Auto-Sear

04.15.25

Two brothers on the 7 train. The Younger Brother is reading a comic book that his OIder Brother has obviously already read and perhaps even showed the Younger Brother. Every 15 seconds, the younger brother has a question about the comic book which the Older Brother has to remove his AirPods to hear and respond to. For the duration for the time I spend standing next to them, the Older Brother does not get frustrated or fatigued by the Younger Brother. Just dutifully answers questions after question after question.

“So this guy is not the bad guy?”

AirPods out.

“What?” -the Older Brother

“This guy’s not the bad guy?”

“Nope.”

AirPods in.

“So he’s on the Monarch’s side?” -the Younger Brother

AirPods out.

“This guy is on the Monarch’s side?”

“Yup.” -the Older Brother

AirPods in.

“That’s cool.” -the Younger Brother

“Yeah,” the Older Brother says. “It is cool.”