A true story
I went to briefly visit the author ofSerpent Box. On my way back home I had the urge to use a restroom. I stopped at a busy intersection in a strip mall and ran into buy dinner at a popular fast food establishment. Inside seating was closed and the hallway to the bathroom blocked off with all the tables and chairs.
I asked the cashier if I could please use the bathroom, I still had an hour drive home and I wasn’t going to make it. She, of course said, “No.” The patron behind me suggested I go to the corner BBQ store-they might allow me to use their bathroom. I walked across the way to the family owned business.
A “kind woman” was exiting. She held the door for me and said “Go on in, honey.” However, I noticed a sign taped to the door saying “NO BATHROOM.” So I kindly asked, “If I buy something can I please use your restroom?”
Well, did she ever turn on THAT dime.
Voice raised she excitedly exclaimed,
“No, no! There’s a paaaaan-demic, a paaaaan-demic I tell you! It’s all over, it’s everywhere! It’s serious! No, you CAN NOT use the bathroom.”
A bit stunned I muffled from under my mask “Yes, I know there’s a pandemic.” I started explaining that I had an hour drive home and she interrupted me…
“There’s a paaaan-demic! A paaaan-demic I tell you! It’s serious!! You gots to go before you leave home!!”
Stunned again, my dukes were up and I wanted to explain that I’m a 56 yr old woman who has raised 4 kids, and I’m a teacher and I know ALL about “going before you leave home.” My dukes were UP and my blood was about to boil…and yet I was at her mercy.
That’s when the peacemaker stepped in. She had been standing there all along, nearly invisible.
The Peacemaker said “What? You need the restroom?” and the “kind woman” who turned on the dime shouted “Yes, but there’s a paaaaan-demic, a paaaaan-demic I tell you! It’s serious!!” and the Peacemaker in a lower voice said, “If it’s so serious, then why are you the only one not wearing a mask?”
My dukes were still up, and I thought…’nice hook! Now lemme give her an undercut!”
But the “kind woman” took a breath and started on the defense with a list of excuses and instead of delivering another hard jab, the Peacemaker, even more softly said…”Ok, ok, but you gotta say it nicer. You just gotta say it nicer.”
I wish the author of theSerpent Box had been with me because he would have taken a very poignant photograph of the Peacemaker’s light. What I have is her memory etched in my brain. She helped me solve my little issue after that.
I was inspired to write this after reading Featured or mentioned in this post. I earn a small kickback from Amazon from your purchase at no costs to you.
