I think most people agree that most people in the world are generally nice. Most people will be kind in most situations.
But if you were the woman (who was most likely nice and kind) waiting in line for the bathroom at Burger King in Sparks, Nevada ten days ago and happened to encounter ME, well then — you might change your mind about the whole ‘most people being kind in most situations’ business.
When you were jiggling the handle to the bathroom door every 60 seconds, dear Burger King Bathroom User, you didn’t know the reason for the delay was an almost 4 year old taking her sweet time. You didn’t know that her mother had begged her to hurry, which predictably produced the complete opposite action.
You didn’t know that minutes before, that sweet almost 4 year old had emptied her bladder in her baby sister’s car seat while her exhausted mother nursed said baby up front. You didn’t know the exhausted mother was too exhausted to dig through the luggage in the trunk for replacement clothing, so the almost 4 year old was forced to sit in her wet clothing.
Burger King Bathroom User, you didn’t even know why the exhausted mother was exhausted. You didn’t know she had already been driving for nine to ten-ish hours through a wasteland (Nevada) with the previously mentioned almost 4 year old and baby. You didn’t know she was doing that all by her lonesome, and that she had already had to make one emergency potty break for the almost 4 year old, foolishly thinking that was going to be the most stressful part of the drive.
You didn’t know that not two hours into the trip, the almost 4 year old had spilled an entire water bottle — just turned it upside down, and let it empty in the space between the center console and the driver’s seat. You didn’t know that the almost 4 year old had also spilled apple juice all over her blanket hours before, and then snuggled with said blanket.
You didn’t know that the exhausted mother still had four to five-ish hours on the road ahead of her.
So when you jiggled that handle one too many times and the exhausted mother yelled at you, you didn’t know she was immediately sorry.
Because she then silently marched her sorry self and children to the counter, ordered two milkshakes without a glance your way and ran out of there as fast as she could, never looking you in the eye.
And what you didn’t know, dear handle jiggling lady, is that the exhausted mother was paid back for her bad Burger King behavior, when as she entered the long stretch into California through Donner Pass, her almost 4 year old mumbled, “Uh oh. It’s ok. Milkshakes dry.”
{ 6 comments }
Oh no. Well, it’s settled then. Maybe you should just stay instead of going back.
oh maybe that poor burger king lady was going to go in her pants!! ha!
your backseat must smell real yummy just like mine! We have pee, apple juice and crackers going on. I can’t get the smell out so I am going to toss the booster seat. geez road trips are hard on cars.
Wow’. I hope that exhausted mother got some rest before she headed home…or at least made enough good memories to make the trip worth the illustrated misery above. Come again soon! Better yet, just move home!
bwahahahaha… Is it bad that I am laughing. But I promise in 10 years you will giggle too.
Oh wow! At least you can be glad it’s over now
What a rough one. I’m glad you wrote this; it helps me remember those days and be grateful they are over for me. The next time I encounter a mom juggling kids, I’m going to offer to help in some way
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