Useless

Once, when I was a little boy, and playing with a friend of mine while Maureen was baby sitting us, I broke his toy.  I could not fix it.  I just fumbled with it.  He took it, and said, "Terry, you are useless," as he reassembled his toy.  I said, "I am not useless."  I turned to my sister, Maureen, and said, "Maureen, tell him I am useful."
Pause.
"Maureen?" I wimpered.
"I'm thinking," said finally replied.