Appalled
A not quite elderly couple were walking to their car, which was parked just in front of where I was sitting drinking a cup of coffee at a table on the sidewalk in front of a cafe. The man walked to the driver’s side. The woman made her way gingerly in front of the car to the passenger door. She obviously was a bit unsteady on her feet. A large black pickup started to enter the space next to the couple’s car. The driver noticed the woman and waited for her to get into the car.
“Get in the damn car or move out of the way,” the man sneered at his wife. She startled and then seemed a bit conflicted about what to do. She decided to get into the car.
The man waited for the driver, a somewhat younger woman, to get out of the truck. He then said, “Isn’t she a pain?” indicating his wife in the car.
The woman kept a pleasant look on her face but did not answer him.
I watched all of this with a disapproving expression. The man noticed me looking at him. He walked to the sidewalk and turned to take a photo of the town green. Then he walked over to my table and asked, “How are you?
“Appalled,” I answered.
He looked confused and asked, “By what?”
“By the way you speak to your wife,” I replied.
“Oh, I was just joking.”
“No, you were being mean.”
“Kiss my ass.”
“See, just like that.”
He walked away angrily.
“Try a little kindness, sir,” I said quietly but loudly enough for him to hear.
He looked back up at me and said, “I apologize, that was totally out of character for me.”
I nodded at him, my face seemingly expressionless, but definitely conveying my disbelief.
He got into his car and drove away.
Cinse Bonino
2025
