a sparkling future
by Francine DuBois

grilled by a big-time realtor,
small-time politican on a small-time plane,
the scientist wishes to hide behind her microscope.
instead, laid bare by benign questioning and polite probing,
she cowers behind minute details of her precise studies.
"smaller than small. nanotech. that's what i do."
and she continues after his head nods in encouragement,
to explain the hours in the lab.

she waits for his eyes to glaze over,
hoping he'll lose interest.
he doesn't.

"well, dearie, sounds fascinating.
you certainly have a sparkling future.
are you sure i wouldn't know your parents?"

Francine's Version -- Hezekiah's Version
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