Prompt #28 Condescending
Me, Myself, and I
Ray Arnold tried to have an amiable relationship with Dennis Nedry. It was nearly impossible because Nedry, without fail, always acted like he was far more intelligent than Arnold. It annoyed Arnold to no end. He respected the professional experience Nedry contributed to InGen and the Jurassic Park project. Why Nedry didn't reciprocate that respect was a mystery to him. Even so, he'd let it go for now and focus on the task at hand.
"Are we going to review the systems today? We need to focus on the perimeter fence," Arnold said as he lit a cigarette.
He sat in the control room, seated at his workstation, and waited for Nedry to respond. Nedry was at his workstation in the far corner of the control room, typing away. Arnold was about to ask the question again because it wasn't clear if Nedry had heard him—or if he was ignoring him.
"Dennis?
"I heard you the first time."
"We're reviewing the issues with the security and perimeter fence, right?"
"If you want to," Nedry said, still hammering away at his keyboard while eating a chocolate candy bar.
Arnold sighed and tried to maintain his patience. "It's not a matter of if I want to, it's something we have to do."
"Says who? John Hammond?"
"Who else is our boss?"
For some reason that got Nedry's attention as he looked up and faced Arnold. "I don't really care about what John wants. And I can review the issues with the security and the perimeter fence by myself."
"I thought we were doing it together, that was my impression."
"You thought wrong. Besides, I don't think you have the time, the patience, or even the skills to understand computer code the way I do."
Arnold visibly recoiled. Did he hear him right? As though reading his mind, Nedry repeated himself.
"I meant what I said but let me phrase it differently so it's not as offensive," Nedry continued, while sending a scornful look in Arnold's direction. "I got this, and I don't need your help, Ray. I know how to do my job, and I don't need or want your oversight."
Nedry turned his focus back to his console and missed Arnold's quizzical expression, which eventually morphed into eyes narrowed in disgust. For some reason, he thought that today he'd have a different, friendlier interaction with Nedry. That was like asking for the earth to stop revolving around the sun—it was impossible. Just as it was impossible for Nedry to see anyone else as his equal. Arnold was beginning to accept that Nedry thought everyone, and everything, revolved around him. Nedry's brilliance is amazing, but he needs to keep his ego in check, Arnold thought as he clenched his lighter in his hand. He won't get very far with that 'me, myself, and I' attitude.