From The Storyteller

August 28, 2017, Nails

It was me and four women. These were not just any women. They included Elaine and three of our four daughters. Jessica, the youngest, was getting married tomorrow, and we were eating breakfast. I was there to pay for the meal. They were tasked with everything else. The “who and when” for clothes, food, dress, flowers, nails, and hair required planning.

Jessica is 18, unemployed and thrilled. Her fella had a part-time job with hopes of full time soon. Their apartment was modest but with her working they could get by. I sat in silence thinking about how much this day was going to cost me when I heard something important. There was a job opportunity as Hyper-Mart and Jessica could apply that afternoon.

My brain screams – “Job is important, nails getting done can wait.” With that compelling thought I broke my silence and shared my thought. It was not well received. In fact the girls ignored it. Elaine to the rescue. She motioned to the girls and suggested they listen as I explain.

All eyes were on me; I began with the obvious. No job, no money, no apartment. The job opportunity was right before her. Getting the nails done can wait. Make the application, and if there is time, then get the nails done. I was eloquent. The logic was flawless and they, sitting in that restaurant booth, were a captive audience.

At first you could hear a pin drop. The three girls silently looked at each other, then at me, and then continued their planning as if I had not said a word. Those nails got done and no job application was made that day.    

 That day I learned men and women understand “important” in totally different ways.

Moral – Flawless logic is not necessarily compelling.