I'm sorry you are in a funk, he said
(tongue-tied and twisted, words
like verbs and nouns
collide without sound)
Thank you, I said
(that is to say: Listen, I am trying to say
something )
You're welcome.
I am sorry I am down
(or dead, or just indisposed/ out-of-sorts
or out of my mind for awhile)
Anything I can do to help? he asked . . .
[hear what I am not saying, then
tell me what I've said so I
can hear it too]
No, thank you.
You're Welcome.