Overheard at a Crowded Playground

Two men, a dad and his friend, are pushing a toddler on a swing.

The friend pushes the toddler too fast and too high and she screams. The friend apologizes.

The dad laughs and loudly says, “Don’t worry about it, Steve, that’s just some payback from all the times I’ve abused your kids!”

The crowded playground goes silent.

There’s a pause and the dad awkwardly amends, “…you know from scaring them and rough-housing and...and that kind of thing.”

They leave the playground shortly thereafter.