Page 103 of Through Quick and Quinn
‘The Simpsons’ Predictions
KasCQ: Hey, y’all! Have you heard about these predictions? If not, check this out and let us know what you think!
justcallmeDoc: Yeah, they totally nailed it with the Game of Thrones dragon. I still can’t believe they ruined that show with the finale.
swim2win: @KasCQ howwwww. how is this even possible, theres no way. theres like forty predictions?
Lexipants<3: Dude. The Ebola episode is too much. Simpsons got it right, even down to the year. Hard to wrap the noggin around that one.
MereHuh: Agreed, but the tiger attack one stands out the most to me. Those two Vegas guys had been doing the show forever, without incident. I know it’s just a coincidence, but still… creepy.
mathπrate#ninja: i heard they predicted a nobel peace prize winner but i guess thats not really hard to do if someone looks into who is working on upcoming breakthroughs or whatever
doubleTdoubleS: I know people freaked out over the Lady Caca Superbowl prediction, but honestly, she could have planned the entire thing based off of the episode from five years before.
crdbrd&gl+ + +: @doubleTdoubleS Fair point.
short&sassy: How are we not talking about the Curling Olympics one? Oh my gosh, such a great episode.
KTUU: Fun topic, but honestly, there’s not much here. The Simpsons have over 700 episodes so they’re bound to get things right here and there. Plus, it’s like @doubleTdoubleS pointed out. Some things could have come true because plans were based off previous episodes.
MakeItRayne: I agree. And the show rarely gives a year, so the “predictions” are more open-ended.
Quinn:
Stung
While I indeed woke up with a yucky feeling due to the ticking time bomb that was Mandy, I found solace in Quick’s promise that we could handle whatever came our way. By the time I arrived at school and locked up my bicycle, I was happy to be back on campus and truly shocked that it was my last “first day” there. I was all smiles, from the moment Quick greeted me with a smooch until lunchtime when we logged in to see that Seek & Speak’s new topic was already a hit. How unfortunate that I went home later that afternoon only to be greeted at the door by my mother and her request to “have a discussion.”
She proceeded to inform me that two of her colleagues at the elementary school, Ms. Krystal and Ms. Amya, congratulated her on my “big accomplishment.” Apparently, both teachers had children who were high school students and, as it turns out, also Seek & Speak contributors. My mom reprimanded me for not informing her of my new “hobby,” which caused her to be caught off-guard at school.
“And not only that, Quinn, but I highly disapprove of this Seek & Speak nonsense. Why on earth would you think that’s a good idea?” she snapped at me. Her hands were waving all over the place like a flag in the wind, and I had a very strong feeling it was not a white flag of surrender. “You’re basically going online and telling the entire world that you’re, what? Some sort of conspiracy theorist? There’s stuff on there about a “fake” moon landing? Really? Oh my goodness, what’s next? You’re going to tell me that you’re a flat-earther? This is ridiculous. You know that once something is out there on the internet, it’s there for life! You want this to be on your digital trail forever? I’m sorry, Quinn, but you need to take it down. Or take your name off it. Today.” Her words went from frantic to firm in three seconds flat.
Because it was my second nature to do so, I inhaled deeply and filled my lungs before responding. My slow exhale calmed my heart and my voice before I even opened my mouth.
“Mom, this isn’t the first time you’ve said something like this to me, and I can see how much it bothers you. But I really don’t care if people think I’m a conspiracy theorist. I’m not. I’m a critical thinker. There’s a difference. And I think everyone should be asking some sort of question about something. About anything. We can’t just absorb whatever narratives are out there and swallow them whole. That’s the nonsense, Mom.”
“Quinn. There are posts on there about some pretty wild stuff. How can you say they’re not conspiracy theories? By definition, that’s what they are. And who knows when this will pop up in the future and slam doors in your face! You’re about to start your life and future employers will—”
I nodded at her, hoping to send the message that her feelings were valid. “Mom,” I tried to calm the energy in the room with my voice. “I don’t mind the digital trail, Mom. It’s okay. I would never want to work for someone who would make me feel like I had to be unauthentic in order to be accepted. Besides, I’m going to be my own boss, remember?” I added a bit of sweetness to the question.
“Honey, I don’t even understand what you’re saying.” She was flustered, but at least she was calming down. I took that as a good sign.
I gave her a big hug, diffusing the situation and resetting the conversation. “Mom, it’s super important to me that I live authentically. That what I do and what I say stems directly from what I believe. I am never going to renounce myself or my beliefs for anyone or anything. And since I will always believe that critical thinking and sharing ideas with others are great things to do, I am not going to shy away from Seek & Speak, nor am I going to hide it or abandon it. I appreciate your concern, Mom, but I’m really proud of it. I’d love to sit down with you and share it with you sometime if you’d like.” I looked at her with hopeful eyes and searched hers for acceptance but came up empty-handed.
“No, thank you. You should have shared it from the beginning,” she retorted as she turned on her heel and headed to the kitchen.
Her comment stung. Because she was right.
Quick:
Ice Broken
It was a Saturday afternoon in January when I looked up from the cucumber pile I was arranging to see my mom standing in front of me. Beaming. With a camera pointing right at my face.
“Surprise! Oh honey, you look so cute when you’re working!” She squealed and pinched my cheek. My nearly-eighteen-year-old cheek. The small scene she created probably would have mortified any other teenager in my shoes, but not me. I was amused. Tickled. Delighted even. These were the words I started using when my mom’s joyous presence and her old-school vocabulary made their way back into my life. I was so happy to have her around, and in a loving way nonetheless, so I could not care less what other people thought. The least of my concerns were the possible thoughts of the NPCs around me.
She claimed that she needed some things for dinner, but the mischievous smile on her face gave her away. “I was missing you, too, Mom,” I said, letting her in on the fact that I knew she was full of hot air. I gave her a tight hug, transferring some produce goo from my apron to her shirt. Not that she cared.
