So how do you feel?

The phone rang in work yesterday.

It does ring quite a bit.

I wait to see the number.

Often it is my own. Kitty home from school, bored, wanting to check in. I check in back. We chat a bit. She reconnects then she's happy to wait till quarter past five when one of us is usually home.

Otherwise it's just work usually.

But the phone rang yesterday.

I waited.

Private number.

Ehhhummmmm....

I picked up.

So how do you feel today, Queenie?

It's a woman's voice. It's an older woman. It's a black woman.

Queen.

The other Queenie. Except she's not Queenie. She's just Queen.

Former colleague.

Well, I don't know Queen. How do you feel?

I don't know what to feel, Queenie, that's why I called you.

Well, Queen, I reckon you must be a little bit sad and a little bit excited.

Well, I guess I am. I thought you might know how I feel. How do you feel?

I'm fucking mad, Queen. How in the hell does a smart ass, younger, inexperienced man beat a strong, clever older woman for Presidential candidate, Queen?

I don't know, Queenie.

I guess our time has gone, Queen.

Well, maybe mine anyway, Queenie, you're still young.

But you must be happy, Queen.

I guess I'm excited for the young people, Queenie. I see them all excited and it makes my heart glad.

Yeah, me too.

Shame though...

Yeah...

I'm worried, Queenie, I hear they're going to say something bad about his wife soon.

What?

Something about the church. You know, that's what all those churches are like, Queenie. They all talk like that. It doesn't mean anything. That's how we keep our sanity. You must know. You're from over there.

Over there?

You know what I mean.

Yeah, I know.

I'm worried, Queenie. I'm real worried.

Maybe so, Queen, she looks like a strong woman though.

Maybe.

Sometimes, Queenie, I wonder how strong we've gotta be.

Yeah, I wonder that too.