What's not so great is that all this technology is destroying our social skills. Not only have we given up on writing letters to each other, we barely even talk to each other. People have become so accustomed to texting that they're actually startled when the phone rings. It's like we suddenly all have Batphones. If it rings, there must be danger. Now we answer, "What happened? Is someone tied up in the old sawmill?""No, it's Becky. I just called to say hi."—Well you scared me half to death. You can't just pick up the phone and try to talk to me like that. Don't the tips of your fingers work?

Is this Clarissa Fray? The voice on the other end of the phone sounded familiar, though not immediately identifiable.Clary twirled the phone cord nervously around her finger. Yeees?Hi, I'm one of the knife-carrying hooligans you met last night in Pandemonium? Im afraid I made a bad impression and was hoping you'd give me a chance to make it up to-SIMON! Clary held the phone away from her ear as he cracked up laughing. That is so not funny!Sure it is. You just don't see the humor.Jerk. Clary sighed, leaning up against the wall.