Rupert Giles (![[info]](http://l-stat.livejournal.com/img/userinfo.gif){kind=small} giles_watching) wrote,@ 2006-08-31 17:22:00 |
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Human Nature
The train had stopped. The lights flickered once but stayed on. Everyone in the car was calm and after a minute or two an announcement was made over the public address system. Giles wasn’t sure what was being said. The male voice sounded young and as though the announcer were moving to and fro in front of whatever he was speaking into. The upshot was, this particular Underground train wasn’t going anywhere for a while.
Well, as long as nothing was exploding about him, Giles saw no reason to become agitated. He was, however, irritated, mostly with himself. He’d nothing to read. To be correct, nothing he wanted to read. There was a detailed report positing that the threatened melting of the polar ice caps also threatened to release a demon or two that the world hadn’t seen since the ice age. He’d rather not get into it right now. Giles also had with him a novel that he’d already dipped into. He was loath to go any further with it. It purported to be a “thrill ride” of a spy novel. But it wasn’t.
He decided to make a list. With pen and paper. If he did it in his head as he did sometimes trying to fall asleep, he might nod off in this stuffy car. What should be his subject? Movies he wants to see before he dies? Movies he wishes he’d never seen? Beaches he’d like to lie on? He glanced around at the motley group brought together on the stalled public transport. He decided to list things that puzzled him about human nature.
1. Why do we not appreciate the things we have now? Why do we always look to what we used to have or will have?
2. Why are we ready to indulge the behavior of our own children but not that of others?
3. Why don’t we realize that tattoos will sag with the skin they are on and that it hurts like bloody hell to have them removed?
4. Why are we always surprised when things turn out badly? Do we honestly think that our lives will be without trouble during our whole existence?
5. Why don’t we all look in a full length mirror before we go out?
He thought briefly about religion but decided that was too much of an irritant to dwell on in these circumstances.
6. Why do we misdirect our anger so often? Why does it sometime take so long to understand what we’re angry about?
7. Why do some people think what Britney Spears does is singing?
The Tube car gave a lurch and started slowly forward. A collective sigh seemed to come from its occupants. Giles put away his pen and notebook. He decided he wouldn’t be using this topic to lull himself to sleep; it really was too exasperating. And he never got to saying anything about demons.
The train had stopped. The lights flickered once but stayed on. Everyone in the car was calm and after a minute or two an announcement was made over the public address system. Giles wasn’t sure what was being said. The male voice sounded young and as though the announcer were moving to and fro in front of whatever he was speaking into. The upshot was, this particular Underground train wasn’t going anywhere for a while.
Well, as long as nothing was exploding about him, Giles saw no reason to become agitated. He was, however, irritated, mostly with himself. He’d nothing to read. To be correct, nothing he wanted to read. There was a detailed report positing that the threatened melting of the polar ice caps also threatened to release a demon or two that the world hadn’t seen since the ice age. He’d rather not get into it right now. Giles also had with him a novel that he’d already dipped into. He was loath to go any further with it. It purported to be a “thrill ride” of a spy novel. But it wasn’t.
He decided to make a list. With pen and paper. If he did it in his head as he did sometimes trying to fall asleep, he might nod off in this stuffy car. What should be his subject? Movies he wants to see before he dies? Movies he wishes he’d never seen? Beaches he’d like to lie on? He glanced around at the motley group brought together on the stalled public transport. He decided to list things that puzzled him about human nature.
1. Why do we not appreciate the things we have now? Why do we always look to what we used to have or will have?
2. Why are we ready to indulge the behavior of our own children but not that of others?
3. Why don’t we realize that tattoos will sag with the skin they are on and that it hurts like bloody hell to have them removed?
4. Why are we always surprised when things turn out badly? Do we honestly think that our lives will be without trouble during our whole existence?
5. Why don’t we all look in a full length mirror before we go out?
He thought briefly about religion but decided that was too much of an irritant to dwell on in these circumstances.
6. Why do we misdirect our anger so often? Why does it sometime take so long to understand what we’re angry about?
7. Why do some people think what Britney Spears does is singing?
The Tube car gave a lurch and started slowly forward. A collective sigh seemed to come from its occupants. Giles put away his pen and notebook. He decided he wouldn’t be using this topic to lull himself to sleep; it really was too exasperating. And he never got to saying anything about demons.
