I. A Conversation at the Grownup Table, as Imagined at the Kids’ Table MOM: Pass the wine, please. I want to become crazy. DAD: O.K. GRANDMOTHER: Did you see the politics? It made me angry. DAD: Me, too. When it was over, I had sex. UNCLE: I’m having sex right now. DAD: We all are. MOM: Let’s talk about which kid I like the best. DAD: (laughing) You know, but you won’t tell. MOM: If they ask me again, I might tell. FRIEND FROM WORK: Hey, guess what! My voice is pretty loud! DAD: (laughing) There are actual monsters in the world, but when my kids ask I pretend like there aren’t. MOM: I’m angry! I’m angry all of a sudden! DAD: I’m angry, too! We’re angry at each other! MOM: Now everything is fine. DAD: We just saw the PG-13 movie. It was so good. MOM: There was a big sex. FRIEND FROM WORK: I am the loudest! I am the loudest! (Everybody laughs.) MOM: I had a lot of wine, and now I’m crazy! GRANDFATHER: Hey, do you guys know what God looks like? ALL: Yes. GRANDFATHER: Don’t tell the kids.
Rich, Simon; "The Wisdom of Children"; The New Yorker; 26 Mar 2007 |