"What a waste," one woman said. "Look at him. What a waste."

"Is he interested?" said her friend. "Do you think he's …"

"No. I mean yes. Yes, he's interested. No, he's not."

"What a waste."

"You've already said that."

"Well, so what? People repeat themselves. It's only in stories and plays that the dialogue is perfect."

From "A Whole World, An Entire Life" by Alexander McCall Smith