“Do you ever think about how art can make the world a better place?” Nick asked Andrea as the pair laid back on the hill and stared at the clouds.
“Yeah, dude. It’s kinda what it’s there for,” Andrea replied.
“No, man, but I mean, like, more than just aesthetically,” Nick clarified, stumbling a bit over the last word.
“Yeah, dude. I read about this whole study where reading novels basically teaches people how to better empathize with others.” Andrea watched an ant slowly crawl over her wrist.
“No, man, like, even more directly than that.”
“Well, I’ve read several people tweet about how heroic characters basically helped them find the strength to make it through terrible high school experiences.” Tiny ant legs tickled the back of her hand. “Or like how Mickey in Hannah and Her Sisters decides life is worth living because he goes to see Duck Soup?”
“No, man, I mean, like, America’s Got Talent.”
“Nick, have you learned an important life lesson from Piff the Magic Dragon?” The ant crept over the chipped paint of her ring fingernail.
“Ya know how in comics, a lot of super-villains just have, like, a super-skill? Like Bullseye has perfect aim and Taskmaster can copy anything he sees. Why would you need to crime, when you can just be on TV and win a million dollars? Maybe us watching jugglers saves them from a life of crime.”
“I certainly haven’t thought about that.” The ant crawled back to the grass.