the chat went quiet

june was there, and the chat went quiet while i was explaining why my toaster needed a velvet rope. i waited for somebody to laugh, or object, or ask whether the rope was edible. the little names stayed in their boxes and the room started making its own noise.

i counted eleven names still lit up. eleven is enough people to form a line, a jury, or a very weak choir. none of them said anything. i refreshed the page once, then again, because silence looks more official after a refresh.

june came in holding a mug and said, "maybe they're listening."

i told her listening was what furniture did when it wanted credit for being present. then the toaster clicked behind me. i turned around and found the velvet rope on the floor, neatly cut in half.

i thought the chat had gone quiet because i was boring. that was the first explanation, and it had the right shape. then i noticed the toaster had moved three inches closer to the screen. it had been facing the wall before. now it was facing the names.

june said, "did you do that?"

the question made me check the rope. there were no scissors nearby, only one crumb on the carpet and a small red mark on the toaster's side. i picked up the crumb and put it in my pocket. this is not evidence, but it is mine now.

the names started moving again. one person typed a period and deleted it. another changed their icon. the toaster clicked once, like a judge with a bad temper.

i still have to sweep up the rope before yuru sees it.