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28. Games?
– Oh, it’s so exciting! Halloween is coming. I need a costume.
Have you decided on a costume yet?
– Yes, I have. I won’t have one.
– What do you mean? What about the Halloween party?
– I’m not going anywhere. No way.
– Why? It’s such fun. I’ll dress up like an evil witch, I think.
– I thought you were a Christian.
– But, of course, I’m a Christian.
– I don’t think that being a Christian and being a witch add up.
– Don’t be so serious! It’s just a game. Just fun.
– Aha. It’s a game all right. But only it’s a satanic one, pure and simple.
– Oh, I can dress up like a good witch or a fairy, if you want me to.
– Well, I don’t. Good or bad, it doesn’t really change anything.
I’m pretty fed up with all this satanism under the guise of “fun” and “tradition”.
I’m not playing this game any more.
– What are you going to do then?
– I don’t know. Whatever. Study French or something…
– We can study together…
– You mean that? Really?
– Yep.
29. The Magic Word
– My car died on me. Just ‘round the corner.
– Obviously, you need a new one. Yours is a piece of junk.
– It’s not a piece of junk. It’s a vintage classic.
It’s a Bentley sixty eight with all the original parts.
– All?
– Well, almost all. Sure she needs some repairing, but all in all, she’s in fine shape.
– Fine shape, right. Then my wheelchair-bound grandmother is in fine shape, too.
What are you going to do, if the next time it dies on you in a fast lane?
– Well, I don’t take fast lanes. She’s not that fast…
– Is that supposed to be funny? I’m not laughing, you know. It’s pretty serious.
You can kill yourself.
– I’m not going to kill myself.
I’ll change the battery, the plugs, and the fuel filter and she’s going to be just like new.
–
Fine, suit yourself.
– OK…
– “OK” what?
– Can I borrow your car for a couple of days?
–
And?
– “And” what?
–
The magic word.
–
Please…
30. Roach
– Attention, class! Look at the common cockroach. Beautiful, isn’t it?
Most probably, it originated in the Silurian Period
about three hundred and fifty million years ago. I mean, not this little chap here, of course,
but his great-great-great-granddaddy. Cockroaches can be found everywhere in the world,
from the tropical rain forest to the arctic, and even, I believe,
in the heads of certain people in this classroom. Johnny, take that finger out of your nose!
There exists no less than four thousand roach species.
In a year, a single female can spawn over half a million little johnnies, ah, well, descendants.
Well done, girl! Radiation doesn’t really bother them. Probably, they even enjoy it!
From the survivalist’s point of view, they’re practically flawless creatures.
They’ve got only a very simple nervous system. Johnny!
And their life’s ruled just by basic environmental stimuli and nothing else.
Unlike us, they’re incapable of thinking, of writing books or composing music…
Compared to this chap, Johnny, we’re, well, gods and must therefore act appropriately…
Take that finger out of your nose, Johnny!
– Okay, teach… Teach-the-roach, teach-the-leech – eat the soap, lick the bleach…
– What did you say? Lick what?
– Nothing, teacher. My pen leaks…
31. Vanity of Vanities
Vanity of vanities, all is vanity.
One generation goes, and another generation comes; but the earth remains forever.
The sun also rises, and the sun goes down, and hurries to its place where it rises.
The wind goes toward the south, and turns around to the north.
It turns around continually as it goes, and the wind returns again to its courses.
All the rivers run into the sea, yet the sea is not full.
To the place where the rivers flow, there they flow again.
All things are full of weariness beyond uttering.
That which has been is that which shall be;
and that which has been done is that which shall be done;
and there is no new thing under the sun...
32. He Who Increases Knowledge
…All is vanity and a chasing after wind…
I said to myself,
"Behold, I have obtained for myself great wisdom above all who were before me in Jerusalem.
Yes, my heart has had great experience of wisdom and knowledge."
I applied my heart to know wisdom, and to know madness and folly.
I perceived that this also was a chasing after wind.
For in much wisdom is much grief; and he who increases knowledge increases sorrow…
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