Littering

When Ann and John were preteens we’d bolt for a movie from time to time to give Jean a few hours of peace and quiet at home. Jean wasn’t a movie fan. This one time we decided to drink a Coke in the car on the way to the theater. I’d finished mine and was curious whether the kids had paid any attention to the lessons on littering and recycling. The conversation might have been something like the following. Time may have altered the conversation ever so slightly.
Guys, I’m a little worried about leaving our Coke cans in the car. The ants might get the scent and come get the last little bit of carbonated sugar water. I don’t want ants in the car. I’m going to throw my Coke out.

Dad, you can’t do that.
Sure I can. All I have to do is roll down the window.
No Dad. You can’t.
What? Is the window broken?
No. You can’t throw it out the window.
Yes I can. I’ll show you. I roll down the window with my left hand like this, I switch hands on the steering wheel, pick up the can with my right hand, and thrr . . .
Noooooooo!!!!! (They shouted)
Guys, what’s the problem? You all right? (I roll up the window)
You can’t throw the can out the window!
What do you mean? I was just showing you how. It’s easy. Let’s go over it again. I roll down the window and . . .
Noooooooo! (They shouted again)
Am I doing it wrong? I thought it was a simple procedure. Did I forget something? Do you want to throw the can out for me?
No, Dad. You can’t throw the can out. It’s littering!
Littering? What’s the problem with that? Everyone does it. Look, there are some cigarette butts at the stop light and a plastic bottle over there. There’s a plastic bag over in the weeds. If everyone else can do it, I can do it too. I’ll just roll down the window and . . .
Nooooooo! Stop it, Dad. You can’t litter! (More shouting)
Everybody else can litter, but I can’t?
Right.
Well that doesn’t seem fair.
Littering is wrong, Dad. You have to recycle the can or put it in the trash.
It’s wrong? You know I am never wrong. Recycle or in the trash you say?
Yes.
But we don’t have any trash cans in the car.
There will be one at the movie theater.
Really, at the movie theater? The trash cans might be full.
We’ll find one, Dad.
I suppose that could happen. Would you guys hold my empty can? I’m not sure I can handle that much responsibility.
Sure, Dad.