“What time is it?” asks the man who was drawing beside you on a park bench.

“What time is it?” asks the man who was drawing beside you on a park bench.

You reach in your pocket and find your watch, a digital wristwatch that doesn’t tell the time, but that tells the time if you put a little battery in it.

“It’s 2: 00,” you tell him.

He smiles.

“I don’t know, it feels like 2: 00.

I can’t feel my arms.”

You reach in your pocket again and feel your cell phone.

It’s ringing.

You reach into your pocket again and feel your phone, which has been ringing ever since you dropped it on the floor of the coffee shop.

“I need to call you back,” you say to the man who is now leaning over to look at your phone.

“What time is it now?

It’s 2: 05.

I didn’t get my call.

Now I’m going to have to take care of the phones all over the park.

What time is it now?

It’s 2: 15.

How long do I have to wait until I can call you back?

How long do I have to go get that battery and put it in my watch?

It’s 2: 30.

Why am I so anxious?

I was just going to go get a coffee.

It’s too late to go get a coffee.

It’s too late to go get a coffee, yet I can’t let my phone ring.

It’s too late to go get a coffee.

It’s 2: 45.

I just can’t wait any longer.

I’m going to have to get a coffee.

It’s 2: 50.

It’s 3: 00.

The sun is starting to set.

I’m going to have to go home and charge my watch.

It’s 3: 30.

I’m going to have to put my phone on silent.

It’s 3: 40.

The candles are lit.

I’m going to go to bed.

It’s 4: 00.

My head is pounding.

It’s 4: 30.

I’m going to go to bed.

“What time is it?” asks the stranger who was drawing beside you on a park bench.

“I don’t know,” you say, eyeing your watch.

“About twenty to four.

Maybe we should get a move on, don’t you think?

I mean, we’re not going to be able to eat in a couple hours.

I’ve got my lunch packed, and I’m way behind.”

You don’t know what time it is.

“I’m sorry,” you say, jumping up and trying to get your things.

“Let’s get out of here.”

“Well, that’s a first,” you say, stumbling as you put your feet on the sidewalk.

You don’t know what time it is.

“It’s only three – thirty.

I just had dinner, you know.

With my parents.

Why don’t we do this tomorrow, then?

We can go back to my house and you can watch me eat my lunch.