Fun with editors

Tonight I was talking with Sam, the magnificent genius who edits and typesets Hold Something for me every month. As is often the case with Sam (and possibly anyone I talk with for very long), things got a little bit surreal:

Sam: Meanwhile, I strive to add seven and eight and still get fifteen.

me: Hang on. I just had a moment where I was worried I'd done the adding up wrong.

Sam: Uh, it is fifteen, right?

me: It is, yes.

Sam: Oh man. It's a good thing we're in the arts.

me: Seven and seven are fourteen. Eight is one more than seven.

Sam: See, I did "seven and nine are sixteen because seven minus one is six, sixteen minus one is fifteen."

me: I've always liked seven plus seven is fourteen for some reason. I wish I was kidding. It just sticks with me. I use it as a point of reference for big numbers.

Sam: I have to admit I just plain don't like seven.

me: What's not to like about seven? It's odd, breaks up into three and four, which turn into twelve when you're not looking.

Sam: I think that's why I don't like it. I like five and ten. And two. Solid, predictable, reliable.

me: I was just about to ask about two.

Sam: Be right back. I think I have wasps again.

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