When To Apologize

Three bunnies were walking to a bookstore to check out some books: 

"Is this one of those bookstores that also serves coffee?" Asked the first bunny, Marvin. 

"Um, I'm not sure Marvin." Replied Dennis, the second bunny, "Why is that a deal-breaker?" 

"Not necessarily a deal-breaker but, I would be disappointed if the bookstore didn't have coffee... Just saying." Marvin replied. 

The third bunny, Larry, cringed at the phrase 'just saying' It was a phrase utterly devoid of meaning or necessity and yet it was ubiquitous. It really got on Larry's nerves and he didn't know how to stop getting so worked up about it. 

"What were you saying?" Larry asked Marvin, pointedly.

"That I'd be disappointed if the bookstore didn't have coffee," Marvin replied. 

"No, after that," Larry pressed. 

"I think that's it? Nothing important after that." Marvin replied again. 

"That's what I thought," Larry responded, satisfied. 

The three bunnies continued on their way to the bookstore. It was a pleasant fall day and the leaves crunching underneath them was a nice soundtrack to the journey. 

"Do you guys know what kind of book you are going to get?" Dennis asked the group. 

"I'm not sure, I really just like browsing and being around all the books" Larry replied, "Whenever I'm around books I want to read them all. I always feel smarter just by reading titles and authors." 

"You know that's not how reading works though, right?" Dennis replied.

"Yeah, obviously I know that," countered Larry, prickly. 

"Okay, well good. Would be weird if you really believed that... Just saying..." Dennis retorted, equally as prickly. 

Larry hadn't slept well last night. His fuse was short. His top was ready to blow. 

"What are you 'just saying?'" Larry exclaimed. "You just said it, why are you 'just saying' something like its punctuation for something you just said?" 

Marvin and Dennis were taken aback. This outburst was completely uncalled for. They assumed that Larry must not have slept well last night, he can get like this when he doesn't sleep well. Short fuse, easily blown top. But neither of them wanted to ask him if his lack of sleep was indeed the reason he had such a short, odd, temper today. 

"So what's the problem?" Dennis asked, "You don't like it when someone says 'just saying?'" 

"Exactly!" Larry replied, "That's exactly what I was just saying..." 

Larry swallowed his words. Dennis and Marvin just looked at Larry with a knowing concern. 

"Guys I'm sorry, I didn't sleep well last night" Larry fessed up. 

"Yeah we can tell, no worries man" They both responded. 

"I shouldn't have yelled. My fuse isn't long enough today because of the lack of sleep." Larry continued, "I really do think 'just saying' is a dumb thing to keep saying though." 

"Yeah man, it's cool. Maybe you can tell us why it sucks a little more coherently when you're rested." Marvin offered. 

"Yeah that's a good idea" Larry concurred. 

The three continued on to the bookstore and ended up having a pleasant afternoon browsing, buying, and reading some of the book on offer. The bookstore even had an espresso machine and they all sipped on coffees. 

Larry was glad he learned one thing early in life, if you feel like you've gone off the rails and you apologize quickly, you can save yourself a fun afternoon.