Movie Stars

Art Is the Most Important Thing

HIS WIFE WAS CALLING.

“Your home phone isn’t working,” she said.

“A lot of people don’t even have landlines anymore,” said Cookie.

“But you do,” said his wife.

“The power is out,” said Cookie. “The lines are down, or whatever they have now. Do they still have lines? I’m not doing anything.”

“You’re slurring your words,” said his wife.

“How can you tell?” said Cookie. He whispered to Sandy: “I’m going to step out on the porch.”

“Who are you talking to?” said his wife.

“Myself,” said Cookie.

He was dashing off so quickly that he had already opened the back door. The rain had died down. Everything was dark and smelled good.

“I think I just let a fly in the house,” said Cookie.

“I’m sorry. Listen, I wrote a book-length poem.”

“That’s great!” said Cookie.

“…about the dissolution of our marriage.”

“Today I saw a bumblebee in the clover,” said Cookie.

“Did you hear me? I wrote a book-length poem about the dissolution of our marriage.”

“Why don’t you fax it over?” said Cookie.

“What do you mean? Do you have a fax machine?”

“No. I was casting about for something to say.”

“And the lines are down anyway.”

“Art is the most important thing,” said Cookie.

“Right?” said his wife.

They laughed.