"L'esprit de l'escalier – The Wisdom of the Staircase"

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 Contents

 

page 001

 

1. Best Behavior

 

That's it.

Big time!

Not quite.

Real old-
fashioned.

 

page 006

 

2. Listening Skills

 

All along.

Pretty much.

Just about.

Why bother?

 

page 011

 

3. Logical Dilemmas

 

Nobody
minds.

It was.

Totally
different.

It's
relative.

 

page 016

 

4. Parents Forever

 

What else?

Among
others.

That's all?

All over.

 

page 021

 

5. Work Horses

 

Above all!

Another one!

All right.

Thank you!

 

page 026

 

6. Emergency! [Not!]

 

Bad timing.

Sure, Jack!

Hold it!

Just wait!

 

page 031

 

7. Shadow Dancing

 

Hey! OUCH.

Nothing's
new.

Not today.

Too
dangerous.

 

page 036

 

8. The Watchman

 

Nothing yet.

Very little.

I'm
waiting.

Not major.

 

page 041

 

9. The Watched

 

Nothing
special.

Fear not.

Just
normal.

At best.

 

page 046

 

10. Your Partner

 

Says who?

Unheard of.

Don't
laugh.

No rules.

 

page 051

 

11. The Restaurant

 

God knows!

So much!

All set.

That's fine!

 

page 056

 

12. Ominous Warnings

 

I'm sure.

Spare me!

Totally
unexpected.

We'll wait.

 

page 061

 

13. Pretty Late

 

No doubt.

Before that.

I'll cry.

Something
fierce!

 

page 066

 

14. Reaching Out

 

It's
maddening.

Unbelievable,
huh?

Oh, great!

At least.

 

page 071

 

15. Stepping In

 

Big
change!

That's
enough.

Very
different.

It's easy.

 

page 076

 

16. Tough Questions

 

No reason.

Nothing
much.

There's
options.

Of course!

 

page 081

 

17. Being Fresh

 

Bad, huh?

Big,
mistake!

For what?

Pretty
uphill.

 

page 086

 

18. Being You

 

Ever
hopeful.

Control
yourself!

THINGS
CHANGE!

That's
different.

 

page 091

 

19. Accepting Rejection

 

Not yet.

Someone
else.

Way back!

Thank
goodness!

 

page 096

 

20. Tangled Webs

 

That's
DRASTIC.

Or vice
versa.

Someone
might.

Not bad.

 

page 101

 

21. Blanket Denial

 

Good
God!

Something
better!

Nobody
knows.

Be brave!

 

page 106

 

22. Wrong Words

 

Almost
impossible.

Cheer up!

Too soon.

Very
helpful.

 

page 111

 

23. Arguing Skills

 

How
exotic.

Many more!

Or worse!

Cheap
thrills.

 

page 116

 

24. Wordplay Meister

 

Beautiful,
huh?

Bad
enough.

You bet!

What's
next?

 

page 121

 

25. Worthy Flirting

 

No wonder.

Kicking
back!

Could be.

I hope.

 

page 126

 

26. Guilt Trip

 

For
nothing!

BELIEVE
me.

I'll live.

TOO BAD!

 

page 131

 

27. Sarcastic Praise

 

In case.

Totally
unspoiled.

Home free!

It's
overwhelming.

 

page 136

 

28. Not Shrewd

 

Totally
natural!

That's
changing.

Certainly
not.

And
furthermore!

 

page 141

 

29. Identify Yourself

 

Really
rudimentary.

Very
common.

Everything's
changing.

Not
exactly.

 

page 146

 

30. Avoiding Traps

 

It's insane.

I'm easy.

Doesn't
matter.

What's
different?

 

page 151

 

31. Crew Boss

 

Very strict.

Sure, boss!

Stick
around!

Just don't!

 

page 156

 

32. Police Officer

 

CAN'T
SAY!

Probably—
Something.

No telling.

And more!

 

page 161

 

33. Corner Thugs

 

I'll
swear!

Screwy,
huh?

I'll bet.

Without
limits.

 

page 166

 

34. Country Boys

 

Or
whatever.

Just
brutal.

So cruel.

Oh,
definitely!

 

page 171

 

35. Barroom Floor

 

How
romantic.

Something
else.

The
opposite.

Really
dark.

 

page 176

 

36. Parking Detail

 

Wicked,
huh?

Who's
complaining?

Just
vicious.

Even
less.

 

page 181

 

37. Fraternity Secrets

 

Nothing
fancy.

Who knows?

Pretty
wicked.

Including
time!

 

page 186

 

38. Power Breakfast

 

Different
times.

Doesn't
everyone?

Not so!

Much
better!

 

page 191

 

39. Other Drivers

 

Yeah, sure.

As if.

So
foolish.

Who cares?

 

page 196

 

40. Back-seat Driver

 

Beats me!

Nothing
better.

We'll
manage.

Oh, yeah!

 

page 201

 

41. Wacky Pedestrian

 

How
discouraging.

NOTHING
LESS!

EVERY
TIME!

KEEP
GOING!

 

page 206

 

42. Reporting You

 

Doesn't
count.

Whatever's
fair.

Never mind!

Better off.

 

page 211

 

43. Errand Kid

 

That's
possible.

Endless
files.

Many
moons.

Wild, huh?

 

page 216

 

44. Trendy Put-downs

 

On
schedule.

