Encouragement

"People were pissed," Hodge said with a laugh. "The old bastard, up in his crop duster for the last time at 89 or 90, raining little bits of paper down on the town like confetti. Oh, Gawd, everybody lost it like he'd peed on all of their lawns at once!" "Why? What was the harm?" Ackerman reacted, surprised. "The mess!" Hodge clarified. "The muss! The fuss! The clogged pool filters!" He put the back of his right hand onto his forehead and struck a dramatic pose; Ackerman shook his head. "For a little confetti?" he said softly. "People are fucks." "And that's the thing, my friend," Hodge said, smiling into his beer. "It wasn't just confetti; it was little bits of paper that said, 'I love you guys!' and 'Stay strong!' and 'Remember to live a little!'." Ackerman whistled, looking down at his lap. "But - hey," Hodge continued, "good words find a way, don't they? That was 4 years ago and this was stuck to my wipers yesterday." He reached back, pulling out his wallet to open it and remove a tiny slip of paper folded neatly inside; he passed it to Ackerman who read, "Screw 'em if they can't take a joke; life is funny!" aloud and started laughing. "Screw 'em!" Hodge exclaimed, raising his glass. "Screw 'em!" Ackerman toasted, promising himself to check the trash and look (see, read) those pieces of paper he'd pulled out of the bushes yesterday. He needed some encouragement right now.