Top Dialogue, Percival Everett, THE TREES

“How is the chili?” Jim asked.

“Do you like chili?”

“Yes, I do.”

“Then you will hate the chili. Catfish or burger?”

“Cheeseburger.”

“Do you like cheese?” Gertrude asked.

“Burger.”

“Wise choice. And what about you?” she asked Ed.

“Catfish.”

Gertrude came back with the food.

“That was fast,” Ed said.

“Luckily we’d already caught the fish,” she said.