Maybe
less.

It's
genetic.

Going up!

 

page 221

 

45. Rehashed Insults

 

So stupid!

Very
mysterious.

So sad!

It's
deeper.

 

page 226

 

46. Gay Bashing

 

THAT's
useless.

Very funny.

Plenty!—
Worse!

Beat it!

 

page 231

 

47. Sports Talk

 

If anything.

MANY
TIMES!

We'll see.

Not many.

 

page 236

 

48. False Accusation

 

Where
else?

Anybody
can.

Many ways!

It's
impossible.

 

page 241

 

49. Lashing Out

 

A natural.

It's
charmed.

Pretty
intense.

Just
imagine.

 

page 246

 

50. Strong Hints

 

Small world.

Or else!

It's terrible.

God forbid!

 

page 251

 

51. Aladdin's Genie

 

It's uncanny.

Really
tragic.

Very
expensive.

Even better!

 

page 256

 

52. Sky Hooks

 

Really evil.

Hardly
ever.

Why not?

Spooky,
huh?

 

page 261

 

53. Fuzzy Boundaries

 

Not
recently.

There's
hope.

Very
serious.

Before long!

 

page 266

 

54. Clear Boundaries

 

It's
ridiculous.

No worse!

YOU
SHOULDN'T!

No
violence!

 

page 271

 

55. The Godfather

 

Nothing complicated.

How
delicate.

Well,
anyway.

You wonder.

 

page 276

 

56. Secret Agent

 

Must be.

Never stop.

That's life!

Underneath
everything.

 

page 281

 

57. Criminal Conspiracy

 

Like crazy!

Not even.

Go on!

It's
powerful.

 

page 286

 

58. Exclusive Club

 

Sight
unseen.

Completely
different.

Pretty
amazing.

Anytime,
right?

 

page 291

 

59. Sour Grapes

 

I guess.

Very simple.

Mostly
that.

Until now.

 

page 296

 

60. The Upstart

 

Way
beyond!

Anything
new?

Very clever.

Next time!

 

page 301

 

61. The Mathematician

 

Afraid not.

I've
heard.

Au
contraire.

Another
thrill.

 

page 306

 

62. Crossed Wires

 

Can't wait.

Not
anymore.

Sort of.

Not long.

 

page 311

 

63. The Parrot

 

Smarten up!

Wise up!

Very nice.

Can't hurt!

 

page 316

 

64. The Financier

 

That'll help.

Someone
must.

Bad idea.

Little
challenges.

 

page 321

 

65. The Traitor

 

How
embarrassing.

Don't panic!

Or
something.

So far.

 

page 326

 

66. The Dieter

 

Oh!
Delightful!

You're
strong.

Hard times.

It's
devastating.

 

page 331

 

67. The Grandmother

 

Anything
less?

It's
criminal.

Not
forever.

Just
anything!

 

page 336

 

68. The Grandfather

 

So WHAT?

How
amusing.

Holy Cow!

Not
intentionally.

 

page 341

 

69. The Chief

 

Watch out!

Totally
demanding.

Quite
unnecessary.

I wouldn't.

 

page 346

 

70. The Hood

 

Think so?

Since when?

How's that?

Oh, huge!

 

page 351

 

71. The Telephone

 

Forget it!

Tough
customer.

Missed out.

It's murder!

 

page 356

 

72. The Politician

 

Well, maybe!

You sure?

Not much.

Must you?

 

page 361

 

73. Boss's Turf

 

What then?

Be honest.

Very
enriching.

Good advice.

 

page 366

 

74. Omniscient Weatherman

 

Nothing
unique.

It's better.

Big tragedy.

No shit!

 

page 371

 

75. Boss's Fire

 

What's
missing?

Is it?

Anything
else?

Not
totally.

 

page 376

 

76. Teenager's Ice

 

No sweat.

Without
stopping.

Doesn't
hurt.

Especially
now.

 

page 381

 

77. Doctor Freud

 

Soon
enough.

Even so.

Well, sure!

Besides
that!

 

page 386

 

78. Boston Brahmin

 

THAT's
why.

Not alone.

See that?

Very
elusive.

 

page 391

 

79. Next Generation

 

Saved
again!

Even
before!

By now.

Everything
changes.

 

page 396

 

80. Setup Questions

 

Don't worry!

Maybe—
Both!

Until
recently.

Too early!

 

page 401

 

81. Total Ignoring

 

MY mistake.

Well, okay!

Right!—
Absolutely.

More so!

 

page 406

 

82. Feigned Ignorance

 

Wild
moments.

That's
extra!

Either way.

Can't fail.

 

page 411

 

83. Dirty Tricks

 

Different
things.

But why?

Great
memories!

Without
changing.

 

page 416

 

84. Brush Off

 

Great
timing!

The
reverse!

A joke!

Very
advanced.

 

page 421

 

85. Catty Comments

 

Nothing
drastic.

You think?

Really
scary!

Let's
hope.

 

page 426

 

86. Bawdy Language

 

Heavy
duty.

That's
impressive.

You're
safe.

Many
things!

 

page 431

 

87. Freudian Slips

 

Fat
chance!

What nerve.

Worse yet.

Far better!

 

page 436

 

88. Totally Preoccupied

 

Well said.

Nowhere
near.

You're
kidding!

BACK OFF!

 
 

 

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