My Zen Arcade

I doubt thats what he was irritated about.  I doubt he was annoyed at the idea that he might ask for help.  He was annoyed at the idea that he might have asked for help from his fairy godmother, or the monster under his bed.  Wouldn’t you be insulted if someone, in all seriousness, chided you for stepping on a crack, risking your mother’s back?
Did you ask for help?

In hearing Mr. Newdow — I should say Dr. Newdow, as he is an emergency room physician and a lawyer — interviewed recently about whether or not he had ever asked for God’s help in the emergency room, I began to understand the problem. His irritation at the insinuation that he would ask for any help from a supreme being was palpable and probably unfortunate. After all, I think most of us in an emergency situation would like all the help we could get, and what does it hurt to ask? (emphasis mine)