PONY: The ocean. It seemed like a year. When you got back is when we started talking about moving.

JENNIFER: Pony, what do you do?

PONY: I have a greeting card business? It’s mostly online, so I can do it from anywhere. I could also not do it from anywhere, and, that’d be fine, too. But it’s good, it pays some bills.

JOHN (Very brief pause. To Pony): I think she meant, like, hobbies.

JENNIFER: No, that’s what I was asking. And how about you?

JOHN: For work? Space program. Astronaut.

JENNIFER: You’re kidding. That’s amazing.

JOHN: Well, I use the term loosely.

JENNIFER: I didn’t know the term could be used loosely. But still.

JOHN: I know. Still.

PONY: I never know what he’s talking about. Say one of your things.

JOHN (Very brief pause): Oh, this is a good one. So, if you take the letters from the words “The United States of America,” and you scramble them all up, it doesn’t spell anything. It’s just gobbledygook, total nonsense.

PONY: See?

BOB: So don’t scramble them up.

JOHN: Actually, that’s not a bad idea.

BOB: She asked what you do for work.

JOHN: Heating and air-conditioning.

JENNIFER: Oh, nice.

JOHN: I got some part-time work and I’m going to try to pick up some jobs on the side. What about yourself?

JENNIFER: Well, a job is a job.

JOHN: Wrong! No, you’re right.

JENNIFER: Okay. But, so, anyway, I do bookkeeping for a couple of businesses in town. And Bob works for the Department of Transportation. He does all the ordering, like for paint and signposts. Don’t you, Bob?

BOB (Brief pause): What do you want me to say?

JENNIFER: How about, “Yes.”

BOB: Yes.

PONY: It’s funny, all that paint on the road—I never thought about who orders it. Do they ever use something other than yellow for the lines in the middle?

BOB: No, but, actually, do you know why those lines are always yellow?

PONY: No, why?

BOB: I think somebody just picked it a long time ago.

PONY: Oh.

JOHN: It’s exciting to get the inside story.

PONY (To Bob): You seem fine.

BOB: You too.

PONY (Stands, looking around the yard): Does the yard go all the way around?

BOB: It just goes back around there a little. You should do modeling. (Brief pause, as Jennifer and John look at Bob) No, I mean, just, everyone should. Everyone should do modeling. (Brief pause) I’m on leave, right now. Taking some time off.

JENNIFER: We used to never see each other, we were both so busy. I used to never be able to hear who Bob thought should do modeling.

PONY (Brief pause): John, look. (She shows him her hand. A tiny, practically invisible bruise)

JOHN: It looks better.

PONY: I closed a drawer on my thumb.

BOB: Ouch.