Glass By Alexander Joel Dance

Hamlet

(c) 2012

0430546526 ajdanc@dea !n"ed#"a#

$%&" '$($%G )**+,-$&.H/%" DA0&$+/ &1e ta2 o3 a !tc1en s!n !n a small cram2ed slo4ly dr!22!n5 !nto a s!n o3 d!rty d!s1es" !tc1en !s

Across t1e room s!tt!n5 on a co#c1 set6 amon5st more d!s1es and r#77!s16 '$A+ 4atc1es t1e dr!22!n5 d!stractedly" He 1olds a 7oo !n 1!s 1ands6 o2en 3or read!n5" *n t1e co#c1 4!t1 1!m !s +A)- 41o 1as a note7oo 1!s la2 ty2!n5" com2#ter on

'!am s4!tc1es 1!s attent!on la8!ly 3rom t1e dr!22!n5 to 1!s 7oo and starts read!n5" $n 4al s 9A)AH" * &1ey 7ot1 loo anyt1!n5" 9A)AH 5#ys6 $:m o33" #2" +ar loo s 7ac do4n 4!t1o#t say!n5

'$A+ Alr!51t 1a;e 3#n" 9ara1 loo s aro#nd 1ersel3 and t1en 7ac at t1em"

9A)AH 'oo can yo# 5#ys please try and clean t1!s 2lace #2 a 7!t today" +#m and Dad 4ant to come 7y to see t1e 2lace 7#t $ really don:t 4ant to 1a;e t1em t1ro#51 41en !t loo s l! e t1!s" +ar st!ll says not1!n5" '!am loo s 7ac to 1!s 7oo st!c s a t1#m7s #2 !n 9ara1:s d!rect!on" '$A+ All 5ood6 5!rl" 9ara1 s1a es 1er 1ead and s!51s" 9A)AH * 6 t1en" 9ee yo# tomorro4" 91e 4al s to t1e door and lea;es" &1e t4o 7oys s!t !n s!lence 3or some t!me" &1en +ar loo s #2" +A)Ho4 many s2aces do yo# #se 41en yo# start a ne4 sentence< '!am reads 3or a moment more t1en loo s #2" 7#t

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.*%&$%=/D> '$A+ *ne #s#ally" $ 1ad a ty2!n5 jo7 t1o#51 and $ 1ad to do t4o and t1at sort o3 soa ed !n a 7!t" +A)?1y d!d yo# 1a;e to< '$A+ $ 1ad to" &1at:s 41at t1ey d!d t1ere" +A)$ read t1!s art!cle and t1!s 5#y rec ons 7ac !n t1e day e;eryone only #sed one s2ace" $t 4as al4ays one s2ace" '$A+ ?!t1 ty2e4r!ters< +A)%o $ mean 4ay 7ac " %ot ty2e4r!ters" &y2e4r!ters are t1e 2ro7lem" '$A+ &1ere:s a 2ro7lem< +A)0ea1" &1!s 5#y sa!d 7eca#se o3 t1e 4ay ty2e4r!ters 4or ed eac1 letter 1ad t1e same amo#nt o3 s2ace 7eca#se all t1e metal ey t1!n5s 4ere t1e same s!8e" And t1at made t1e 4r!t!n5 loo ed all s2aced o#t 7eca#se a s !nny letter l! e an :!: 4o#ldn:t 3!ll o#t t1e s2ace l! e a""" :?:< '$A+

2"

+A))!51t" And so to ma e !t eas!er to read e;eryone started to 2#t do#7le s2aces a3ter eac1 sentence" B#t no4 4e 1a;e com2#ters so 4e can s@#!s1 t1e letter to5et1er a5a!n 7#t all t1ese 2eo2le 41o learned on ty2e4r!ters and are teac1ers no4 are st!ll teac1!n5 t1e do#7le s2ace t1!n5"

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'$A+ 0ea1 r!51t" 0o# mad< +A)&1e 5#y !n t1e art!cle 4as" $ t1!n $ tr!ed to 7e 7#t $:m los!n5 steam o;er !t 2retty @#!c ly" '$A+ Ho4 many s2aces do yo# #se< *ne" +A)-

