Whatever you're thinking, tell me before you do it.

End of Thursday. The room mostly cleared. Travis pulls a stool out and sits down across from Clark.

Travis says the thing first. He brings up the Dallas piece. He names the consultant. He says: what did you do on Tuesday.

Clark answers each thing - yes, I know; the consultant; yes he had a legal pad; a conversation, someone I trust outside the building - and Travis cannot fully tell whether he's being trusted with something or being shown the shape of a decision already made.

The "mostly" tension turns: this time Travis is the one who said the thing first. Clark is the one withholding, measured and patient and already a step ahead.

"Tell me before you do it." / "I will." That's enough. Whether it's enough is a question for later.

Featured: Travis Stone, division head. Clark Edwards, principal.

The Marfa Mavericks is a daily fiction podcast about a creative agency in West Texas. New episodes every morning. Listen in order or do not.

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