“Hello?”

“Hey, pal. What’s up?”

“What’s up, man?”

“Nothing. So, listen to this.”

“Go.”

“So I was dropping the kids at school this week and I was snubbed by a woman at school.”

“What does that mean?”

“You know, like, this woman pretended not to know me.”

“Is that what snub means?”

“Kind of, but that doesn’t matter. What happened was I made a point to waive and give a friendly recognition and she pretended not to see me.”

“Any chance she actually didn’t see you?”

“None.”

“So, why do you think she snubbed you?”

“Because I didn’t recognize her two weeks ago.”

“Ah, I see. A little tit for tat.”

“Maybe. But, mine was genuine.”

“Explain how you didn’t recognize her.”

“We had the little fair day festival thing at the school. Lots of kids running around and parents trying to keep up. You’re seeing lots of people but the conversations are quick and usually break off when one parent loses track of a child.”

“Got it. So it was at this event that you didn’t recognize her?”

“Yes. She came up and said hello. She called me by name. I tried my best to play it off and pretend that I recognized her, but she didn’t buy it. It’s always clear when someone doesn’t remember you.”

“It’s always clear. In fact, I think it’s impossible to fake. Throughout human history, I don’t think anyone has ever been fooled in that situation.”

“Exactly. Try as you may, you’re not tricking anyone. So anyway, that happened. We then go on to chat for a minute, but she knows the entire time that I don’t know who she is.”

“And that was it?”

“Yes. We say good-bye and that’s it. Now, fast forward two weeks to this past Tuesday. I’m at the school dropping the kids and see that same woman. I’m approaching her in this large hallway and she is talking with another lady. I walk by and smile, wave, and give a big, “Hey”, as I pass.”

“And she dead pans you?”

“Totally. She also sort of tilted her line of sight so as to disguise that she never saw me. I knew what she was doing because I’ve used that trick a bit myself.”

“Who hasn’t? So, that was it?”

“Yep. Nothing. No acknowledgement. No being a bigger person and understanding that I at least now know who she is. Nothing.”

“Yeah, I guess we’re a little old for that type grudgery.”

“Right? I mean, we’re 40.”

“So, who was it? Just another kid’s mom?”

“No, it was actually one of my kids’ teacher.”

“Oh.”

“But, we haven’t had parent night for this school year yet?”

“Well, that makes sense. So, how did she know you so clearly?”

“She also taught my son two years ago.”

“I see.”

“And, I saw her at a tailgate in Atlanta last football season.”

“OK, this is making a little more sense.”

“But still, come on?”

“No, I’m actually going to take the teacher’s side on this one.”

“Really?”

“Yeah, this one’s on you. You may want to commit her to memory.”

“Noted.”