Chapter 25
“So,” Jon began, “What you're telling me is that if Grace does anything that results in my being angry, that it's my fault and not hers. Is that right?”
“Close,” Buddy replied.
“But if anger is only an emotion and, as you said, Sofia, neither right nor wrong, then how is the emotion my fault?”
“Great question!” Buddy responded. “And that's why I said you were close.”
Sofia knew she had other responsibilities, so simply said, “Boys, I need to move on and will join back in later. And Jon, that is a great question. I will answer with a comment and a question. The emotion may not always be a choice, but what you do next, is.”
Jon thought about that. “And the question?”
“Were you consciously aware of the emotion to begin with?” Sofia paused. “Bye for now.”
“Adios, kiddo,” Buddy said as Sofia walked away. “Boy, I sure do like that gal. She is one great individual. And her husband, Scott, ain't too bad, either, though I think that most of his positive qualities come from being married to her. And believe me,” Buddy stated emphatically, “I am preaching to the mirror on that one.”
Jon half smiled at the comment but wanted to get back to Sofia's words. Almost the entirety of his morning had been lived in a state of anger—from getting up late to the dog toy to the email to parking places to . . . to his backpack—and he had justified that anger because of the things, and the people, that had happened to him. They may not rise to the level of a major world injustice, but aren't ...
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