'$A+ 9o yo#:re do!n5 yo#r 7!t t1en" +A)+mmm" $t doesn:t really matter does !t< '! e6 t1e art!cles !nter;!e4ed some 2retty an5ry ty2o5ra21ers 7#t !ts not an !ss#e yo#:re 5o!n5 to 5et a stron5 stance 3or c1an5e on !s !t< '$A+ +ay7e one day" '!am t#rns 1!s attent!on 7ac to 1!s 7oo 7#t only reads a moment more 7e3ore clos!n5 !t 4!t1 a t1#m7 st!ll !ns!de and loo s 7ac #2 at t1e ta2" &1en 1e loo s at t1e &( and t1en t1e remote 41!c1 !s on t1e ot1er s!de o3 t1e co33ee ta7le o#t o3 reac1" He loo s 7ac at t1e ta2"

'$A+ 0o# 5ot somet1!n5 $ co#ld #se as a 7oo mar < +ar reac1es o;er and 5ra7s a 2!ece o3 2a2er o33 t1e 3loor and 2asses !t to '!am" He tears o33 a 2!ece and 2#ts !t 1!s 7oo t1en 5ets #2 and 4al s to s!n t#rn!n5 t1e 1andle t!51t to sto2 t1e dr!22!n5" He t1en 4al s to t1e 3r!d5e6 5ets o#t m!l 3rom t1e carton" and dr!n s !t

Be1!nd 1!m t1e 5lass 3rom t1e 4!ndo4 ex2lodes s2ectac#larly 4!t1o#t 4arn!n5 s1o4er!n5 +ar 4!t1 s1ards o3 5lass"

4" $%&" H*9A$&A' ?A$&$%G A)/A '!am !s on 1!s mo7!le 21one6 2ac!n5 7ac and 3ort1"

'$A+ Hey6 1ey 9am",""", Good man loo $ need to as yo# a 3a;or" .an yo# 5o ro#nd to o#r 2lace and 4atc1 !t< ,""", &1e 3ront 4!ndo4s smas1ed o#t and $ 1ad to r#n +ar to t1e 1os2!tal ,""", $t 4asn:t me",""", $ don:t no4" $ d!dn:t see anyone and $ co#ldn:t 3!nd anyt1!n5 7#t $ 1ad to dr!;e +ar """,""", $ d#nno loo d#de can yo# do !t<,""",0o# 4on:t need a ey6 t1e 3ront 4!ndo4 !sn:t t1ere,""", ?1y 4o#ld $ as yo# to 4atc1 !t !3 no one co#ld 5et !n<,""", $:;e tr!ed yo#:re t1e only one t1at:s 2!c ed #2,""",Alr!51t t1en",""", 0ea1 don:t 4orry" He 1an5s #2 and cl!c s 1!s ton5#e" He 4al s to rece2t!on" '$A+ /xc#se me< +y 3r!end !s !n t1ere 5ett!n5 se4n #2" $s t1ere any4ay $ co#ld 5!;e yo# my n#m7er and 5et someone to r!n5 me 41en 1e:s ready to 7e 2!c ed #2< &1e rece2t!on nods and starts as !n5 @#est!onsB ta !n5 deta!ls do4n" /C&" D)$(/?A0 *D H*=9/ '!am 2#lls !nto t1e dr!;e4ay !n 1!s car" 1e 5ets o#t and 4al s to t1e 3ront door" As 1e !s 5ett!n5 1!s eys o#t and slott!n5 t1em !nto t1e deadloc 1e loo s o;er to t1e t1e 4!ndo4 and not!ces s1ards o3 5lass on t1e 5ro#nd 7elo4 !t o#ts!de" He 2#lls a 2#88led 3ace 7#t cont!n#es on t1ro#51 t1e door" $%&" '$($%G )**+,-$&.H/%" He 4al s !nto t1e 1o#se and loo s do4n at t1e e;ery41ere" 1e 4al s aro#nd t1e co#c1 cran!n5 aro#nd to scan t1e 3loor" He 2#s1es some mess 5!n5erly neels do4n to loo #nder t1e co33ee mess o3 5lass 1!s nec as!de and ta7le"

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He scans t1e 3loor 3rom t1!s ;anta5e 2o!nt and t1en jer s 1!s nee" *4E Jes#s" '$A+

