Take tonight as a case in point. We were out at a local playground with Jimmy and Matthew. A young girl (14ish) came up to me and said “Excuse me, sir?” She was friendly and pretty and had been polite enough to call me sir, so I responded: “Yes? Can I help you?”
“Oh, yes, sir”, she said, “See, we’re (and she gestured at several other kids with her, one slightly older one was driving them in a minivan) on a scavenger hunt for a church…”
“Oh, I be happy to help you out!”, I said. “There’s one right over there”. I pointed at Timonium Presbyterian, but then I frowned. “I don’t think you can fit it in your car though”.
My wife took me by the arm and gave me a warning look (?!?), and asked the girl what she needed, and the girl replied “Well, we have to get a picture of a happy family, can you help us”.
“Oh, I’m sorry”, I apologized. “I misunderstood. If you go right down the street, then turn on Ridgley road, you’ll see the China Moon carry out on your right. A Happy Family is number 11.”
My wife HIT me. Actually honest to God raised her fist in anger and SMACKED me! Hard! Then she made me stand still so the girl could take a picture of the two of us ( Was this some kind of a trophy thing? Like a big fish on a gaff? I dunno. ) along with the kids. She growled at me to “Behave!” and then wished the teenager well. They drove off in their mini van.
I dunno, maybe Ginger was just having a snit or something, but I’m pretty upset. I did everything I knew how to try and help that little girl out with her scavenger hunt, and I got attacked for it. See if I try and be a nice guy anymore. sulk
