There Was

There was an old lady outside Metro yesterday when I went to get some groceries. She had her little cart with her groceries. She was standing inside the cart barrier, which was at least 18 feet from the curb, and waving her hand at cabs.

I was on my way home and preoccupied (obviously) but something inside me made me stop. I spoke to her in French, but when she didn't seem to comprehend, I quickly switched to English. I said "Ma'am, why don't you take your cart out of here (pointing to the little gate that might let carts out) and wait closer to the street? Because a cab will never see you here."

She said "No, because if I take the cart out it might roll into the street if I leave it. I've done this before."

"But there might not be a cab soon, ma'am," I said, feeling the weight of groceries on my shoulder and not knowing why I was bothering, "so perhaps standing out here would be a better idea."

She had none of it. "It's only a short way, I've done this before."

I know you think that my pointy little head was looking to help this elderly woman because my father had just died but you'd be wrong. In reality I was irritated at her inefficient behaviour at calling a cab and was merely trying to point it out.

(Hey, I'd do it for anybody! Dude, don't beg in English outside Pharmaprix! Have a heart! This is Québec! Don't say "Could ya spare 25 cents?" First of all, up it to a dollar, then say it in French, dude! And last I checked, "change" in French is "monnaie", not "change!" But hey, we're in the land of "bienvenue" means "You're welcome!"

I'm sure you get the picture. Kid, lose the cute dog. It ain't gonna get you more bucks, but if you didn't have it I'd be more inclined to have you come over to my place and fix you a dinner. I'm so cynical that I think of marketing strategies for homeless people. Go figure. {I must admit, I caved two days ago when a bum came to the car while I was in the passenger seat and asked for money and I automatically said no, but dug into my pocket and found a loonie. I yelled at him as he walked away. He came back and I gave it to him but, noticing he was smoking a fresh cigarette, said "Dude, don't be blowing this on cigarettes." He looked at me and said "Hey, y'know what? I didn't buy this! Someone just up and gave it to me!"}

That made me happy).

So it was no doubt pure irritability that prompted me to even interact with the woman. She had her plan and her methods -- who was I to interfere?

But now I wish I had offered to carry her groceries home.