For an explanation of the 30 Stories in 30 Days, start at Day 1.
Today’s story is the shortest, but I love that because I like to imagine that short things make Randy Newman extremely angry.
Crazy Talk
One time I went to visit a friend who was in the psych ward after a suicide attempt. And while I want to point out that a mental hospital is not the hilarious place that Dudley Moore and Zach Galifianakis want you to think it is, there are still conversations that take place there (like the one below) that make me giggle.
For lack of an actual name, I will refer to the lady patient in this story as “Julia Louis-Dreyfus.”
To protect his identity, I will refer to my friend Brian as “Doug.”
Julia Louis-Dreyfus: What are you reading?
Doug: It’s a book called Youth in Revolt.
Julia Louis-Dreyfus: What’s it about?
Doug: Um, it’s about a kid who does some wacky stuff.
Julia Louis-Dreyfus: And he gets in over his head?
Doug: Sure.
Julia Louis-Dreyfus: So it’s like War Games?
Doug: Okay.
Julia Louis-Dreyfus: Cool.
That is all.
Of all 14 days, this story is my personal favorite. Take that, Cakegate!
We didn’t have any cool characters when I was in: just a grinning psychotic named Chad who seemed always on the verge of jumping the one hot nurse, and an old man named Walter who chanted “I pray, I pray, I shall return” all night (he was my roomie — I used to think old people slept a lot).
You may not have meant this as a book recommendation, but I’m really enjoying Youth In Revolt, so thanks. It’s kind of like War Games, except there’s no A.I., Ally Sheedy’s character is an acne-prone dude, and there’s a LOT more semen.
Just sayin’.
Nice! I would do anything to recommend that book, including making a nonsensical article-a-day promise that weaves in a subtle suggestion by falsely comparing it to War Games.