Alice inhales deep, then exhales.

Alice: In the back of my mind, I know what’s comin’. I can’t stop it. Lesbian X. There to crash the party and next thing I know, I’m no longer engaged in the day-to-day. Now I’m just engaged in this drama that refuses to go away. Yes… Lesbian X has returned to my life. That return was complete with my home being utilized. Not gonna go into detail, but…

Alice pauses.

Alice: I’ll just say there was at least a conversation involved. This time, the conversation was different. I don’t wanna get into it, but the woman I call Lesbian X has finally hit a cross road in her life. She wants me to help her through it. Me. Me! What the… Can’t say that word on the air. What is she thinking??? What am I thinking listening to her??? I did not have a peaceful rest. Then comes this morning and suddenly, Lesbian X is pushed to the back burner. I can’t handle that, because the Happy Couple, B and T are off to the hospital. I’m at L.A. Magazine talking with Editor Guy when I get the news. Suddenly, my friends become an assignment. That’s just awkward. Well, this time it is. There I am with these friends and… And this incredibly, smoking hot woman, I mean she was just cool and hot at the same time. She was there to keep an eye on the Happy Couple due to the paranoia and all that. She’s cool and hot. She’s Cool Heat. I didn’t know that was possible, but hey that’s part of what makes life so interesting.

Alice smirks to herself, her upper lift curling up into confusion.

Alice: So now there’s a new baby in this world and that poor thing has no idea what it’s gettin’ into with us. I have Lesbian X trying to call me to make sure I’m okay while wanting me to let her know that she’s okay. I have Cool Heat distracting me. I have Player and Rockstar pokin’ fun at me over said distraction. Writer has a smile on her face, because all of this amuses her and probably gives her material. …Not that I can really complain about that, I mean here I am talkin’ to you all about it. Tomorrow’s checkin’ in, the Chef Babe’s checkin’ in, all these people wanna know if everything’s okay with the birth. And there’s Lesbian X, just oblivious. And then Coach calls Writer about the Happy Couple. The world is spinning and I find myself here in this room. And I keep askin’ myself. Am I gonna keep watchin’ it spin without me? Or am I gonna take part in it? It seems like a simple answer, but I’m here to tell ya. It isn’t. Not at all. Taking part in this circus called Life is a risk of epic proportions. It’s… it’s this… How can I put it? It’s a nightmare waiting to happen. I’ve always liked the idea of being able to observe this world without gettin’ too involved in it. But… But, I don’t know if I can keep observing like this. I feel like I’m either about to be dragged in or I’m about to jump in head first. I guess it’s just a fear. That fear of getting hurt. I feel envious of the people around me. They have options. They have lives. I have deadlines. I have goals and something to aim at. But everyone else has somethin’ going on. And here I am, just… rambling. Good ol’ Ramblin’ Al. So what do I do? Do I let myself get dragged one way or wind up diving in the other direction? Do I settle for backing away, because I just can’t bring myself to get too involved? Maybe I just try it all at once and hope it doesn’t kill me. I don’t know, listeners. I really don’t. There’s such an interconnectivity when it comes to the Chart. All of these moments that link us together there. I’m there. I’ve certainly had my moments. Lesbian X has made sure of that. There’s gotta be more to this though.

Alice closes her eyes.

Alice: There’s gotta be more. …This is The Chart.

Alice nods to the board-op and the microphone is now off. The glowing red light indicating its activation no longer shines. Alice has a decision to make as to where her life goes from here. It is the same decision so many have to deal with day after day, but for Alice it is something that has taken on a greater responsibility.

”What now?” is all she can think.