The Waiting Spot
THE CHRONICLES
Dear Chronicle,
Would you believe Giggle Sprout has opened another one of his “businesses”?
I am fairly certain he does not have a permit to collect money.
This morning I found him standing beside a small sign he had placed in the grass. The sign said: OFFICIAL WAITING SPOT.
Giggle Sprout looked very proud.
“What is this?” I asked.
“It’s for waiting,” he explained.
Apparently he'd heard someone say, “Just wait right here,” and immediately saw a business opportunity:
“Right here” required clarification and a fee, and he was, by his own assessment, the appropriate authority.
Anyways, I decided to test the system.
I paid my fee and waited at the designated spot.
Nothing happened.
By the afternoon, several visitors had gathered.
Giggle Sprout was collecting fees from anyone wishing to remain in the area, and shooed away those who refused to pay.
I found it quite intriguing that no one seemed entirely sure what they were waiting for, and yet we had all paid the $1 fee just to wait.
I finally decided to ask Giggle Sprout what exactly we were waiting for.
He replied that that was not the important part and refused to explain.
I’m still trying to figure out how a few dozen visitors, including myself, agreed to pay for something that is essentially...free.
Is this what is meant by collective behaviour?
If so, who exactly is doing it: the collector, or the collectees?
In either case, I'm starting to wonder if I’ve been outsmarted by a green vegetable.
Again.
