Crowded subway, very crowded subway. Thursday morning, 8:15am commute. Two girls standing behind me, discussing who knows what. I'm reading my book, A Tree Grows in Brooklyn. Cannot help overhearing conversation because its happening 14 inches from my ear.
Her: "What the $%^@ am I going to do? I mean, F- %$^&, $%#^ F- (0!l;@l, #3$%@@^$%; so then he was like, F- $%@1!8&5, and I was like$%@$!!&*4%. F-------
ME: "Nice Vocabulary."
Her: Excuse me!? F-%^#&^*!@!2K! repeated three times.
Me: There's no need to be hostile, I simply requested that you watch your language.
Her: Its a free country. I can say whatever I want.
Me: Well, I'm just sad. For you. And your vocabulary.
Her: Go on back to reading your book, or we'll show what we do to girls in Brooklyn (clearly in reference to my book title)! $%!#@4F-K%^. Sniggering obnoxiously with her friend.
Me...staring: Seriously? WOW. You really should consult a dictionary and get over the unnecessary hostility to polite requests.
Her: #$56@787W#45@#........ you get the idea.
Yes, I know I was self-righteous. Yes, I know that I didn't handle it very well. Yes, I know that I should "get over" the F-bomb being dropped every 3 seconds all round me as a part of the NYC experience. Or should I? Hmmmmmmm..... I just had to vent. And I can't help but think of President Kimball's experience in the hospital when he asked the nurse to not take the Lord in vain. What would the prophet have done in this experience? Its hard to know what to do in these situations that perpetually disturb my peace with very belligerent people. AAARRRGGGHHH. Thats all I really wanted to say. Please validate me. :)
7 comments:
sounds like you're just showing them how to be tough and intelligent?! I'm impressed.
(by YOU not them)
I'm glad that you did it in an intelligent way, by requesting her to expand her vocabulary. I think I would be tongue tied that she'd end up making fun of me!
I am SO impressed.
Um - you are crazy brave. I wouldn't have said a word for fear of getting beat up.
You are validated my friend. When did we lose sight of womanhood?
If someone would ask me the point to that girl's story, I'd have had no clue!
Validated! Brave! I fear I would have stopped when they spoke to me in such icky ways! Go you!
You are fearless--way to go. I'm glad they didn't beat you up.
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