chapter five: round two

sam: Oh, hi!
sam: hello there! how are you?
sam: quite well. yourself?
sam: impeccable!
sam: really?
sam: yes, impeccable. do you happen to know what that means?
sam: impeccable?
sam: yes, I'm sure it has to be something positive.
sam: it does sound like a nice thing to call yourself.
sam: give it a whirl, why don't you?
sam: really?
sam: well, what better word is there to say about yourself?
sam: than impeccable?
sam: yes, go on.
sam: alright. today was impeccable. I hope tomorrow is like that.
sam: see! doesn't that feel good?
sam: impeccable!
sam: yes, yes, truly.
sam: have you heard the news?
sam: I've heard plenty of news, yes.
sam: there's always so much.
sam: indeed. I wonder if they'll ever run out.
sam: who?
sam: oh, the people who make the news. they're very busy, you know
sam: yes, an industrious lot.
sam: you know, I was considering a career in communications.
sam: you've been speaking English your entire life, haven't you?
sam: yes, yes, but in media, I mean
sam: really?
sam: it's quite interesting, don't you think?
sam: oh, it's not fair to call a thing interesting!
sam: do you think so?
sam: of course! everything is interesting.
sam: yes, you have a point.
sam: to call one thing interesting is to ignore everything else, which might be just as interesting, and worthy of mention.
sam: even in the same sentence!
sam: indeed.
sam: not that I hold it against you, of course.
sam: of course not!
sam: that would be decidedly unimpeccable.
sam: banish the thought!
sam: but continue, I apologize for sidetracking you.
sam: not to worry, digression is the source of wit, isn't it?
sam: exactly! what were you saying?
sam: I'm having trouble remembering.
sam: was it something about media?
sam: yes, media! I was thinking of taking up a career in communications.
sam: really?
sam: as a lifestyle, yes.
sam: what would that entail?
sam: well, I'd have to learn about radio, television, the internet, print, magazines, books, articles, quarterlies, pamphlets, all sorts of things.
sam: my, that sounds complicated!
sam: yes, hence the interest.
sam: what a deceptively titled subject, communications.
sam: I doubt it's anything subversive.
sam: oh no. that would be quite sinister.
sam: to trick students into taking courses based entirely on the title of the major!
sam: I hope it's not anything like that.
sam: it's extremely unlikely, I think.
sam: and you'd have to be quite convinceable to stick with such a career course, based only on the word "communications."
sam: so convinceable that you ought to major in communications!
sam: ah! how clever!
sam: thank you.
sam: you're in rare form today.
sam: yes, thank you. I hope I haven't offended anybody.
sam: oh, not at all. I'm not a communications major.
sam: I thought you said you were?
sam: no, I'm only considering it. it's one of many options.
sam: options are good, aren't they?
sam: yes, I quite agree.
sam: best to have as many choices open to you as possible, isn't it?
sam: absolutely!
sam: without a doubt!
sam: it's easier to avoid having a bad time that way.
sam: oh, I do dislike that.
sam: do you?
sam: intensely!
sam: having a bad time, you mean?
sam: oh, yes. there's nothing so irritating.
sam: like what, for example?
sam: well, for example, walking uphill, or up stairs. it's quite tiring. had I the option of standing on a conveyor belt, or taking a chairlift, or an elevator, I would gladly do that.
sam: I bet that's a rare occurence, though.
sam: taking a chairlift?
sam: yes.
sam: you're correct in that. as with riding an elevator.
sam: I suppose it would be easier if you were handicapped.
sam: how so?
sam: then you wouldn't have to bother with stairs anymore. or hills. you'd not have to worry about scaling anything with a grade larger than thirty degrees.
sam: is that so?
sam: yes, anything steeper and you'd have an aide.
sam: like a dog?
sam: maybe, or a person.
sam: I'd much rather have a dog. I'd hate to hold a person back like that.
sam: a dog's easier to emote with, anyways.
sam: not that I have anything against people, though
sam: of course not!
sam: I'd just feel as though I were constantly holding him or her back.
sam: being a nuisance?
sam: yes, I couldn't endure that.
sam: well, you know, you'd be paying this person.
sam: I suppose that would make up for most of it.
sam: and they'd find another handicapped person to help, if not you.
sam: yes, you're right. they're trained professionals. it's a job to them.
sam: but I imagine it wouldn't be a nice feeling, knowing you're somebody's job.
sam: I'm sure it wouldn't be too impersonal, considering the circumstances.
sam: of being handicapped?
sam: yes. I reckon it's a very sensitive and complicated relationship, what forms between a handicapped person and his or her aide. They probably have classes on it.
sam: or they should!
sam: indeed!
sam: because truly, what can you know about human kindness without an understanding of that?
sam: of what?
sam: the relationship between handicapped people and their aides.
sam: not only of that, but of the whole situation.
sam: yes, you're right. you'd have to know about each of their parents, the source of the handicapp, where the aide went to school, for how long, etc.
sam: anything short would be a disservice.
sam: an unaccurate account of things.
sam: do you think there's really something elemental there?
sam: elemantal how?
sam: I mean with those relationships.
sam: yes, but do you mean essential to, what did you say?
sam: an understanding...
sam: oh, yes. well. I'm not sure if it's essential, but if it's an important enough story, I'd be satisfied with that.
sam: with it being important?
sam: yes.
sam: but not essential.
sam: well, yes. I'd be happy with that.
sam: what's the difference?
sam: I don't think anybody can tell, to be frank.
sam: I'm sure it's very hard to discern.
sam: I bet there's a course in that, too.
sam: certainly!