which side they’re always talking about themselves. Saying things like, I work for the American people, he shook his head. Always working for the American people. Yet nothing gets done. Then they get caught with their hand in the till. Deny everything. Now that’s American, both men laughed.

The sounds of pops came from the ashes. Water was poured on the black wood. The sky was dark. Nothing shined. No stars. No light from the moon. Just two men sitting in silence. Drinking whiskey. Way off a dog barked. Maybe a wolf.