A Savage Conversation

"Sympathy for the Devil" plays from the cellular device sitting on the desk of Dr. Matthias Savage. A slight frown appears on his face at the number.

Matthias: Hello?

Estelle: Matthias? Is that you?

Matthias: …....Mother?

Estelle: Oui...surprised to hear from your old mother, no?

Matthias: ...a bit...is something wrong?

Estelle: Mon dieu...what a son I have raised! His mother calls for the first time in months and he thinks something is wrong. What if I just want to hear my son’s voice, eh?

Matthias: (sigh) I’m not saying that I’m not...elated to hear from you, Mother. But...I know you. What’s wrong?

Estelle: Ever the psychiatrist, Matty--

Matthias: Mother.

Estelle: Ne pas me précipiter...it is about Josette..

Matthias: ….......................

Estelle: Matthias? Are you there?

Matthias: …..I’m here.

Estelle: Did you hear me?

Matthias: …....

Estelle: I said it is about Jo--

Matthias: What about her?

Estelle: She has gone...moved...again. The letter I sent came back to me...with many others.

Matthias: And?

Estelle: She has not lived at that address for some time. No one knows where she has gone....I thought that you, perhaps, would want to know.

Matthias: Mother....what is this fascination...this near obsession you have with this? You know Josette. She is a rootless wanderer. She cannot stay in one place for too long. She believes that she can outrun her problems. And she drags her baggage all across the country doing it.

Estelle: Baggage?! Matthias Xavier Savage! That--

Matthias: Mother! However you choose to describe it...it’s not my concern. If Josette wants to disappear...then so be it. My only hope is that she stays gone, this time.

Estelle: (resigned sigh)

Matthias: Is that the only reason you called?

Estelle: Do you even know what today is, Matthias?

Matthias: What? What are you talking about? Should I?

Estelle: …......

Matthias: (sigh) Yes, Mother...I know what today is...what exactly do you propose I do about it?

Estelle: Would it kill you to celebrate?

Matthias: Quite possibly.

Estelle: (tired sigh) I give up.

Matthias: Thank god.

Estelle: I must go...I have to make dinner for your father.

Matthias: Hmph...

Estelle: …..I will speak to you again, soon. Au revoir, Matthias.

Matthias: Au revoir, Mother. (hangs up)