The monk quoted Ionesco:
“Over-explanation separates
us from astonishment.” They
said they valued the

questions more than the answers,
but they had all the answers
and certitude (of course, certitude,
one of the

last bastions of the cowardly),
because the questions were
too threatening, so they struck
out in an over-

explanation/justification as
to why the questioning couple
was being rejected and in spite
of that barrage

which embodied the group’s
untruthfulness, leaving the
couple on the edge of astonish-
ment, or perhaps, better,

incredulity not because of the
smoke screen, loquacious
letter — but that a congregation
whose motto is

“Everyone welcome, no
exceptions,” would be so
summarily dismissive and
strike so quickly as if a

Nazi firing squad riddled
the two over and over and
went home to Mozart’s Eine
kleine Nachtmusik.