Albert and Dottie

Telling Conversations

"You don't write stories, exactly, do you?" Dottie said, setting the manuscript down slowly on the coffee table. It was not really a question.

"No, not exactly," Albert answered.

"You tell conversations, I think, and then follow whatever happens to wherever it goes. You make events up to support the conversation—you don't make conversations to support the story you're telling."

"That may be right," he said.

"Why?" she asked.

"You sure ask a lot of questions," Albert sighed.

"Well, why not?" she smiled. "We've got time tonight," she added, slipping her shoes off beneath the table.

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