When you think you are but you don't

When you think you are but you don't- At a reunion between so-called friends — and yes, I use “so-called” intentionally — people had also brought their children along. One of them, standing behind me, kept bragging loudly about how intelligent he was. Not to me, of course — just within earshot, so that I had to hear it. He kept going on and on about his intelligence and all his supposed achievements.

Meanwhile, the environment was chaos. Children running from one side of the room to the other. Some self-styled divas laughing hysterically for no apparent reason. Other voices, worn and husky from tobacco, begging for attention. The whole scene irritated me — every sound, every interaction, every presence.

Eventually, I had enough. I turned around, and directly addressed the so-called smartass.I asked:“You really think you’re as smart as you say?”

With a smug smile, he answered:“Oh yes, baby. I’m a limited edition. Are you interested in me?”

I replied calmly — perhaps too calmly:“I’m so grateful you’re a limited edition. The world can’t handle more of you. But since you think you’re so smart, tell us something: who was the first person to offer food delivery services in history?”

His face dropped. Disappointed and visibly confused by the question, he admitted:“I don’t know.”

And just as that awkward silence settled in, a five-year-old girl began hopping around the room, shouting joyfully:“Red Riding Hood! Red Riding Hood! Red Riding Hood!”

And that, right there, was the perfect punchline — because sometimes, when you think you’re smart, but you’re actually not, the universe sends a child to remind everyone of the difference.