Lady Jean's and Claire M's posts remind me of a pet- not quite, peeve bur more a bafflement of mine: Why do people insist on telling me the plot of any number of stories? I don't read much fiction. I don't have anything particularly against it- in fact, I write stories - but I happen to prefer non-fiction.

It happened again yesterday, on the phone. This friend was telling me this "interesting" story and persisted until I broke in and reminded her that I don't really care how her story ends.

The strange thing is that this friend reads more erudite books and articles than I do. She reads a great deal of scientific material and reads until she understands it thoroughly. Now, those thoughts I don't mind hearing. I just don't want to hear about the others.

I remember once years ago when another friend insisted on telling me about this abusive, insensitive husband in this story, and when I protested, she said, Wait. Wait. Wait until you hear what happened. See, when (something about the wife's crisis), you wouldn't have guessed it, but the husband stepped up and came through for her. Completely out of character...

poo