Kids Do Say the Darndest Things

Where do they pick up this sort of language?

If you’re old enough, you may remember a segment from Art Linkletter’s House Party show called “Kids Say the Darndest Things.” It was quite popular in its time and was even redone in later years long after the original had aired. Yes, aired. No cable or streaming back then. For a good portion of the show’s duration, it was broadcast in black and white. So, yes, you’d have to be rather old to be familiar with the show.

I bring this up because the show came to mind after a recent incident with a young man, the son of one of our neighbors. This particular boy is about fourteen or so. I can’t say I know him well. We’ve only conversed a few times, and briefly, at that. He’s always seemed to be a decent enough kid, however. I’ve never had any problems with him before.

I was retrieving a few items from the car not long ago when I saw him coming up the road. As he drew near, I turned to him, nodded, and said, “Hi.”

Honestly, I was expecting little in reply. Perhaps nothing. Or a ‘Hi,’ or a ‘Yo,’ or even a ‘Screw you, old man.’ Honestly, though, I was not prepared for the words that came from this young man’s mouth.

His reply, along with a slight nod?