So, there I was.....Nearly ready to head to the check out line of my local Trader Joe's. Those unfamiliar with the chain can check it out on Yahoo..it was trending huge last week due to the timely passing of one of it's co-founders...a Howard Hughes-esc billionaire that was so secretive, even Trader Joe's denied his existence...
But that's not the story...So, there I was...moving to the 15 items or less line. A small boy was guarding two baskets set upon the floor. I moved in to stand behind him. He may have been as old as 10 but probably younger...he was a handsome lad, Jet black hair in long curls down almost to his shoulders and sporting horn rimmed glasses...Think Harry Potter as a Hasidic Jew that missed his haircut...
As pleasant as you please, in a clear and unwavering voice right out of Dickens, he said. "I Sir am in line with this basket, and am saving a place in line for the person with that basket"...imagine appropriate gesticulations as he spoke. I nodded and assured him that he would have no resistance from my camp...he seemed pleased with himself.
As I was appreciating this lad's courtesy and well spoken manner a somewhat disheveled looking gent comes along and picks up the basket that the lad had identified as 'that basket". As I was thinking again what a nice kid this was and how courteous he seemed to one and all, the disheveled looking gent pushed the boy gently to the side and told the cashier that even though both baskets met the criteria of 15 items or less, he wanted them rung up as one order. The boy looked at the gent and with a sudden downward jerk of both arms, palms out in anguish, quietly said, "Dad, I'm supposed to pay for these and you are to pay for those", pointing at "that basket".
The gent looked down and with a condescension only a father can manage said quietly. "Yes, yes, but we're running out of time, we have to go". The boy in exasperation explained to the father that the rules specified 15 items or less while the clerk was ringing up both baskets. To proceed further was to violate the law and be rude to 'that gentleman", pointing at me.
The father simply said "Connor, we are going!"...as the clerk bagged the last of the treats and gave change. The father thrust one of the 3 bags at Connor who was embarrassed and angry at his father for changing the rules midstream. Connor being slow to take the bag had it thrust into his chest and clawed at it in self defense as his father strode off. As he walked away, Connor turned in my direction and mouthed 'I'm sorry"...and then ran off to catch up with Dad...
This being in Berkeley...I immediately thought of the old satiric comic strip in the once (in)famous Berkeley Barb weekly..."Politeness Man" a Clark Kent-ish looking guy who was always correcting etiquette faux-paus, that usually wrought injury upon the oafish louts with bad manners. I thought, Connor will grow up to be "Politeness Man"...assuming he doesn't wreak havoc upon his loutish parents before his 13th birthday...But then, where is HE getting manners from?...Not from dad...Maybe on-line...
That being said, I bring this to our attention so that if we open up our Yahoo pages tomorrow to see that a young Berkeley boy has dispatched his parents for no reason, WE will know the reason..and not only that...but his DAD at least,had it coming!!!!!
But that's not the story...So, there I was...moving to the 15 items or less line. A small boy was guarding two baskets set upon the floor. I moved in to stand behind him. He may have been as old as 10 but probably younger...he was a handsome lad, Jet black hair in long curls down almost to his shoulders and sporting horn rimmed glasses...Think Harry Potter as a Hasidic Jew that missed his haircut...
As pleasant as you please, in a clear and unwavering voice right out of Dickens, he said. "I Sir am in line with this basket, and am saving a place in line for the person with that basket"...imagine appropriate gesticulations as he spoke. I nodded and assured him that he would have no resistance from my camp...he seemed pleased with himself.
As I was appreciating this lad's courtesy and well spoken manner a somewhat disheveled looking gent comes along and picks up the basket that the lad had identified as 'that basket". As I was thinking again what a nice kid this was and how courteous he seemed to one and all, the disheveled looking gent pushed the boy gently to the side and told the cashier that even though both baskets met the criteria of 15 items or less, he wanted them rung up as one order. The boy looked at the gent and with a sudden downward jerk of both arms, palms out in anguish, quietly said, "Dad, I'm supposed to pay for these and you are to pay for those", pointing at "that basket".
The gent looked down and with a condescension only a father can manage said quietly. "Yes, yes, but we're running out of time, we have to go". The boy in exasperation explained to the father that the rules specified 15 items or less while the clerk was ringing up both baskets. To proceed further was to violate the law and be rude to 'that gentleman", pointing at me.
The father simply said "Connor, we are going!"...as the clerk bagged the last of the treats and gave change. The father thrust one of the 3 bags at Connor who was embarrassed and angry at his father for changing the rules midstream. Connor being slow to take the bag had it thrust into his chest and clawed at it in self defense as his father strode off. As he walked away, Connor turned in my direction and mouthed 'I'm sorry"...and then ran off to catch up with Dad...
This being in Berkeley...I immediately thought of the old satiric comic strip in the once (in)famous Berkeley Barb weekly..."Politeness Man" a Clark Kent-ish looking guy who was always correcting etiquette faux-paus, that usually wrought injury upon the oafish louts with bad manners. I thought, Connor will grow up to be "Politeness Man"...assuming he doesn't wreak havoc upon his loutish parents before his 13th birthday...But then, where is HE getting manners from?...Not from dad...Maybe on-line...
That being said, I bring this to our attention so that if we open up our Yahoo pages tomorrow to see that a young Berkeley boy has dispatched his parents for no reason, WE will know the reason..and not only that...but his DAD at least,had it coming!!!!!
I love Berkley, is that the new TJs on university?
My mom loves that TJs.
I love children with strong moral fibre, and the way you wrote that story