One Piece Left

"That's not your real name!" I said. First time I ever said that to a man.

"It's my real name." See? He shows me his ID.

I imagine myself finding Howard by hard work and some luck. CAlling Howard. "[HOward], how are you?" And then I play down everything. Because you can't just call up someone four years later and start in on the conspiracy.

"...yeah, my girlfriend and I are doing really well..."

"Howard. yOU have to come out to CAlifornia. Now." I start to cry on the phone. YOu're HOward.

"You know, I don't go out there for work anymore. Ever. But if I do, I will call."

"HOward!"

"Waht?"

"I will fly to D.C. for like a couple of days. To see the sights, and then we can hang out for a few minutes. That's it. thirty minutes. Tops."

"That's a long trip. And you are spending a lot of money. And no."

"YeS! They're learning how to hack yyes. YOu said that was a bad sign!" d

"I think you have me confused with someone lese."

"HOward!"

"What?"

"You said."

"I made it up. "

"NO. YOu didn't."

"I'm not flying to CAlifornia."

"YOu have to come here. I'm here.e I have to be here. d."

"The cat, someone has to feed the cat."

"YOu could pay someone to feed the cat!"

"The girlfriend. She's very nice. We like each other alot. Shed paints."

"d

And then Howard never flies out. I never go to Howard. And then that's the end of that story. I think about Howard because Howard is some part of me maybe no one else understands. A private piece left.