Gentle heart, gentle words

At seven this morning, I went to McDonalds to read the paper and enjoy the usual: fifty cent senior coffee and a dollar Sausage McMuffin.  As I sat down, I saw that the guy in the booth next to me had a Hewlett-Packard carton and a small network computer on the table.

I asked him how he liked the computer. He told me that he had just opened the box and that the computer was okay, but he wouldn't suggest it for writing a long paper. I asked him a couple more questions and then sat down to eat and read. However, the guy kept on talking about the computer. He said he bought the small one because he didn't have the money for a laptop. He filled me in on his regular computer at home and that he didn't have Internet service. He said he thought that he had made a good decision. He again told me that he wouldn't suggest it for writing a long paper.

He soon became a bit irritating. I pick up a lot of conversations--this one was becoming strange, and I didn't want to know any more about this guy and his computer. I stopped responding and he finally he stopped talking. I could read and eat.

A few minutes went by before he made a cell phone call, talking loudly.

"Hi... I woke you up?

"I called to make sure you were up at seven fifteen--like you said.

"Well, that's what you asked me to do. I wouldn't wake you up if you hadn't asked me to wake you up.

"Yes, I did. Why? Are you surprised?

"Well, I asked you before I bought it. I wouldn't have bought it unless I had asked you first. 

"I can't return it now. Calm down.

"No, it's okay. We have a thousand dollar float on the credit card . I have a bill for a thousand, one for three hundred and one for eighteen for the car wash.

"No, that's seventeen-een--een--een and eighty cents, seventeen-een--een--een and eighty cents, seventeen-een--een--een and eighty cents.

"No, I'm not mocking you, it was seventeen-EEN-EEN-EEN and eighty cents for the car wash. You said eighty.

"Hey, I am not upset; I am not raising my voice. I speak with gentle heart and gentle words. You're the one who's yelling.

"The computer is nice; it sensed the wi-fi here and connected itself to the net.

"Wi-fi? Wi-fi is how the computer talks to the Internet. You don't understand anything about computers, do you?

"No, I'm not cutting you down. I just told the truth that you understand nothing about computers. Listen to me, I speak with gentle heart and words.

"I'm sounding like my father again? Get real, I am not my father, I never could stand the SOB.

"You don't want me to come home ever again? What does that mean?"

"Well, it's my house, too.

"I am not upset. You're the one who's upset. Breath deeply. One, two, three..."

The conversation continued. After ten more minutes, I realized that I hadn't read more than a paragraph. So, I picked up my stuff and moved to the othe side of McDonalds.

No escape. The conversation was just as loud--only everyone in the restaurant was now listening. After what seemed like hours, I got up and left--to read the paper at home. I guess I could have told him that he was talking too loud, but my street smarts told me that it was better just to leave.