Friday, November 14, 2008

Anger management

I scoot out with our prescriptions, my youngest son and his doughnut, bribery for good behaviour. I walk briskly and he skips alongside as we continue our negotiations, 'when we are home,' is our compromise. The light is fading so I turn on the headlights and gingerly reverse out of my parking spot, the height of commuting time when everyone is in a hurry. We bimble gently along, following the arrows with care in the car park as the rules appear to be of great importance to the majority of drivers and I am apt to be sloppy. A car without lights screeches through the diagonal layout to brake abruptly, mere inches from the passenger door. I pause, breathe, examine the occupants before pulling forward another two yards to the stop point marked out on the blacktop. As I wait for a break in the traffic I hear a door slam and a face appear at the window. It is a very angry face with a fist in front of it, a shaking fist. Narrowed eyes, furrowed brows and bared teeth. Yes I can recognize aggression when I see it. I pull up my unnecessary sun glasses and smile the sweetest smile I can muster, one that travels to my eyes, the genuine kind, soft face, guileless, trouble free. He drops his bicep and lopes off.

What is it about car parks?

What is it about me?

7 comments:

Jayne said...

Car park rage is scary!
You were brave smiling at the guy (((hugs)))

All 4 My Gals said...

I am proud of you for smiling. Aren't people amazing? Kudos to you for making him think.
HUGS

Anonymous said...

Gah, that guy is so ridiculous! I'd hate to see him on the freeway!

Whitenoise said...

There are people like that everywhere, unfortunately. You'd think they'd be darwined out of the gene pool, but no such luck.

Angela said...

I am glad smiling worked -- I always imagine people like that are rather unhappy in life!

Trixie said...

I have the same when pulling out in streets, twice yesterday on the way to work, both times, I had to pull out...so the person could turn into that street, because the roads are so narrow and we both couldn't fit, but you STILL get dirty looks or horns blaring cause I didn't give right of way. HELLO?????? You can't freaking FIT IN to the street with me here!!!!

Pecos Blue said...

There is just something about parking that brings out the worst.