Thus one teenager to another as they were walking past my table on the hotel terrace a short while ago. There was a busload of them, and they were pretty loud. It is quite possible that I only imagined overhearing this surprising line, but it started me thinking nonetheless. Pathology is a branch of medical science that concerns the examination of organs, tissues, and bodily fluids in order to diagnose a disease and its cause. It also involves the examination and diagnosis of surgically removed bodily specimens, as well as the whole body in the case of autopsy or forensic analysis. Besides, the Greek “pathos” at the root of the term stands for “experience” or “suffering.” Delighted by the clever teenager, I marveled at his foresight. When he grows up, pathologists will surely be in high demand. At least for a while, this branch of medical science will be thriving. Nay, booming. But I could not be sure whether the felicitous line was actually the teenager’s or perhaps my own mishearing. And maybe even my confabulation, for the impending ravages of climate change are always on my mind lately. On a merry school excursion, the teenagers were louder than loud, indeed. I could hardly hear myself, let alone their banter.