Friday, November 20, 2015

In which the English major teaches the engineer how to read between the lines

Primo: Even Carol (our hairdresser) told me it was lucky that I was unemployed while my parents were sick.

Me: Yes, but the difference between Carol saying that and Ted's Wife saying it is that Carol meant that your unemployment might have made this ordeal easier for you. TW meant that your unemployment made this ordeal easier for her and Ted.

Primo: Oh. OH! Yes! I understand.

Me: You usually don't figure this kind of thing out.

Primo: No. I am not good at that.

Me: Just like when Ted told your dad that it was unfair to you that so much money was going to the grandkids because you don't have any children, what he really meant it was unfair to Ted because Jack has three times as many children as Ted does.

Primo: Oh! You're right!

Me: Of course I am. I was an English major. This is what we do.

7 comments:

  1. L.O.L. English majors get the subtext!

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    1. emma, I work with engineers in R&D - I explain a lot of subtext. :)

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  2. Primo reminds me of my sister. When she was a kid, she used to cry when she won at a board game because that meant OTHER PEOPLE LOST. She could bear it if she lost. Primo, do not be like my nine year old sister! Love, Emma.

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    1. Primo is so much more generous than I. You don't get a second chance with me - if you are mean and nasty to me, I am done with you. Primo gives Ted the benefit of the doubt and Ted does not deserve it.

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  3. Wait what??! Primo has a hairdresser??

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    1. Well of course - I don't cut his hair for him! We go to the same woman for our haircuts. She has become our friend.

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    2. Haha ok and silly me I just go to Great Cuts.

      It sounded pretty funny because I had the instant picture of being dragged to the salon when I was a wee lad while my Mom got her hair styled and the whole place smelled like hair spray.

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