I love when people make the scoff face – the nonverbal scoff, the one you make when you’re in a heated argument, and you realize you have a valid point to add. But when you open your mouth and start with, “Well honestly…” the person you’re arguing with cuts you off with a, “Excuse me, let me finish!”

You see they’re hell bent on getting their whole point out in one spittle. Damn you for not knowing they weren’t finished. So you close your lips, lean your head down, and turn a little to make it appear as if you want to hear them clearly.

Yet all you’re really thinking is…“This bitch interrupted me. Look at me being the bigger person and just letting them say their peace.” And you applaud yourself while memorizing and repeating whatsoever it was you were going to argue. And you get this smirk in the corner of your mouth, feeling like you’re sitting at the big people’s table.

This other person is still blowing bubbles and building mashed potato fortresses at the crayon decorated plastic picnic table set out for the kiddies on holidays. And at some point, they do stop talking, and you realize you haven’t listened to much of anything they’ve said, but you continue on with your point and you still wear that smirk. You look at them and see a desperate kid trapped under a layer of ice. You hear the freezing water moving underneath, billowing molecules and cold air bubbles. You want to help.