Some of you may have heard Vanessa on our local CBC this week being interviewed about capacity limits in small retailers. We know a few of you did because we’ve had a lot of support come our way from the interview. However, as anything in the echo chambers of social media, there were some (not you good folks, of course) who did not understand the gist of the message-that “killing time before a hair appointment” in Mom and Pops during a pandemic might not be the most polite thing to do.
It brought to mind an experience Jason had a few years ago at our local Circle K. He was buying ice for an event we were having. When he got to the cash there was a bus driver getting coffee, standing in line behind an old lady buying bread and milk, who was standing behind a very prominent local businessman (name omitted) cashing in his absurd number of Lotto tickets at the counter. Jason knew the businessman had been there for quite some time because, while getting ice from the back, the sounds of that stupid machine “WINNER/GAGNON!” could be heard through the aisles.
Now, ice is heavy. The bus was waiting–full of passengers–outside. That poor old lady was SINCERELY standing there, with a walker, waiting to buy bread and milk. Did this phase the prominent businessman? Not one bit. He continued his winning streak, with that God-awful robot voice of victory, chiming again and again.
The old lady, second in line, looked back at Jason and the bus driver. She had a hatred in her eye that chilled the Soul. “If he continues this I’m going to club him,” she whispered, fingering the tip of her cane, and she winked, validating two generations of class struggle in a single gesture. They all knew this was their moment. They knew that, if he won the lotto one more time, as he had seemingly done ALL HIS LIFE, or simply held up the queue — the ultimate test of civility — any longer, they were all going to pounce on him, walker at the lead, shouting, “WINNER/GAGNON!” before politely buying their groceries, stepping over his mangled suit from Channers.
The old lady broke first: “Would you please cash your bloody lottos later?”
The businessman stopped, insulted that his Manifest Destiny was challenged. He smiled a $10,000 smile. It was achingly bright.
Before he could respond, the old lady SHOVED her walker in his way, nearly stumbling him into the Twinkie stand.
“I’ll take these two items please,” she said to the cashier, in the sweetest voice.
They were all relieved, and happy, that the common sense of civility and kindness had reasserted itself.
Now, despite whatever troll on Twitter might write, or whatever some Randian fruitcake may feel about personal worth or right, our message is this:
Don’t be like that asshole businessman in the Circle K.
Much love,
Jason and Vanessa
