“Small voice,” I say, “there’s something 

I’ve been meaning to ask you.”

“Shoot,” small voice says.

“Well, you always seem to be talking about being aware

 and paying attention and stuff like that,” I say.

“Yes?”

“But I thought you were supposed to be

the voice of conscience,” I say.

” Consciousness leads to conscience,” 

small voice says. ” The larger the consciousness

the stronger the conscience.”

“Oh,” I say. “So we’re working with the basics here.

I guess I’m in basic training and not graduate school after all.”

Small voice smiles.

                                                                                                                                        JDG