Comm(a) again?

"Every time I read an sms from my daughter, it's like solving a cryptic clue!"

You glance at the message that’s just beeped into your cell phone, and go:

“Oh no, et tu?”

“Who?” your kids mumble, with their eyes firmly fixed on the TV.

“Your aunt.”

“Why? What’s she done now?”

“Just look at her message – a colon, a dash and the second half of parentheses.”

“She’s smiling.”

“I know what it’s supposed to mean.... I just didn’t think she’d succumb to this new ‘language’ too. How old does she think she is?”

“That’s both mean and age-ist.”

“There’s no such word.”

“There is now.”

“Fine – say it in punctuation-ese.”

Okay – the atmosphere is getting distinctly ruffled, so you decide to be the adult and calm down.

“All I’m saying is this New Age techno-language is getting too much. Grt 2 C U, ROFL... no one uses words. Is this the end of the Full Sentences Era?”

Making a sound that’s an interesting blend of irritation and indulgence, your kids move on to more important things.

“What’s for dinner?”

You think for a minute, then say, “Eight – Dash – First-half-of-parentheses.”

“Eh?”

“Yep...in other words, it’s your turn to handle the kitchen. And that’s nothing to LOL about.”

Nice.

Nice to have the last word for once...even if it’s just... er...‘symbol’-ic.