Sometimes, overheard snippets of conversation create miniature stories of their own, revealing character and family dynamics as clearly as a novel, and much more succinctly. 

Take, for example, this conversation overheard on an airplane:

Kid– When are we going to get something to drink?

Man– They have to serve those people [first class] right now.

Kid– Why?

Man– Because they’re special.

Woman– They are not special. They just paid more.