Before You Hear It

Start by offering to do something for them. Push off from this if it helps: the sound of a distant lawnmower.

Want me to grab you a beer? Or coffee? I’m heading out anyway. That mower sounds like it’s trying to kill someone over there. My back is killing me from the office anyway. Stupid spreadsheet. If you’re staying in, I can…

Open by asking how they're finding things at the moment. Push off from this if it helps: roundabouts.

How are you finding things at the moment? Everything feels like a mess lately. I was stuck at that new roundabout near the office for twenty minutes this morning because someone didn't know how to use their blinker.…

Open by talking about your own plans, and then stopping. Push off from this if it helps: bootleg t-shirts.

I'm going to get those screen prints done by the weekend. The ones with the faded band logo—if I can just get the ink to arrive without the guy on 4th Street breathing down my neck. It's too hot to even move the heat…