10-006
“I’m bored.”
“Bored? Bored? You live in Eden for heaven’s sake. How can you be bored?”
“How does one explain how one is bored? One is just bored.”
“That’s crazy talk. Wanna play a game? Games don’t bore you.”
“I don’t know. What game?”
“Tag.”
“You always say tag.”
“You like tag.”
“No, you like tag. How about we play hide and seek?”
“Ha! Last time we played hide and seek you were gone for three days. God knows where you were hiding.”
“YOU GOT THAT RIGHT.”
“Oh, it’s him again.”
“YES, IT’S ME AGAIN. AND I KNOW WHERE YOU WERE HIDING.”
“Do you know why she’s bored?”
“WHAT DID SHE SAY?”
“She says it can’t be explained. One is just bored, she says.”
“SOUNDS RIGHT TO ME. FREE WILL AND ALL THAT.”
“Excuse me, but do you have to shout? It hurts my ears.”
“THIS IS MY VOICE.”
“Maybe, but loud let me tell you.”
“OKAY. How’s this, I’m whispering?”
“Oh, much better. Thank you.”
“No problem. Why don’t you guys play a game? I’ve noticed you both like games. Especially tag. I like to watch you play tag.”
“You see, even he likes tag.”
“He likes it, does he? No kidding. It’s a man thing.”
“Come on, let’s play tag. Keep him happy, too.”
“I CAN HEAR YOU.”
“Oh, sorry.”
“Okay, I forgive you. Hey, forgiveness, that’s my job, isn’t it?”
“I guess.”
“YOU DON’T HAVE TO GUESS. I JUST TOLD YOU. FORGIVENESS IS MY JOB. THAT SHOULD SETTLE IT.”
“Yes, of course. Well, Eve, what about tag?”
“Alright. Let’s have it your way and play tag. But we’re going to have some new rules.”
“You and your rules.”
“New rules or we don’t play. Got it?”
“Yes, dear.”
“First rule, you don’t touch me between my belly button and my collar bone. You’re always trying for these.”
“Oh, come on. What’s the big deal? It’s just for fun, you know.”
“Not for me. Second rule, you don’t tag me down here.”
“What?!? Now you’re going to spoil the whole game.”
“What about you, Mr. I-like-tag. You have any rules?”
Tee hee. “I would, but I’m sure you wouldn’t follow my rule.”
“Oh, Adam, grow up.”
“DON’T COUNT ON IT. BOYS DON’T TEND…oops, sorry, my voice. Boys don’t tend to grow up.”
“What boys are you talking about? We don’t see any.”
”You will. Oh, mercy, you will.”
“Where are they now?”
“All that will happen soon enough. Let’s not get ahead of ourselves. Back to tag. Who’s it?”
At which prompting Eve delivered a blow to Adam’s forehead with the heel of the palm of her hand. “You’re it,” she challenged as she ran off under the interested gaze of Adam and the Other One.
Not far off, coiled in a tree – an apple tree the evidence suggests – a snake was eyeing the whole affair. You could almost see in his eyes how he was scheming. “This is going to be so easy,” he hissed to himself.