DILLIGAF

I was waiting in a rainy line for coffee this morning when I spotted it: a bumper sticker on the car ahead of me. DILLIGAF.

I had to work it out letter by letter, which is a lot of energy before my third cup of coffee. Eventually it dawned on me that it probably stood for:  Does It Look Like I Give a F---.

The line was slow so I had some time to contemplate the phrase…er…question. Someone chose this sticker. Ordered it, or picked it off a rack. Peeled the backing. Eyeballed the placement. Probably stood back to make sure it was straight. That's a lot of work if you didn’t actually care.

As a mystery writer, when I notice things like this — the contradiction between what people announce and what their actions actually reveal I tuck it into my pocket to use later. It's the kind of detail that tells you more about a character than dialogue ever could.

Oh, and if the driver is reading, yes. Yes I do think you give a f---. Cheers!