a sympathetic ear

i had an odd experience today. a woman, in a state verging on hysteria, came by and demanded to speak with joseph. i could see that she was put out, so rather than mincing words, i went to fetch him straightaway. reportedly she had come by the previous evening and been treated quite rudely by hormone. he had shouted at her and threatened to call the police if she did not leave, which, i thought to myself, was pretty reasonable behavior considering that she came by at four am and hammered on the door until someone answered. she was here today because she wanted joseph to castigate hormone so that his disrespect would not be repeated. he assured her that he would, then gave her one of his cigarettes (which is what she wanted from him last night), and she left mollified.

i, meanwhile, stood transfixed in the kitchen, drinking in her lack of self-awareness. i hadn't thought it possible, but it seems that i can still be shocked by the behavior of others. and so it was there in the kitchen that joseph found me, vulnerable and alone, and decided that mine was a sympathetic ear. "i don't even know her that well, man," he said before i could edge past him. "she just came over one time so i could show her my tarantula." i offered a silent prayer that "my tarantula" was not a euphemistic phrase, and in that moment, my window of escape closed. so i sat and listened for a time while joseph monologued about the boorishness of others.

the irony was exquisite.