It doesn’t matter who we are, there are going to be times in life when we regret something. In fact, we might even find that we regret it so quickly that we don’t even have time to fully recover. Those are the types of lessons that tend to stick with us for a lifetime and we hope that we are able to learn from them so we don’t make them again. At times, however, we may see other people who end up in the same situation and rather than feeling sorry for them, we realize that they got exactly what was coming to them. That was the case in the following story. We can’t prove it is true but we sure hope it is!
(I’m eight months pregnant with twins and am massive. My weight has gone up to 180 and my belly is stretched beyond belief. I’m with my eldest daughter getting the last minute shopping as I’m being induced in two weeks. I can’t move very fast and am having terrible mood swings. I’m pushing the trolley and my daughter is doing all the running around for me.)
Me: “Okay, nearly done. I need a rest.”
(I feel a trolley pushing into me from the back and turn to see an elderly man.)
Customer: “C’mon, fatty, get out of my way.”
Me: “Excuse me!”
Customer: “You heard. You should be ashamed of yourself. Making her do all the work just ’cause you’re too lazy to bother.”
Me: “Um, I’m pregnant, not fat and lazy. And please don’t push your trolley into me.”
Customer: “I’ll do as I see fit. I’m 70 years old and can still get my own shopping. I didn’t fight in the war just to watch fat slobs like you work your kids to the bone.”
(He then pushes the trolley into my thigh and hip.)
Me: “That’s it! Listen to me you miserable old b*****d. First of all, if you’re 70 you didn’t fight in any war. WWII ended in 1945; you would’ve been a baby. Secondly, I am obviously heavily pregnant and my daughter is helping as I can’t reach up or bend down. Thirdly, if you ram me with that trolley again I will do it back to you. Just because you’re old it doesn’t give you the right to be an a**hole!”
Customer: “How dare you talk to me like that! I fought in the war; I could have died for our country!”
(He tried to push my trolley into me, but my daughter moved it. I’d had enough by then and decided to do it back to him. I pushed his trolley into him as he was holding onto it and backed him up to a display and trapped him there. Several people stop to look.)
Me: “Come on, then, you cantankerous old f***er! Not so tough now that the whole shop can see you. Still want to yell at the pregnant lady for being fat and lazy? Still want to ram a trolley into me while I’m carrying twins? I didn’t think so. See, I know you didn’t fight in a war. You’re a miserable, lonely old coward who can only feel better about himself when you’re making others feel bad. Didn’t work on me, did it? What’s wrong, old man? Forgotten all the horrible things you said to me? Nothing mean to say now that I’m not some meek little woman?”
(I feel a hand on my shoulder and turn, still quite angry.)
Security Guard: “Maybe we can let him go now, ma’am. I think he’s been told off enough. My colleague will escort the gentleman out. May I suggest a complimentary drink and cake from our caf?”
Me: *as sweet as sugar again’ “Ooh, cake. That’s very kind. He was extremely rude”
Security Guard: “I know, another customer told us and we could see everything on CCTV. How far along are you?”
Me: “I’m being induced in two weeks. I have two 7lbers in here and I’ve had enough.”
Security Guard: “My wife had twins last year. The last trimester was the worst two and a half months of my life and I WAS in a war! I would’ve gladly gone back to Afghanistan to get away from her at times!”
(The elderly man was asked to leave and I and my (very embarrassed) daughter had a lovely piece of cake. And no, I didn’t feel bad about talking to a pensioner that way. Just because you’ve lived a long time, doesn’t mean you can be rude.)
