(no subject)

We have a frequent patron at the library - he's been coming in as long as I've worked here and he used to mildly harass me. Not the kind of thing you could actually call him on: teasing that was just on the edge of mean-spirited, condescension. The kinds of things certain kinds of smug, pettily vicious men do to certain kinds of women. In any case, I don't like him, and he almost always makes an effort to check out at my station because he knows that.

He's not as unpleasant now as he once was, and basically just makes a point to tell a terrible joke to me every time he comes in. This is, on the face of it, not that bad, but I very much dislike him and I don't enjoy listening to his smug voice telling jokes.

Today, he came in and, after I'd checked out his books, said, "Did you hear the one about the neutron that walked into the bar?"

Now, as it happens, that is a joke that I tell a lot, when it is an appropriate time for telling bad jokes*. So I said, "Y'know, I think I have heard that one."

Which appeared to derail him completely. He blinked at me silently for a long moment and then said, "I guess I'll have to come up with another one, then." And gathered his books and left.

I will admit to feeling a certain malicious sense of triumph.






*But not an appropriate time for jokes that involve homicidal nuns or dead babies. These situations come up more often than you'd think.