It’s Monday.

That means you might hear stories today.

Sometimes things happen over the weekend, things that take some explaining.

With that in mind, here’s how to talk to someone who fell off a roof while clearing away pine needles and sodden leaves.

Do: Exclaim. (Totally appropriate. The person who had this accident definitely regards it as big news.)

Don’t: Snort. (Judgment doesn’t help.)

Do: Note that he or she is moving in a halting, stove-up manner. (If the person has resisted seeking medical attention and probably should be checked over, appearing to not notice his or her condition might just help that individual rationalize the decision to not find out if anything is broken.)

Don’t: Laugh. (At least not until you have assured yourself that the individual – a person with whom you share a mocking sense of humor – is going to be fine.)

Do: Listen. (Assuming the person wants to talk about it.)

Don’t: Ask questions along the lines of “Are you some kind of idiot, or what?” (Doesn’t help.)

Do: Note the happy news that it could have been much worse. (Though there is little chance you will be the first to share this observation.)

Don’t: Say “You have to be careful up there.” (The person who fell now realizes that.)

Do: Ask if there is anything you can do to help. (There probably isn’t, but you never know.)

Don’t: Tell a long story about something arguably dumb that you once did. (Though that seems like it might help, this moment isn’t really about you.)

Do: Ask for a play-by-play recounting of the mishap. (If the person seems up for it and isn’t obviously tired of telling the story.)

Don’t: Giggle and say right away, “Did you bounce when you hit the ground?” (Suggests that you are more curious than concerned.)

Do: Wince. (It is an appropriate reaction.)

Don’t: Keep glancing at your phone while the person tells the story. (That’s self-explanatory, right?)

Today’s Slice question: Do you suspect we are going to hear a lot about 1955 next year as the people born in the exact middle of the 1946-1964 baby boom span turn 60?