Grown Man, grow up.

Category: dribblings

The other day at work a man, who I don’t know, and who is old enough to be my dad (and me be the youngest daughter) came up to the desk and said to me, “Tell me something that will make me happy.”

I didn’t know what to say because why would I know what to say? Why would you say something crazy like that to a STRANGER?

In my state of flabbergastedness I guess I looked confused, because then the man said, “I just got done eating at The Sizzler and the cashier gave me the senior discount! ME! I’m not a senior citizen!”

Oh no! Poor old you! Someone thought you were what, two years older than you are? And then, out of respect, didn’t charge you as much for your meal? Aw, poor baby.

I did not say that, cos I didn’t feel like getting fired.

What I did was look the guy in the eye, did not smile (cos I’ve learned that if you smile out of politeness, some old men think you’re into them) gave a shrug and said, “Sir, just take the discount,” and went back to my work.

His reaction was akin to me having just kicked him in the batch. He screwed up his face, mouth agape and gasped. Like, how very dare I? I mean, he actually looked wounded. He… he gasped.

And look, I’m not out to destroy some strange man’s ego. But don’t come up to me at my job and ask me to cheer you up because what, you feel old? Would you have walked up to a man my age and asked him to “tell you something to make you happy?” No. I bet not. So why tag me to soothe your bruised ego? Cos I’m female? Young? Do I look like I’m into coddling old men? Is it my amazing short hair? My awesome boobs?

Are you this whiney with your wife? Your daughter?

Grow up, old man.

If I caught my dad seeking any kind of comfort from a young lady, I would shame him immediately. But my dad is a grown man and he treats people, even women, even young women, with respect.

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