Like most of my stories, this one comes from a long time ago, this one being around 1999, and was actually something that happened to my mother. The setting is a party supply store in a large outdoor shopping plaza in suburban Providence.
My mother had just bought her supplies and was on her way out. Ahead of her was this little tiny frail old woman who was struggling to open the door. It was apparent she tugged and pulled with all her might but just was too weak. My mother came up to her from behind and reached her arm above the tiny lady for the door, pulled it open, and let her outside to freedom.
"Thank you," the woman said with venom in her tone.
"You're welcome," was my mother's response.
Then the woman turned around and yelled loud enough for the whole store to hear. "NO! YOU'RE THE ONE WHO'S SUPPOSED TO SAY THANK YOU!"
My mother just stood there, dumbstruck , as the other patrons and some of the cashiers looked at the scene. The woman just continued on her way into the parking lot. My mother simply looked for words to explain her side of the story, but after a few moments just left the store, speechless.
No good deed goes unpunished, as they say.
My mother had just bought her supplies and was on her way out. Ahead of her was this little tiny frail old woman who was struggling to open the door. It was apparent she tugged and pulled with all her might but just was too weak. My mother came up to her from behind and reached her arm above the tiny lady for the door, pulled it open, and let her outside to freedom.
"Thank you," the woman said with venom in her tone.
"You're welcome," was my mother's response.
Then the woman turned around and yelled loud enough for the whole store to hear. "NO! YOU'RE THE ONE WHO'S SUPPOSED TO SAY THANK YOU!"
My mother just stood there, dumbstruck , as the other patrons and some of the cashiers looked at the scene. The woman just continued on her way into the parking lot. My mother simply looked for words to explain her side of the story, but after a few moments just left the store, speechless.
No good deed goes unpunished, as they say.
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