Now and Later

This morning I had brunch with Lyle, my gopher. I had a bowl of my usual Capt’N Crunch and Lyle had sugar-coated turnips.

I said, “Lyle, we never know what’s going to happen in the next moment, but the funny thing is we have strong convictions about the future.”

Lyle said, “What’s the future?”

I said, “That’s the things that will be happening later.”

Lyle said, “I don’t get it.”

I said, “Remember how earlier this morning you woke up, but now you’re here? We’ll this “here” was the earlier part of the morning’s future.”

Lyle said, “What?”

I said, “When this wasn’t happening, it was the future.”

Lyle said, “But this is happening.”

I got frustrated, slammed my hand on the breakfast table and said, “Yes, Lyle, but at one time it wasn’t. When it wasn’t, it was the future!”

We sat in silence for a while.

Lyle said, “What toy was in your Capt’ N Crunch box?”

I said, “A compass.”

Lyle got excited and said, “Can I have it?”

I gave the compass to Lyle. He put the compass in his mouth and chewed on it for a while.