There are few things so potentially entertaining as eavesdropping on other people’s conversations and then speculating about their relationship. You know what I’m talking about. You overhear a couple’s conversation in the booth next to you and you’re like – awwwww… I bet this is their first date! Or, you’re like – ohhhhhh, damn, someone is about to get DUMPED! All of the drama with none of the personal attachment.

So imagine my delight when one night I’m going to bed and my neighbor and his girlfriend sit right outside my window and have an argument about their relationship. Since my neighbor is an inconsiderate asshole who I try to avoid at all costs, of course I’m loving the drama, so I curl up for my bedtime story. 

Apparently, they had made plans to hang out but he went to hang out with his friends instead. That messed up their plans and now she doesn’t even feel like hanging out with him. And she thinks it sucks that she adjusts her schedule for him and he doesn’t make the effort. She thinks he’s being really inconsiderate of her.

Super classic kind of argument that couples have that doesn’t make for particularly delightful eavesdropping. However, there is some very important additional context. He is unemployed and we are under a shelter-in-place order because of coronavirus.

This is where I have to strongly prevent myself from yelling out my window – GIRL! He has no job! We aren’t even supposed to be leaving our houses and damn near everything is closed! And somehow he still has a problem fitting you into his schedule….?! Ummmmmm…??  

I want to run out there and grab her and shake her by the shoulders and scream in her face that she is going to kick herself for wasting her time with this moron. But I don’t. Mostly because when you are that girl (as I was SO. MANY. TIMES. when I was in my 20s and trying to figure shit out) you just don’t hear it when people talk sense to you. And you don’t recognize it when someone treats you badly or lies right to your face.

And partly because she’d probably think I was insane since I’ve never actually met her.