PONY: I never did this. Maybe once. I don’t know if I have to look up. Dear God in Heaven, I remember when John and I were coming here, and he started getting a panic attack, and he asked me to say something because there was some noise or voice he was hearing, and he just kept saying, “Please say anything, please say what time it is, or anything,” and I didn’t, and then he started pulling his hair and hitting the inside of the windshield. We were in a rest area. I don’t know why I froze like that. I might’ve been having my own thing. Which, if I was, please help me with that. He said later it was just a bad patch and it was all right. We even laughed. Please help me be ready, so next time, if John needs me to, I can just say “bookshelf,” or “windshield wiper,” or sing some campfire song. Because that’s not very much to ask. This feels weird. No offense. You probably just think I’m one of so many people. You’re probably, like, “My God, what is this even about?” Maybe you’re going to burn everything down, anyway. I don’t know your crazy mind. You’re probably going to burn everything. I just thought I should try. Maybe this was stupid, Lord, but thank you. I hope there’s an actual Heaven.

(A brief pause.)

BOB (Appears at the door): Hi.

PONY: Oh, hi. I was actually just, um, yeah . . . I was trying to pray.

BOB: Sorry.

PONY: No, come in. I don’t think it’ll work.

BOB: I saw the light on. That’s our lamp. What were you praying about?

PONY: Different things. I guess, the future.

BOB: I hope it works out.

PONY: I’m not having a crisis. And if I am, I just wanted to try to stamp it out early. (Very brief pause) Things are different. I remember how John used to hold me.

BOB: How did he hold you?

PONY: Wouldn’t you like to know.

BOB: That’s why I asked, yeah. Was it like this? (He holds her, a little awkwardly)

PONY (They stay like that. Very brief pause): No. It was different from this. (They separate) That was fine, though. That was all right.

BOB: That was just one way.

PONY (She notices something on her wrist and picks at it): This is a little bug bite, I think.

BOB: Sometimes it feels good if you put saliva on it.

PONY: Yeah? (She gets some saliva on her fingers and puts it on the bug bite)

BOB: How’s that?

PONY: I don’t know. It’s funny you came by.

BOB: John said I should say hi.

PONY: He did? Where is he?

BOB: He said he was going for a walk.

PONY: Did he have that look?

BOB: What look?

PONY: It’s hard to describe.