"A thousand half-loves must be forsaken
to take one whole heart home."
RUMI
Morning glory reached Willow Park. Jimbo sit's crossed legged on the centre of the basketball court, surrounded by seven children. He began attendance.
"Monty!"
"-it's as if I wasn't the reason his parents are together."
Monty roamed his universe, undisturbed.
"Monty Pylon. Anyone seen our missing pylon?" Jimbo said.
"Here I am, Jims!" Monty swayed obnoxiously.
"Hoyt!"
"-then this crazy bastard dressed like a sheep." Monty said, declaring war.
"-no way, no wonder he got the belt. What a weirdo," Hoyt went.
"Do you two need to be separated?" Jimbo said without tanks.
"We're already on different teams, Jims. Christ!" Monty moaned.
"I am present," Hoyt said, nudging Monty on the shoulder.
"Good. Good. They're not difficult at all Jolene! Fine. Fine, I'll take the neighbourhood kids out for basketball. It'll be fun, she says," Jimbo went.
"I am sorry about them. They're secret lovers," James said, the gossip.
"James. Please do not speak when you're not spoken to. And for goodness's sake, toss things like that down the river, forever. Got it. Antonio!" Jimbo said, diseased.
"Present, Jimbo!" Antonio sent, almost like a roar.
"Whoa. Fantastic. Lo-"
"Here!" the Loyd said.
"Always beating me to it. Little bas-" Jims sent, laughing.
"I am getting bored. Let's play, already!" the Loyd said, bouncing the ball where he sat. Jimbo got him to stop with one terrifying look.
"Ronald!"
"Here," Ronald whispers like a crashing jet.
"What? I- I can't hear you bud. Are you here? Or are you HERE!" Jims sent.
"HERE! This man, I can't," Ronald wheezed to his nearest supporters.
"Just let it go man. Think of a circle, and a glowing point in the centre sucking everything inside it. Poof! Gone!" Jan said, assuring Ronald, rubbing off the humiliated look.
"Mr. January!" Jimbo sent.
"Here," Jan said, resentfully.
"Hear that Ronald. Learn to be heard the first time. Mumbling will get you sent to the madhouse," Jimbo sang.
Jan whispered to Ronald's ear. "How did you get out?" he would say.
"I killed the guards," Jimbo said laughing madly.
Silence endures for a moment, as Jimbo gets his cake and eats it too.
"Now everyone, tell me who's not here, right now? Do you even care?"
"Who are you talking about? And which question should we prioritize as a unit?" January said, leaning against Ronald like a pillar. He'd begin strolling around the other kids, patting them each on the head.
Jimbo tosses the clipboard to Jan, catching it with one small hand.
"Here, you do attendance from now on," Jims said.
