This 99 word story was prompted by Lisa, helping out at the ranch while Charli is otherwise occupied.
Photo ©Pedro Ribeiro Simões
She was standing unsteadily on the kerb, waving her stick in the air, but the cars weren’t stopping. They never did. With a glare at the motorists, I took the old dear’s arm and strode out into the traffic. She shuffled and I had to pull her to get her across. Safely on the other side, she wrenched her arm out of my grip, her eyes glittering furiously.
“I was saving that space for Miguel! Now that cojón has grabbed it!”
I muttered my apologies as she hurled invectives in Spanish at the driver slipping into the parking space.
Perfect!
🙂
I can totally relate! A guy once grabbed me from behind and began propelling me across the street assuming I obviously wanted to cross it (and couldn’t do so on my own ? ? ? ). I had to pull away and direct my guide dog and I back to the corner.. We’d been wanting to turn right down the block, not cross the street. People can be quite unhelpful if they rush into help without asking any questions (including the question of whether the person needs help.) Since this happened in Los Angeles, in not the safest neighborhood, I told the young man he was lucky to have an unbloodied nose: I trusted my .5 second estimation that he was harmless but kidnappers and muggers weren’t uncommon where I was walking. (I wasn’t alone, but the guy who went with me through the neighborhood was also blind, :-).) I had to tell him what had happened. And I persuaded the would-be helpful stranger that refraining from grabbing young women, blind or not, would probably be the most helpful thing he could do in the future. 🙂
I suppose you’re lucky he didn’t shout at you, very slowly, using very short easy words, because we all know that anyone who is blind is also deaf and mentally retarded. Possibly even criminally insane.
Of course. Possibly also physically unstable, too. Lol he’s lucky I was so nice to him.😛😁
As you say, he might just have been trying to be helpful, but part of the—oh, she’s blind, she must be incredibly stupid, let’s save her from herself—syndrome means that even do-gooders don’t believe it’s necessary to ask first.
Oh dear! Sometimes when we think we are doing a good deed, it turns out we’re not.
I liked the humour at the end.
There’s no other way to back out gracefully really 🙂
Just ace! Really funny and thanks for supporting my amateur efforts at holding fort at the Carrot Ranch 😀
Thanks! And you’re doing a great job. It was so thoughtful of you to volunteer 🙂
Aw, thanks Jane. It felt like nothing.. til I got stuck in! Lol x
So you won’t be making a career of it?
Oh no. I’m jiggered this week. Too much other stuff happening 😀
Bravo for filling in then 🙂
No good deed goes unpunished!
Unfortunately 🙂
Great flash Jane! 🙂
Thanks Sherri 🙂