What’s the difference between a Zen cushion and a regular cushion?

Other practices a tune on his guitar—a difficult one, from the sound of things.

Magpie explores a shopping site.

“See this?” He points at the screen. “It’s a Zen cushion.”

Other looks up. “Mm-hmm.”

“What’s the difference between a Zen cushion and a regular cushion?” Magpie asks.

“Depends on who you ask.” He has yet another go at a tricky arpeggio.

The student scrunches his face and hmphs.

“Okay, what if I asked Kagi?”

Other abandons his guitar.

“He’d say there’s no difference.”

“What if I asked Wheel?”

“He’d say there’s a huge difference. That one has a print of a mandala!”

“What if I asked Grandmother?”

“She’d thump your ear.”

Other returns to his guitar.

Magpie studies the image, zooming around to view it from different angles.

“What if I asked you?”

Other stops playing and rolls his eyes up beneath his brow.

“I’d ask who’s the self whose butt hurts?”