It's better when they do it

Gary has an 8:00 curfew as one of the conditions of his probation. Lately he has been visiting a friend and coming home at 8:00, except that 8:00 seems to come a little later every night. Today he got home at 8:20. I called him into the living room.

"So...you know what I am going to say?"

"Yes."

"You know the whole conversation we are going to have right now?"

He laughed. "Yes."

I grinned at him. "Okay. So why don't you just go ahead and have it for us."

"What?"

"I think it would be easier. I'm already bored with it. Why don't you just do the whole thing?"

He looked at me a minute trying to figure out if I was serious, laughed, and then said, "I'm supposed to be home at 8 and I was late and I promise to be on time in the future."

"Thank you. My job is so much easier this way."

"So that's all?"

"Well, did you leave any part of the conversation out?"

"Um...I had a really good reason tonight, but like the last couple of nights I was just pushing it."

"Okay. Good to know."

He waited. I didn't say anything. He laughed and said, "So...I'll go work on the kitchen now?"

"Sure."

It was silly, but you know, there is something awfully silly about the conversations we have when everyone knows what is going to be said. Why shouldn't he have the whole conversation? He's the one who is late.