He stands and loo s aro#nd" &1en 1e #ses a 2!88a 7ox to clear one o3 t1e less co;ered s2ots on t1e co#c1 and 1o!sts +ar :s note7oo com2#ter !nto 1!s la2" He o2ens #2 an !nternet 7ro4ser and ty2es !n :tem2orary 3!x 3or 4!ndo4:" He cl!c s on a res#lt and reads !t" &1ere !s a d!a5ram o3 a 1and sta2l!n5 a 5ar7a5e 7a5 to a 4!ndo4 3rame" He s!ts 3or a 41!le as !3 t1!n !n5" &1en 1e ty2es !n :5lass 7rea !n5 3or no reason:" &1e res#lts load and 1e cl!c s on an art!cle la7eled :92ontaneo#s 5lass 7rea a5e:" He reads t1ro#51 a doc#ment 4!t1 !ncl#des t1e l!ne :41!c1 creates a t1ermal anomaly ca#s!n5 a s!t#at!on 3or t1e 5lass to ex2lode" '!am loo s ca#t!o#sly #2 at t1e t1ree rema!n!n5 !n tact 3rames" D#c " '$A+

He cont!n#es to stare sl!51tly mesmer!8ed 3or a moment 7#t t1en 1e 1ears a so#nd and t#rns 1!s 1ead" $t !s t1e dr!22!n5 o3 t1e !tc1en s!n a5a!n" 9t!ll !n a 7!t o3 a trance l! e state '!am stands and 4al s to t1e !tc1en" He t#rns t1e ta2 stron5ly and stands 4atc1!n5 !t" t1ere !s not1!n5 3or a moment and t1en !t dr!2s a5a!n" He 2#lls !t a5a!n 1arder 7#t t1e same t1!n5 1a22ens" Dr!2" '!am t#rns to loo t1e ta2" D#c me" at t1e 7ro en o#t 4!ndo4 and t1en 7ac '$A+ to

$%&" '$($%G )**+,-$&.H/%" +*+/%&9 'A&/) '!am ty2!n5 !n :3!x a dr!22!n5 ta2: !nto t1e com2#ter"

6" /C&" 9$D/ *D H*=9/" '!am 4al !n5 do4n t1e 3ence loo !n5 aro#nd" He s2ots somet1!n5 an cro#c1es to t#rn o33 t1e ta2 to t1e ma!n 4ater s#22ly" $%&" -$&.H/% '!am #s!n5 a s1!3ter to ta e t1e ta2 a2art" He 2#lls o33 t1e to2 2art o3 t1e ta2 and t1en 5!n5erly l!3ts o#t a 7ro en 4as1er" $%&" D)*%& D**) *D D$DD/)/%& H*=9/ 9omeone !s seen a22roac1!n5 t1e door t1ro#51 t1e 3rosted 4!ndo4" &1ey noc and a man 6 +)")AD'/9*% ans4ers" $t !s '!am" '$A+ Hey +r" )a3leson" $ 4as j#st 4onder!n5 !3 yo# co#ld 1el2 me o#t" '!am 1olds #2 1!s 7ro en 4as1er" $%&" -$&.H/% '!am t#rns t1e ta2 on 4a!ts 3or 4ater to start r#nn!n5 and t1en t#rns !t o33" He s!51s 4!t1 sat!s3act!on and loo s #2 and aro#nd t1e room at t1e mess 7e3ore 1!m" $%&" '$($%G )**+,-$&.H/%" '!am 2!c !n5 #2 r#77!s1 and st#33!n5 !t !nto a 5ar7a5e 7a5" /C&" D)*%& D**) '!am o2en!n5 3ront door and d#m2!n5 t4o 3#ll 5ar7a5e 7a5s on t1e 3ront door ste2 and 5oes 7ac !ns!de" $%&" '$($%G )**+,-$&.H/%" '!am stand!n5 s4ee2!n5 5lass !nto a 2!le"

