When I was in fifth grade, these girls would get on my nerves, saying things like, “We’re going to the store. D’you wanna come with!?” at which point I waited…and waited for them to finish their questions.

They never did—I was appalled.

I would think to myself (in the very moment), “Why are you butchering the English language in such a brutal and vile way? With what? With whom? There is no question mark there! Finish your thought and perhaps I’ll consider coming along!”

It hurt me in an often inexplicable way.