12/17/2020
Me: (On the sofa imparting some tidbit of information found on Twitter that I considered mildly interesting)
Joe: (in nearby chair looking upward toward ceiling)
Me: “Did you hear me?”
Joe: (looking at ceiling)
Me: “Joe, are you even listening to me?”
Joe: (still seemingly focused on ceiling) “No”
Me:
Me: “Should I repeat it?”
Joe: “No”
Me: (considering)
Me: “You seem distracted. What’s on your mind?”
Joe: (deigning to look at me) “You’re distracting. I’m just thinking.”
Me: (now curious) “about what?”
Joe: “Why are you peppering me with questions? You’re like a machine gun with questions.”
Me: (!) Wow, are you OK?
Joe: “Yes, I’m OK. Can’t a guy do some unfettered thinking without getting a million questions?”
Me: “Unfettered thinking?”
Joe: “Yes, unfettered thinking” (leaves chair and goes upstairs to, presumably, do some unfettered thinking)
Me: (resumes scrolling)
