New irritant ...
I stopped to grab a quick coffee from one of those fast-food joints, which I won't name: Big Yellow 'M', and a clown named Ronald, when I noticed a family enjoying breakfast. The thing that made these people stand out was that although the parents were seated, the kids were all standing on their seats. Beyond the greater probability of injury if one should fall, they were leaving quite a mess for the next people who would wish to sit. In fact, there seemed every indication that standing on seats with outdoor shoes was quite acceptable behaviour. I resolved to always check my chair before occupying seats available for public use: No point polishing the thing with a dry-clean only wool skirt.
Then I noticed this same family heading to the counter for additional food. I wished I hadn't watched, but I saw them put the baby, in a leaking diaper, on the counter where food was being served. Neither parent, nor the people working at the counter, made any effort to restore any hint of sanitation to the counter once the baby was removed. The next person was served, and the next one after too. I hurried out and will never return.
What gives? Do parents think the world is so in love with their kids that the mess they make will be tolerated, overlooked, disregarded, or even welcomed? I'm sure that these people would holler the loudest if one of their family was infected as a result of someone else's irresponsibility. Do they think that a counter where food is being served is an appropriate place for a baby's arse? I suppose that once they get home, their toilet serves double duty as a mixing bowel, judging by their public conduct.
End of rant.
Cheers PW. |
