Troped » Jason Gunn http://troped.com hyperfiction machine Sat, 21 Jan 2012 22:31:19 +0000 en hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 Unannounced Bounce http://troped.com/unannounced-bounce/ http://troped.com/unannounced-bounce/#comments Wed, 21 Mar 2007 20:34:15 +0000 Troped http://troped.com/unannounced-bounce/ Jason: Hello? Elsa: Hello, Jason?

It is hard to hear her over the noise of the bar. Jason mouths “Elsa” to Jess who makes a stern face and points at him. He gives her a thumbs up and takes the phone outside.
Jason: Elsa?
Elsa: Jason, where are you?
Jason: Where am I? Where are you?

Elsa: I’m at your flat.
Jason: My place? What’re you doing at my place?
Else: You gave me a key.

He did. He had. Casually, you know, like, oh hey drop by whenever, it’s cool—one more unsuccessful attempt to reel her in. “Yeah, well, like hang around for a few days and then come by unannounced, you know?”
Elsa: Are you angry?
Jason: Yeah. Yeah, I am. I haven’t seen you in a week and a half and now you call at,” he checks his watch, “Twelve-thirty! It’s twelve-thirty and you just bounce over to my place?
Elsa: Please, Jason, don’t be angry.
Jason: Look, it’s not—it’s just not cool to treat someone the way you’ve been treating me. It’s not.
Elsa: I know, it’s just—
Jason: I’m not on-call, Elsa. You can’t just show up. I’m not on-call.
Elsa: Please, Jason, please…
Jason: Look, I’m not—you don’t have to leave—sleep there if you want to—or don’t—but I’m out with my friends, and I’m staying out with my friends.

Silence.
Jason: I’m a nice guy, Elsa but damn it, I’m not a pushover.

The word makes him mad. Pushover. Wimp. Toy. Puppet. “I gotta go. Goodbye.”

And then he hangs up. He surprises himself. For once he’d been merciless.

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