Author’s Interruption (Unrecorded)
(The room does not change.)
The Author steps in.
Not announced.
Not framed.
Just… present.
“Sorry,” he says, almost apologetically.
“I don’t want to interrupt.”
Everyone pauses — not because they must, but because it would be rude not to.
“I just need to make sure you have what you need.”
He looks around.
Paper?
Pencils?
Overhead projector?
The physicist checks her notes.
The philosopher nods.
The advocate already has a pen.
“Nonsense detector?”
Data glances at the display. “Operational.”
“Spotlight?”
Already on.
“Additional viewports?”
Yoda shakes his head. “Enough, we have.”
The Author waits a second longer.
“Nothing missing?”
“Nothing,” says Spock.
“Zero?”
“Zero,” says Jasmine.
“Okay,” the Author says.
He hesitates — just a fraction.
“Then I’ll step out again.
Sorry for the interruption.”
He leaves.
No one remarks on it.
No one thanks him.
The meeting continues — better, somehow.