F" $%&" '$($%G )**+,-$&.H/%" '!am on 1ands and nees 5ett!n5 t1e rema!nder o3 t1e 5lass 3rom #nder t1e co33ee ta7le and on t1e co#c1es 4!t1 a d#st2an and 7room" He d#m2s !t !n t1e r#77!s1 7!n and t1en loo s to4ards t1e em2ty 4!ndo4 2ane" $%&" '$($%G )**+,-$&.H/%" '!am ty2!n5 !nto 1!s com2#ter and 1!ts enter" He 4a!ts 3or a 4e7 2a5e to load and t1en s1!3ts 1!s com2#ter to t1e s!de and 5ets #2" $%&" '$($%G )**+,-$&.H/%" '!am noc s o#t t1e rema!n!n5 s1ards o3 5lass 3rom t1e em2ty 2ane and 7e5!ns sta2l!n5 #2 a 7lac 5ar7a5e 7a5 to co;er !t" $%&" -$&.H/% '!am t#rns on t1e ta2" &1e s!n 7e5!ns to 3!ll and 1e s@#!rts !n some deter5ent !nto t1e s4!rl!n5 4ater and d#m2s some d!rty 2lates !n" &1e clean d!s1es 7e5!n to stac t1en stac ed aro#nd !t" $%&" -$&.H/% +#c1 t!me 2asses and '!am !s 3!nally scr#77!n5 o#t t1e last d!rty 2ot" He 2laces !t do4n and loo s aro#nd at t1e no4 t!dy a2artment and sm!les 2ro#dly" He am7les o#t o3 t1e !tc1en area and 2!c s #2 1!s 21one 3rom t1e co#c1 and cl!c s a 7#tton" &1e screen l!51ts #2 read!n5 :6 m!ssed callsB 3 messa5es:" *1" 91!t" '$A+ #2 !n t1e dry!n5 rac and

$%&" '$($%G )**+,-$&.H/%" A% H*=) A%D A B$& 'A&/) &1e room !s em2ty" '!am:s m#33led ;o!ce !s 1eard 3rom o#ts!de" -eys so#nds #nloc t1e 3ront door and !t o2ens 4!t1 '!am on t1e ot1er s!de" He stands as!de and +ar 4al s !n s#llenly" He loo s aro#nd at t1e clean a2artment6 s1a es 1!s 1ead and 1eads t1ro#51 t1e room !nto t1e 1all4ay"

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'!am 4al s !n clos!n5 t1e door" He nods 1!s 1ead6 loo !n5 aro#nd nonc1alantly" He loo s do4n t1e 1all4ay a3ter +ar and 1ears a door slam" '!am s1r#5s" H!s 21ones r!n5s and 1e ans4ers !t" '$A+ Hey 7ro" ,""", %a16 !ts cool 5ot !t sorted",""", A22arently !t can j#st ex2lode somet!mes" ,""", 0ea1" %o s1!t" ,""", He:s o " A 7!t 2!ssy" ,""", 0ea16 $ d!d" .leaned t1e 1o#se #2 7#t" As 1e !s tal !n5 1e o2ens t1e 3r!d5e and ta es o#t t1e carton o3 m!l 6 dr!n !n5 3rom !t" ?1en 1e 2#ts !t 7ac !t 3alls on !ts s!de s2!ll!n5 on t1e 3r!d5e s1el3 and onto t1e 3loor" '$A+ D#c E,""", %a1 j#st s2!lled t1e m!l " He loo s aro#nd and 2#lls t1e last t4o s@#ares o3 2a2er o33 !tc1en 2a2er" He dro2s !t on t1e s2!ll 7#t !t !s not eno#51 to soa #2 t1e 41ole t1!n5" He cons!ders !t 3or a moment t1en s1r#5s and 4al s a4ay" '$A+ 0ea1 no 4orr!es man" ,""", Alr!51t 2eace" He sl#m2s do4n on t1e co#c1 and loo s aro#nd" He sees 1!s 7oo s!tt!n5 on t1e co33ee ta7le and 2!c s !t #2" He starts to o2en t1e !t and t1en loo s #2 at t1e 4!ndo4 41!c1 !s 7e1!nd 1!m" A3ter a moments t1o#51t 1e stands and mo;es to a sect!on o3 t1e co#c1 not 7eneat1 t1e 4!ndo4" He s!ts6 2#ts 1!s 3eet #2 on t1e co33ee ta7le and starts read!n5" /%D