Conversation Tracking

Conversation tracking, the exercise in which a lengthy conversation is carefully examined in reverse by all participants in an effort to discover its genesis has never much appealed to Latigo Flint. The conversation was probably a giant waste of time the first time down. Retrace yourselves if you like, Latigo Flint would rather count stucco bumps.

However, exiting the local 7/11 this morning, Latigo Flint was intrigued by the possibility that in the case of Mumbly Bill, the ever-present bum who spends his days talking to himself and drooling into a crusty collection cup, the practice might actually yield beneficial results. At the trail head of this monoversation might wait a slightly less insane Mumbly Bill.

It was worth a try. So Latigo Flint walked backward out of the 7/11 and with a grunt, Bill was off. The previous night and day rolled back out of him - random topics, observations, unique syllable groupings - it was a sight to behold.

Latigo Flint is a little embarrassed though to disclose what happened next - it turns out the origin of this particular solo conversation proved be almost exactly 24 hours earlier when Mumbly Bill had been jolted awake by Latigo Flint's briskly striding boot heal mashing his fingers into the concrete. (I thought it was a rag, plus I was in a terrible rush.) When he realized who I was, Mumbly Bill began throwing garbage and shrieking to any and all who would listen that I was "That demonic dog-dog from Nacker Tacker Tacker Fucklashit who does stampy stampy stampys!!!"

Good thing no one ever listens to Mumbly Bill.