did you have to buy so many, viola says,

looking at the stack of phonograph records.

harvey closes his eyes and breathes deeply.

when i go in the music store,

i want everything, he says.

viola says:

if you would only sit in the booth and try out half a dozen records

before you buy, you’d know exactly what

you’re getting, you’d

get exactly

what you want.

harvey says:

i did get what i wanted. why should i spend half my life

squeezed inside a soundproof cubby,

when i can come home

and listen in peace in my own chair.

viola says:

we’ll see how much peace you get, mr. pettibone.

i was hoping to put

new linoleum on the floor this month.

now it looks like we might just have to

nail your records down

instead.