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Go to What I SHOULD Have Said... main page

Here is one story retold, albeit with a pithier ending:


From Ralph:

Wasting Steps

What happened: More often than not, myself and a coworker get into trouble for talking at my place of employment... A clothing store. The conversations arent even anything harmful to the little tykes that run around browsing through the toy section behind us, my manager just enjoys throwing her power around. She also enjoys having audible conversations with the people higher than myself and coworker as we unload a truck, and if I am caught talking, theres ALWAYS some biting remark just to show shes the one in power and can do things I cant.

What I said: dot dot dot

What I SHOULD have said: Several things... Leave my area of work and walk up to her, "What is this a sewing circle??" Or just "Shut your mouth." She often likes to say that, and the soul meaning of it is to show her the disrespect she shows me.

on the stairs

L'esprit d'escalier

The French call it l'esprit d'escalier, "the wit of the staircase," those biting ripostes that are thought of just seconds too late, on the way out of the room-or even, to tell the truth, days later. It's happened to you: you've suddenly thought of just what would put your foe in his or her place, but past the time when the arrow could sting its victim. You've stewed in your own juice ever since, and the chance for singeing repartee is gone forever.

Or is it?

Dorothy Parker or Oscar Wilde may have had the rapier wit to tweak their tormentors on the spot, but for the rest of us, we offer the Internet's only L'esprit d'escalier web site!



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