macq

Dateline: Last Thursday...Edge Of The World...

I knew better than to say anything. While at work, D, the production manager comes into the breakroom and says to me, "My day is crap, I'm completely exacerbated"...I shrug and say "Don't you mean 'exasperated?'"..

He gives me a long squinty look and says, "Thats not what I said...I'm exacerbated!!!"

I go back to my paper..I know this is not a good way to continue. Then J, another minion comes in and asks D how his day is going...Same exchange takes place. D now shouts, "What is wrong with you guys???, I'm exacerbated..can't I be exacerbated???!!!"

I look at J and silently say "You go first"...He does.

"Look, exacerbate means to make something worse...exasperate means to annoy..to exhaust maybe...you can be exasperated...but a person can't be exacerbated...I don't think..."

I nod my head without saying anything.

D goes on about people who think they know what others are feeling or thinking..

I chime up that if he wants us to know what he's thinking or feeling, then he should get the grammar right...J looks at me fearfully as we endure dead, stony silence for a while..

I finally say "Look, we'll let you be exacerbated if you admit that you are annoyed right now...with us...is that a deal?"..D nods with a frown..."Good, then we have exasperated you...and this fucking discussion has exacerbated our already fragile relationship..so sit down and be exacerbated..."...

"I don't have time for chit chat", says D..."I have to go back to work...thanks for the English lesson"..

J pipes up, "Don't let the exacerbation hit you in the exasperation on the way out"...

I reply to J, "I was going to say that"...J says, "I know, I saw it in your face...I just said it for you"..

"Thanks"...I go back to my paper...