In the not-too-distant future, 9-year-old Bruce asked his dad, “Why do we go to shows? We can create any art we want with AI. Any song we want to hear or art style is at our fingertips. What’s the point of going to this show, standing out here with all these people and waiting...
Third-grade music concerts are challenging to attend, even if it’s just a story about a third-grade concert. You don’t even have to hear the singing, but I’m sure you’re squirming. Kathy, the music teacher, led the third-grade class on stage. In third grade, kids have trouble walking in a straight line without causing mayhem....
“Excuse me, sir. It says here that you have Butterfly Kisses Insurance,” the receptionist at the doctor’s office said, motioning Randy over to the desk. Randy stood up. He wore a cutoff motorcycle jacket that showed several tattoos. With his long, crazy beard, Randy towered over the receptionist’s desk. “That’s right, Randy said, crossing...
Hey, Sitcom Crew, I love the column. I have a friend who always reschedules our plans. She has good reasons and seems to feel bad about it, but I’m pretty upset. I feel like she’s canceling on purpose or isn’t thinking about me. What should I do? —The One With the Flakey Friend Jay:...
When Applebee’s decided to join the dating app scene, Cali was ready to sign up. Cali says, “I can suffer through almost any date for some mozzarella sticks.” The app works like any other dating app, except it’s all Applebee’s. You pick your ideal menu items and favorite Applebee’s locations and then you swipe...
When people ask how they met, Max and Scarlet tell them about a coffee loyalty program. The Pine Street Coffee Company is a relaxed establishment with spacious rooms for working and enjoying coffee. The shop opens early and closes late, with a big cast of regulars. While it follows the model of other coffee...
Bob was exactly where he wanted to be, doing exactly what he wanted to be doing with exactly the people he wanted to be doing it with. He couldn’t believe his luck. He was on a boat with his family on his favorite lake. When Bob organized the day, he figured all the annoyances...
It’s weird for someone who loves coffee to go 11 years between cups. Phil drank the best cup of coffee he had ever had, and he only wanted to have another cup if it bested the previous one. The best cup of coffee originated from a place he went to in college. He loved...
Celeste’s relief that Riley had a new plan to combat swim meet anxiety was short-lived. Because the anxiety was so bad, Celeste always checked in on Riley before his races. Riley seemed the most relaxed Celeste could remember for the year’s first meet. “My Mom told me that we are the stories we tell...
"The key to the summer is snow cones," Harvey told Jason as they got ready to leave the school for the summer. "I bought a snow cone machine, and I'm going to go down to the beach every day to sell them."...