It's got the be the first time we ever sounded like a bickering sitcom-era nuclear couple. Like Lucy and Desi. Archie and...and Doris Edith? Anyone. I can't think of any more right now. Fighting softly at first. Lots of joking and then we're rocketed back to the beginning before being slung-shot right back to this moment. Back to where we always end up.
So help me if you go there this weekend, I'll...I'll-
You'll what?!
I'll make all kinds of trouble for you. That's what!
I burst out laughing. Okay then. So we're clear.
So we're clear, Bridget, I don't care if it's his fucking Bar Mitzvah. You're not going.
Did you get one?
What?
A Bar Mitzvah?
I'm not Jewish.
Oh. I get it. So I should stop waiting for my Quincearena.
Depends. Are you Mexican?
I may as well be. I eat enough of their food.
True. But you're not Mexican, you're Irish as they fucking come, and you're. not. going. Understood?
No. I smile at him softly. Those aren't the rules.
They are today.
You're stringing me along.
I'm trying to keep you safe.
No. You're trying to keep me from him.
In my next life I really hope I don't know you so that I'll finally be able to sleep at night.
Take that back! Tears sting my eyes from the low blow.
I will when you promise you're not going, Birthday or not.
It's a stalemate.
Do you even know what a stalemate is, Bridgie?
Yes, it's when your friend is stinky. I plug my nose and squinch up my whole face. Lochlan has just walked all the way back from town in the heat. He's sweaty and warm. His shirt, his hands are wet but he's got our groceries and a now-warm half can left of Rootbeer for me.
No, it's when you can't agree on something, no matter what.
Then what happens? If you can't agree, I mean?
If no one is willing to change their mind then you have to walk away.
But that doesn't help anyone.
No, it doesn't. It's much better if people learn to compromise.
Isn't that when you give a prize to someone who didn't actually win?
No, that's 'comping a prize' Compromise is different. It means you maybe give up fighting for something in order to keep the peace. Whoever the fight is most important to sometimes should get their way or can figure out a way to get their way this time in exchange for giving up their way next time.
Comp-
Com-pro-mise.
Compromise. Like a common promise!
He smiles.
So can I have candy for dinner?
Hell no.
If I give you a kiss will you comprom..comprize for me?
He laughs. Yeah, okay. If you promise to brush your teeth twice tonight.
I nod. Hey. We had a comprompromise!
Compromise.
Right. Whatever!
But as I look at him now I have no idea who this fight is more important to. Me or him.
So help me if you go there this weekend, I'll...I'll-
You'll what?!
I'll make all kinds of trouble for you. That's what!
I burst out laughing. Okay then. So we're clear.
So we're clear, Bridget, I don't care if it's his fucking Bar Mitzvah. You're not going.
Did you get one?
What?
A Bar Mitzvah?
I'm not Jewish.
Oh. I get it. So I should stop waiting for my Quincearena.
Depends. Are you Mexican?
I may as well be. I eat enough of their food.
True. But you're not Mexican, you're Irish as they fucking come, and you're. not. going. Understood?
No. I smile at him softly. Those aren't the rules.
They are today.
You're stringing me along.
I'm trying to keep you safe.
No. You're trying to keep me from him.
In my next life I really hope I don't know you so that I'll finally be able to sleep at night.
Take that back! Tears sting my eyes from the low blow.
I will when you promise you're not going, Birthday or not.
It's a stalemate.
Do you even know what a stalemate is, Bridgie?
Yes, it's when your friend is stinky. I plug my nose and squinch up my whole face. Lochlan has just walked all the way back from town in the heat. He's sweaty and warm. His shirt, his hands are wet but he's got our groceries and a now-warm half can left of Rootbeer for me.
No, it's when you can't agree on something, no matter what.
Then what happens? If you can't agree, I mean?
If no one is willing to change their mind then you have to walk away.
But that doesn't help anyone.
No, it doesn't. It's much better if people learn to compromise.
Isn't that when you give a prize to someone who didn't actually win?
No, that's 'comping a prize' Compromise is different. It means you maybe give up fighting for something in order to keep the peace. Whoever the fight is most important to sometimes should get their way or can figure out a way to get their way this time in exchange for giving up their way next time.
Comp-
Com-pro-mise.
Compromise. Like a common promise!
He smiles.
So can I have candy for dinner?
Hell no.
If I give you a kiss will you comprom..comprize for me?
He laughs. Yeah, okay. If you promise to brush your teeth twice tonight.
I nod. Hey. We had a comprompromise!
Compromise.
Right. Whatever!
But as I look at him now I have no idea who this fight is more important to. Me or him.