Five Hole Fiction #4
Thompson
okay. last one. everybody actually finish it
Davis
finished it
Marchetti
finished it on the flight home from the parade route
Hájek
i finished. i have been sitting with the ending for three days
Berger
i finished
Kowalski
you did not
Berger
i finished it DURING the cookout. in the bathroom. with the Cup in the next room. that's the most dedicated reader you have ever had
M?kinen
done
Jensen
i finished
Davis
Jensen finished a book
Jensen
i finished TWO books this year. i'm a different man
Thompson
okay. the ending. the chef finally says it and the guy says "i know. i've known since the risotto." go
Davis
the risotto Thompson. the RISOTTO. that's chapter nine. he knew the whole time and let the man cook for him anyway because he didn't want to scare him off before he was ready
Marchetti
he was never not going to say yes. that's the part that got me. four years and the answer was always yes, the chef just had to get there
Davis
i'm not okay. i have not been okay since chapter nineteen
Hájek
i want to say a thing and i am only going to say it one time
Kowalski
oh no he's going to be sincere
Hájek
we have read eight of these now across the season. i did not start out a person who reads about feelings. i started out a person who reads about whether the stick is the correct stick
Berger
the stick is usually the wrong stick
Hájek
the stick is always the wrong stick. that is not my point. my point is i have learned more about myself from eight romance novels than from anything else i have done in this country. i did not expect that. i am noting it for the record
Marchetti
Hájek that's the nicest thing anyone has ever said in this chat
Davis
i'm crying at a Cup party. this is your fault Hájek
Thompson
it helped. i'll say it once too and then we never speak of it. this dumb thing helped. it was a long year. we won the whole thing and i don't think we get there if we're not also doing this together. whatever this is
Kowalski
a book club. it's a book club Thompson
Thompson
it's barely a book club
[Fontenot has added Volkov to the chat]
Fontenot
he's been reading over my shoulder for a month. he gets a say
Volkov
i have one comment
Marchetti
he speaks
Volkov
the goalie is in here now
Lundy
hello
Volkov
a goalie. in book club. asking how the chef tells the man he loves him. and then you all act surprised when it works out for him in real life. you are not subtle people
Thompson
we are extremely subtle
Volkov
you are not
[Volkov has left the chat]
M?kinen
he stayed eight whole messages. that's a record
Fontenot
he's growing
Thompson
okay. business. what are we reading over the summer? i'm thinking we go maybe not romance
Berger
but still sports though. right? we're sports people
Davis
football?
M?kinen
football. yes. except the actual one. the World Cup is happening right now, in this country, IN THIS CITY! and you people are asking what to read
Kowalski
the World Cup's here?
M?kinen
it is on television tonight. in the city you live in
Hájek
my brother is here for it
Thompson
your brother's here for the World Cup
Hájek
yes. he plays. he is on the Czechia National team. i told you my brother plays football
Berger
YOU DID NOT TELL US YOUR brOTHER IS IN THE WORLD CUP
Hájek
you did not ask. you asked if the stick was the correct stick. nobody asked about my brother
Marchetti
HáJEK
Davis
i need everything. i need his name. i need tickets. i need to lie down again
Fontenot
we are going to a World Cup game. that's decided. that's the summer
Thompson
okay new plan. we don't read anything this summer. we go watch Hájek's brother and we make Hájek explain the offside rule
Hájek
the offside rule is simple
Thompson
it is famously not, but i love that you think so. that's the whole reason we keep you