The genesis appears to have been anonymous though QI thinks it is reasonable to credit Abby Buchanan Longstreet with an early example of the idea and Frank Fay with an instance similar to modern versions. Acknowledgement: Great thanks to Victor Steinbok, dalena, Marian T.
We’ve all been there, right? You’re minding your own business, maybe binge-watching your favorite show or trying to concentrate on that work project that’s due yesterday, and then it happens: a fly enters the scene. Not just any fly, but the most persistent little pest you’ve ever encountered. It’s the kind of fly that thinks it’s auditioning for a role in a horror movie, buzzing around your head like it’s trying to communicate some ancient wisdom. Spoiler alert: it’s not.
So, picture this: I’m sitting in my room, and this fly decides it’s going to make my life a living hell. For ten solid minutes, I’m trying to evict this little intruder. I’m waving my arms like a windmill on steroids, making a scene that would make any onlooker question my sanity. You’d think I was trying to shoo away a lion, not a tiny insect!
After what feels like an eternity (and let’s be honest, ten minutes is an eternity when you’re battling a fly), it finally flies out the window. Victory! I can finally get back to my life, right? Wrong. This fly, clearly a master of mischief, immediately turns around and zips right back in. It’s like it was waiting for me to drop my guard. It’s as if it’s saying, “Did you really think you could get rid of me that easily?”
And just when I think I might have a chance to reclaim my sanity, the fly starts playing dead. I mean, really? It flops onto the windowsill, completely still. And guess what? I fell for it! You’d think I’d be savvy enough to recognize the classic ‘play dead’ maneuver, but nope! I stood there, contemplating whether to call an exterminator or start a fly rescue mission.
But wait, it gets better! Instead of flying away like a normal creature with a shred of dignity, this fly decides that the fixed window right next to the open one is its new favorite spot. It’s like it’s claiming real estate in my personal space. I can almost hear it thinking, “This is prime real estate!”
Honestly, it’s almost impressive how stubborn this little creature is. It’s like it’s got a personal vendetta against my peace of mind. I can practically hear it buzzing in my ear, “You will never be free of me!”
So, what’s the moral of this story? Maybe it’s that flies are the true masters of persistence, or perhaps it’s that I should invest in some fly traps or even a pet cat. Either way, next time a fly decides to invade my space, I’ll be ready. Armed with a rolled-up newspaper and an arsenal of patience, I’ll show that fly who’s boss. Or at least I’ll try to—because let’s face it, the fly probably has a plan to outsmart me again.
Until then, I’ll continue to share my space with my little buzzing roommate, who clearly has no intention of leaving anytime soon. Cheers to the fly—may our battle never end!
Inspired by: “I’ve spent 10 minutes trying to get this idiot out of my room, it flew out the window and then inst…” (r/mildlyinfuriating)