006 Those Things Send Us Down A Road

[speterman]

[Someone sure was missing from classes and didn't eat all day. His handwriting is different than usual, awkwardly paced, as if pausing when finishing some of the words trying to decide what to say.]

Can I get the homework and an idea of what we did in class today?

[Ink blots and a couple of smudges.]

It's odd how often humans consider themselves the superior species and assume all organisms below them are shallow and un-feeling.

There have been multiple examples - how animals can feel depression or even happiness just as us.

[Sure isn't as light-hearted as usual.]

Comments

[speterman]

That's not what spurred this, but they were talking to me when they could before.

[bonafide_divinity]

Are you sure? Because I'm starting to think your goat is severely depressed, Parker.

[speterman]

[There's a long pause.]

And why do you think that?

[bonafide_divinity]

Well Parker, she is your goat. I think I would probably feel a deep sense of hopelessness and disappointment if I were in her position.

[speterman]

What do you want Tulio?

[bonafide_divinity]

I want to discuss the complex and poignant issue that is goat depression.

Why? What do you think I want?

[speterman]

I don't know, but I'm sure it's something.

I'm not in the mood.

[bonafide_divinity]

What do you mean you're not in the mood?
You brought up the goat depression.

Frankly, I'd rather not have anything to do with goats. However, now that Mercer's inflicted herds of them onto Hogwarts, the student body has decided that goats are the most pressing and relevant topic of conversation and who am I to argue about that?

[speterman]

You're the one that brought up goats, this had nothing to do with goats until you brought it up.

[bonafide_divinity]

[Pause]

Alright, maybe I did bring up the goats.

But you brought up animal depression. Forgive me. I was wrong to assume you were talking about the goats. Is it your cat that's depressed?

[speterman]

It was a general observation and speculation. I was not using any of the animals I own as an example to for this.