In Jodi Picoult's "House Rules," a humorous exchange occurs when a kid teases the narrator about playing baseball by asking if the position is "left out," provoking laughter from classmates. This moment exemplifies how even a seemingly significant comment can hold little weight in the grand scheme of things.

The narrator reflects on the vastness of existence, considering the child as just one of billions of people on Earth, and Earth itself as merely a small part of the solar system, which contains countless stars in the Milky Way. This perspective diminishes the impact of the teasing remark, reminding us of our relative insignificance in the universe.