Fiction Friday: Play on Words

This Week’s Theme: Use the word afoot in dialog. The scene: A wood. Enter two gentlemen (Rollick and Given), swords drawn. They do not look particularly aware of their surroundings, appearing to be engrossed in conversation. G: What did you say to him then? R: You were there, you should know. G: I was? I should? R: Certainly. G: Ah. But. Well. R: You don't remember, do you? G: Of course I remember. R: Then what did I say to him? G: Weren't you listening either? R, exasperated, stops and points his sword at G's chest. G: Ah, I remember now! It was something about cards. They continue strolling, swords idle in their hands. R: We were playing Ruff and Trump. G: On my honours, yes. It's all coming back to me now. The hand plays cards, the mind plays tricks. R: Get on, then. G: Let's play a hand! R: I haven't got the cards. He has them. G: No, no, that's what you said. "Let's play a hand." R: Hmm. I don't think so. It wasn't a hand. It was a different part of the anatomy. G stops and looks shocked. R: No, no, not that part. I think it was another extremity. G: Perhaps you said, "This will come to a head." You were also drinking beer. R: And there's the trick in it. A beer in the hand makes the cards sticky. G: I bet. R: No, you didn't. G: What? R: You didn't bet. In fact, I can't recall your ante. G: Well, of course you can't. My parents had no sisters. R: What are you on about now? Watch where you're stepping. G: I never had an auntie. My parents were only children. R stops, looks quizzically at G. R: Your parents were only children. G: That's right. R: When they had you. When you were born, they were only children. G: Their entire lives. And they'll be only children when they die. R (expression showing sudden enlightment): Ah, I see. As I can hardly bear you myself. I didn't see how only a child could have borne you. G: It would be a difficult burden to shoulder indeed. R: Your mother must be strong. G: As a bear. R: With shoulders like a bear? G: Bare shoulders, sometimes. But never while playing cards. R: She must protect her honours lest she be termed a rough strumpet. Watch where you're stepping. G: I think it was a foot. R: How's that again? G: You said something about a foot. He said "Let's play a hand," and you replied, "Now the game's a foot." R: Afoot. G (stopping in triumph): Exactly! R: It's all running together for me. G: The feet? R: The memories. G: That would be the beer. R turns and stabs G in the arm; G drops his sword and holds the wound, shocked. R: That would be defeat. curtain.
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