Sign of the Times

The usual conversational murmur of the coffee shop was pierced by the shrill wail of a child.  It was not a cry of hunger, or of pain, but a sign of displeasure.  I don’t know what the child was unhappy about, but she was quickly pacified when Mom lifted her from the stroller.

When Mom and Dad sat down with their coffee, the child, not quite a toddler, was transferred to Dad’s lap.  Mom had her HHD in her hand before she had a sip of coffee.  Dad had two HHD’s.  He used one to amuse and distract the child with music and flashing colors.  With the other one he checked his messages, or sent texts, or whatever ‘constant communication people’ do.

Can’t get your kids started too soon.

NOTE:  I don’t know the difference between mobile phones, cell phones, iphones, smart phones, etc.  In fact, those things have no business being called phones in the first place!  Phones, or more properly, telephones, are for talking;  /phone/ means ‘sound.’  Talking is what happens least with these so-called ‘phones,’ so I refuse to refer to them as such.  They are simply hand-held devices, HHD’s.   So it is decreed.