"Why am I impatient I am unsure for what is patience? And why should I ultimately feel that I am lacking in it.
Is it timing? Waiting?
Abstaining?
Obligation?
Longing?
Torture?
Perseverance?
Discipline?
Wanting?
Someone recently referred to it as a staring contest between yourself, fate, god and chance. He also referred to it as a tease, a flirt. It's staring at her image when you want to hear her voice, feel her breath, taste her skin. Patience is the recovery from a really hot dream interrupted by the damn alarm clock. Patience is a hard cock with bound hands."
― LEONORA MORRISON, The Bed and the Bookcase

XXXX

"Hey baby."

"My name is Carl. I am here to return the comic book. I read it twice. It was good. Thanks. Do you have another one?"

"I know your name is Carl but I was using baby as a term of endearment. Your mother ever use terms of endearments?"

"You're not my mother."

"If I were you wouldn't have had to shoot me because I would have never had put you in a position to do it. You were very brave that day. You saved your brother and sisters. I would have never done that to your siblings if I was your mother and if by some strange design I was and I did, I would hope you shoot me dead."

"She's not getting out of prison you know."

"I only know what you tell me, Carl."

"She never got help for it. She kept a diary. She planned it that day. Dad was always complaining about how Mom kept house or not making sure the girls were clean. Basic stuff. Some stuff Ron heard about from his mom Jessie Anderson and he would tease me at school. The other kids would too. I try to stay very clean but it didn't matter because I'm known as Dirty Grimes who shot his mother."

"Thank you for sharing that with me. I am learning to not ask probing questions at supper and I am unsure if what I learned applies to right now. Do you want me ask probing questions about what you just shared?"

"No."

"You want another comic book?"

"Yeah. I mean yes, Ms. Michonne."

"Come on further into my room and take one if you like. It's in the box over there. I have a whole collection and another box being shipped to me from where I use to live."

"You plan to stay here?"

"Yes. Unless something changes with my health and I am better."

"Are you going to get better?"

"I will. I got Judith, Abigail, Isabelle, Billie Joe, Peanut-"

"Peanut? Who's peanut?"

"Andre, that's my baby."

"I thought I was your baby?"

"Your blushing and smiling, Carl Taylor Grimes. You need to do more of that. I bet if we cut all that hair on your head-"

"No hair cutting for me. I keep my hair clean. It's not oily."

"Well you need to come by more often so I can do an oil inspection."

"Wouldn't that be Daryl's line of work?"

"HA."

"What are you doing in here son?"

"Getting a comic book."

"Comic books in here?"

"Here, take the one you got in your hands Carl. That is the next in the series. On your way out take your dad with you. I didn't invite him in my room and yet he is two steps in...I have rules too, Rick."

"Your door's wide open and Carl is inside."

"He has an invite, you are invading my space. I don't just step in to your bedroom."

"But the door is wide open Michonne."

"You and my dad are weird. I'm out."

"Carl is gone, now you need to follow him, Rick."

"I'd come by to see if you need anything from the store. Bigmama tasked me to go with Sasha to the grocery store. Sasha has the list and I have the money. I don't think Bigmama quite trust Sasha."

"Bigmama ain't nobody's fool. You only got to tell her once."

"Well, she trust me with the money but not the list."

"You don't know how to follow instructions. Bigmama got it right."

"Ha."

"I don't need anything other than a Big Kat."

"You need a Big Kat or you want a Big Kat?"

"Why coming from you, you make it seem naughty?"

"Probably because your mind is in the gutter, Michonne."

"I have nothing to throw at you. You two steps in my room without my explicit permission. Stop smiling at me."

"You going to make it to supper time tonight? You been in bed all day today. You okay?"

"I'm taking this pill...well I am taking a lot of pills and something ain't agreeing with my system. I should be up and walking around in another hour. I got to check on the girls if nothing else. The twins are doing homework and I need to check it when they are finished."

"They go to Head Start. They doing homework there?"

"No. They are doing homework here. They will have an official head start when they ready for kindergarten if they don't get moved up a grade when I am finished with them."

"Is that so?"

"You smiling at me. Stop it. Get me a Big Kat and leave my room, Rick."

"You never answered my question. Are you going to make it to supper. Don't give me that exasperated look Michonne. I just wanted to know because I can bring it to you if you want."

"I just need soup. Something real light."

"You losing a lot of weight Michonne."

"No. I've gained two pounds so you know."

"The Big Kat?"

"Yep."

"I will bring you back a box then."