The present

The future

The past

The present is as thin as a ruler

It is the shallow space

As seen on an hour glass

It is slight

And soon it will become the past

The past no longer exists

The future will exist

But at present it is nothing

Have you concluded your defence Joe

Yes

Joe this is a straightforward question

Did you assassinate the politician

No

Please explain

I did not assassinate the politician

Are you denying responsibility

When there were hundreds of witnesses

Yes

Then who was responsible

Was there another assassin

No

We are talking in riddles Joe

My pistol was responsible

As I cannot physically have that relationship with a bullet

But you pulled the trigger

That is correct

Was it was your intention to kill the politician

I cannot answer that question

Why

Because it was in the past

The past no longer exists

But here in the present you are accused of an assassination

That is an abstract

It is not physical

I am here in court

Sitting down

I am a little cold

As the courtroom is highly ventilated

I am chewing gum which has become tasteless

In the future I will dispose of this gum

The future will become the present

But at present it is nothing

So I will continue chewing the gum

Joe

Yes

Although it is not a crime I do not like gum to be chewed in my court

The clerk with pass you a tissue

Please dispose of your gum