"I see," she said. And when would she ever learn to stop saying 'I see' about things she didn't see at all? - Richard Yates

As my husband always used to say, who cares? A lot of people care, Ann. Well, that's a nice thought, but try counting them up on your fingers. Name me four. Name me three.

And he was afraid she might be taking this much too seriously, so he reached out to stroke or tousle her hair, but that didn't work because she'd just been to the hairdresser and didn't want to get it messed up.

Most people do the best they can.