Deconstruction

Story Submitted by Cheryl:

Danny and I had planned to take a walk and then grab some lunch.  While we were out on our walk, we strode past a lone backhoe that was parked on the side of the road in a residential area.

Coming toward us, on the sidewalk, was an older man and a little girl, no older than six.  We greeted them and continued on, and just after they walked past us, the little girl pointed at the backhoe and said, "That's a construction truck!"

The man said, "That's right, sweetie."

The girl went on, "Maybe they forgot it.  Daddy, maybe they forgot it."

"I don't think so, sweetheart," he replied, and they continued on their way.  After a few more steps, Danny and I shared a glance.

"Awww," I said, "That was so adorable."

"Adorably stupid," Danny said, "How could she think that the city forgot a piece of equipment that probably costs six figures?"

"She's probably around five years old.  Kids say stuff like that."

He laughed and replied, "Because they're fucking stupid."

"They're young and they don't know any better."

"And they're stupid!  I'm not saying that stupid's a bad thing.  Just a fact.  They're too stupid to know otherwise.  Too fucking stupid."

"Um, they're kids."

"Fucking stupid kids, more like it."

I shut up, as the discussion was clearly heating him up.  We finally made it to a cafe, where he bought us drinks and sandwiches.

Right after I thanked him, he said, "I can't get over that stupid kid from before.  As if the city would forget a piece of construction equipment!  They remember when I owe them five bucks in taxes, they'll remember a vehicle, believe you me."

"I believe it," I said, my patience thinning.

"You know what else?  That kid was fucking stupid."

I raised my voice slightly and said, "Shut up about the kid!  She was a little kid!  Just forget about it!"

He stared at me, then said, "'Forget about it'?  You're the one who's taking this so damn personally.  I'm not calling you stupid.  Just that stupid kid."

I stood and left.  He called, "Hey, come back!  Come on!" after me, but there was no way I was going to spend one more minute with him.