Upon Harker and Alyssa’s arrival, Alyssa said, “Niah, thanks so much for having us for dinner.”

I almost refrained from making a joke about her wording.

“But before that,” I told them, “I want your opinion on a couple of new paintings.”

As I led them into the studio, I explained: “I was driving through this industrial wasteland. It was sunrise and on the 18-lane expressway there wasn’t a car or truck, but the factories on either side were already belching noxious fumes.”

“Ugh,” said Alyssa.

“And then suddenly there was one of those 18-wheel semi-trailer trucks right on my tail.”

“Ugh,” Alyssa repeated.

“Right. I couldn’t believe he wouldn’t pass me. So I pulled over.”

“Did he pull over too?” Harker asked.

“No, he kept barreling along.”

“The creep,” Harker said.

“What, you thought he should stop?” I said.

“Maybe he thought your taillights were burnt out or something,” Harker said.

“Ha!” I snorted. “Anyway, I sat in the car for a minute, then I got out. I thought I’d take a picture of those indecent factories with their 18-story-high phallic smokestacks.”

“Is that what you painted?” Alyssa asked.

“Not exactly,” I said. “On the side of the road was a dead bunny.”

“Oh no,” Alyssa said. “Poor thing.”

“Right,” I said.

“Probably run over by that truck,” Harker said.

“Possibly,” I said. “But when I looked more closely, just off in the weeds were two more dead bunnies.”

“Aw,” said Alyssa.

“So I painted them.” I turned the painting from the wall so they could see.

“Aw,” said Alyssa. “Looks like they’re about to have sex. A ... what do you call it? Three-way?”

“Three-way on the freeway,” Harker said. “Too bad about the truck ruining their fuck.”

“Maybe they got away,” Alyssa speculated.

“Alyssa, she found the dead bunnies. They didn’t get away,” Harker said.

I showed them the second painting.

They studied it without saying a word.

Finally Harker said, “Well, at least it looks like we’re coming.”

“Uh huh,” I said. “What is it the French call orgasm? The little death?”

“That’s right,” Alyssa said. “La petite mort.”

“Well, this is the big mort,” I said. “Okay, time to eat.”

As they were finishing the meal, Alyssa said, “Niah, this is really good. What is it?”

“Rabbit stew,” I said.