Wednesday, December 03, 2008

tis the season

You've probably heard about the crazies out there on Black Friday in New York and California. Well, just be aware they're still out there.While it's not anywhere near as tragic, last night I was waiting in the express check-out line at Walmart. I was second in line and there were about two people behind me. We each had one or two items.

This guy walks up to me and says, "Ma'am, can I cut in front of you? I've got a broken jaw (it appeared his jaw was clamped shut) and I need to get home to get my medication. I just want to get some cigarettes."

I'd already stood there longer than I wanted just to purchase a couple of cans of vegetables and I figured the guy couldn't be in too much pain or he would've gone straight home. So I told him no. He asked the lady behind me and she said no. Then he throws his hands up and says, "Well, F-you all!" And then he left.

Now, maybe I should've let him in line ahead of me. It wasn't really that big of a deal, and maybe any other time I would've. But last night I just didn't. You know, after his reaction I'm kind of glad. Guess I need to work a little on my Christmas spirit.

7 comments:

Unknown said...

Christmas Spirit is an illusion created by Santa. You did good, sounds like HE needs to work on HIS Christmas Spirit. He wasn't happy unless someone in that line was willing to be his personal doormat. You weren't, he didn't like it, he can deal.

Bijoux said...

How did he talk to you if his jaw was clamped shut?

You are nicer than me. I would have told him he didn't need to be smoking if he had a broken jaw.

FTN said...

BUT HE NEEDED HIS CIGARETTES!

Trueself said...

The cigarettes part is where I would've gone totally negative on him. No, no you can't cut in line to buy cigarettes. Diapers for your baby? Absolutely! A carton of milk the missus asked you to pick up? Okay. But cigarettes?!? Are you freaking kidding me? He'd be lucky to escape without a big ole' lecture from me on the evils of smoking.

for a different kind of girl said...

How was he going to smoke his dang cigarettes if he had his jaw wired shut?!

Blech

There's times when you know it's right to help a person out and there's time when you know it's not. That clearly was not a man who would have paid your good deed forward.

flutterby said...

Seriously? I have stood in various lines at various times in all sorts of pain (as I'm sure you all have, too) and never even THOUGHT to ask someone if I could go ahead of them in line.

Well, I might have THOUGHT it, or sent out a "Please????" vibe...

But, seriously? Would never have actually asked.

Anyhow, pat your inner little girl on the head and assure her that she is indeed still a good little girl. You did a fine thing denying a self-important, entitled and rather rude person the opportunity to inconvenience everyone else.

Sheesh.

Therese in Heaven said...

If he was buying something like medication, then I would've been obliging. But for some cigarettes? Yeah, not so much.