Тонкое искусство пофигизма

           Sostuck,infact,thatsheendsupemailingastrangerontheInternet(me)andaskinghimasillyandobviousquestionlike,“HowdoIdropoutofmedschool?”

           Orthecollegeguywhohasacrushonhistutor.Soheagonizesovereverysign,everylaugh,everysmile,everydiversionintosmalltalk,andemailsmeatwenty-eight-pagenovellathatconcludeswiththequestion,“HowdoIaskherout?”Orthesinglemotherwhosenow-adultkidshavefinishedschoolandareloafingaroundonhercouch,eatingherfood,spendinghermoney,notrespectingherspaceorherdesireforprivacy.Shewantsthemtomoveonwiththeirlives.Shewantstomoveonwithherlife.Yetshe’sscaredtodeathofpushingherchildrenaway,scaredtothepointofasking,“HowdoIaskthemtomoveout?”

           TheseareVCRquestions.Fromtheoutside,theanswerissimple:justshutupanddoit.

           Butfromtheinside,fromtheperspectiveofeachofthesepeople,thesequestionsfeelimpossiblycomplexandopaque—existentialriddleswrappedinenigmaspackedinaKFCbucketfullofRubik’sCubes.

           VCRquestionsarefunnybecausetheanswerappearsdifficulttoanyonewhohasthemandappearseasytoanyonewhodoesnot.

           Theproblemhereispain.Fillingouttheappropriatepaperworktodropoutofmedschoolisastraightforwardandobviousaction;breakingyourparents’heartsisnot.Askingatutoroutonadateisassimpleassayingthewords;riskingintenseembarrassmentandrejectionfeelsfarmorecomplicated.