I ordered my drink at the drive-thru and pulled around. Rolling down my window I heard, “How are you this evening?”

“I’m good,” I answered as I got my money out.

“Better than I was a few minutes ago,” she said as she leaned out the window. At first I wasn’t sure if she was talking to me or not, but she continued, apparently assuming I had returned the greeting with a query into her current state. “I was crying my eyes out so bad I could hardly breathe. That’ll be $1.51.” She handed me my drink.

As I fumbled desperately for the correct change, wondering what social etiquette this sort of situation called for, she went on. “It was pretty awful. But I guess that’s what boys will do to you, right?”

A pause. Oh God, not a pause. What was I supposed to say now?

I mumbled something to the effect of, “I guess so” and handed her two dollar bills. While she made change, I pondered saying something more – “I hope the rest of your night goes well,” or another pithy statement that would be moderately sincere sounding. But she handed me my change and quickly turned to chat with a coworker.

Sometimes they just need someone who will listen.

Yes, Lord, I do so appreciate the irony.