Saturday, October 20, 2007

A Portrait of Vapidity as a Young Woman

I was at a small bookstore today scanning over the "S" section for Sartre when I noticed a man and his two daughters. I noticed the man specifically because of his fanny pack and khaki shorts -a rarity here in Montréal- and the oldest daughter because of her loud, whiny voice. After the father made a comment to an employee about another bookstore he knew, one that was "hippi-ish like this one" I eavesdropped more intently.

"Honey," the father said to his daughter, "you should read this book." He held up James Joyce, "A Portrait of the Artist as a Young Man".

"Hmm?"

"Well honey it's very famous and readable."

"Ugh, is it philosophy? Cause I hate philosophy."

The youngest daughter proceeded to knock over a stack of books and then confess that she really had to pee-pee.