Time Out Chair

Al sighed while looking at the bland bookstore wall. Behind him, he could hear the friendly laughter as The Mighty Pens critiqued each other’s stories. Glancing at his watch, he thought, _Five more minutes and I can join back in_. He jerked and corrected himself. _I mean, five more minutes and I can … return to their company_.

Nodding, he added, _If I want to get out of the time out chair I better stop ending sentences with prepositions_.