Offense

Patrick huffed and puffed over to the wrapper discarded on the ground, picked it up angrily, and walked it over to the trash can in obvious disgust. He then slipped back to the tree that it landed near and whispered comfort. "It's not you; it's them. Total disregard for others and for the planet, that one - a real GD piece of work. Please accept my apology for that lower lifeform's cluelessness." The words came easily, and others nearby laughed and marveled. "Did you rehearse that bit?" they called over from their picnic site, smiling. "Over time," Patrick said, "mostly because I say it A LOT." They gave him a thumbs up, but felt the truth of it, and consolidated their trash so that none of it would blow about and cause offense.