Open Writing

'We need a mission statement,' I said, 'something that encapsulates -'

'Oh, bugger that,' said Greg, 'we're only a small group, we don't have to start getting big ideas. We'll only make ourselves look ridiculous.'

'Some might say that we've done that already,' said Mavis.

'Why - just by announcing that we exist?' asked Brian.

'Exactly.'

'Well, Mavis, let's not be too negative about -' I began.

'I'm not... I just don't want us to become an object of derision.'

'And nor do I,' I said, 'but surely we must state our position on a range of issues even if we can't agree on a set of principles.'

'Or values,' said Amy, timidly.

'Yes, or values ... or even a basic philosophy.'

'Yes,' said Brian, 'we shouldn't be afraid of having a philosophy just because all the old philosophies have been shot to pieces . . . take Marxism for instance.'

'No, you take it ... and stuff it,' said Greg.

'I think I'd like another drink,' Brian said. 'Whose round is it?'
*
'This is becoming a right shambles. We're supposed to tell people how to run the world and we can't even run our own bloody little meeting ...’

'Yes, let's have a bit of order and formality, shall we?'

'Formality? Who the hell wants formality? You'll be suggesting rules next.'

'And why not? We'll never get anywhere without rules.'

'Exactly, but where do we want to get? What are we trying to achieve?'

'Yes . . . why are we here?'

'Come on, there's no need to be sarcastic'

'No, I'm not being sarcastic. It's a perfectly proper question.'

'A far cry from the perfectly improper ones, then, is it?'

'Now who's being sarcastic?' said Amy, rather sharply, I thought.