Handlers

Art is relaxing on his back deck, reading the paper on a Saturday morning when in come three "businessmen". They begin to talk to Art about his day's activities with an emphasis on how he should reconsider taking the day off. They are very concerned with how it "appears" not to be working, and suggest he go into the office and send emails and voicemails with a "Saturday" stamp to show his commitment. It becomes clear these are not coworkers, but voices inside his head which are always telling him why he should be doing something other than what he's doing, and urge him to consider appearances and nuances over substance. His "handlers" constantly interpret, spin, and posture his every move-and everybody else's-much to his emotional and spiritual detriment. In the end, he forces them out, just as his wife comes out to join him. When she is left alone, her "handlers" show up to question her-starting the cycle all over againPoling, Judson is the author of 'Handlers', published 2004 under ISBN 9780744146318 and ISBN 0744146313.