Mark says, "I thought of a great idea for a story on the train today, it's called Wad."

Jim's eyebrow raises.

"See, it's about a guy who is in love with a girl, but she doesn't know he exists. He accidentally places his hand on some gum that she has stuck underneath a desk, and he becomes both repelled and aroused by it. He becomes obsessed with chewed gum. He starts collecting it. He starts Asking people for their gum, collecting it from all around. He eventually creates the world's largest gum wad ball. It becomes a huge midwestern attraction."

Jim, on the brink of dry heaving, "ugg, that's, that's...yuck."

"You see, the gum wad is a metaphor for love and loneliness."

"uh, sure..."

"Well, it seemed like a good idea on the train ride in this morning."