Have you ever done sometime quite bold or brave in your life, then afterwards had very mixed feelings about it? Well,,,that happened to me once while shopping at the supermarket. Everything went fine--until I got to the check-out line. There I was...reading the latest tabloid about this or that celebrity affairs, etc, waiting for my turn to pay...When right behind me, this man--who looked somewhat intimidating--he was very muscular, dressed in black leather, multiple tattoos--started smoking. Now normally, if it isn't in my immediate vicinity---I don't care if a person smokes, however this guy was creating a large cloud of smoke around himself and unfortunately I was caught inside that cloud...I could not breathe.
So I struggled with myself---should I speak up or suffer? And decided to speak up. In the politest voice that I could muster I asked the offender to have some consideration for those of us who couldn't tolerate cigarette smoke and kindly get rid of his--the man gave me the same look you would give an annoying little insect and in a mock-polite tone asked me if his smoking was bothering me--and I answered --that well...yes it was! He was so stunned by my sheer audacity and nerve to even answer him back --that he just gave me this I-don't-want-to-squash-you look and just left the line.
The cashier who was silent and not daring to even say a word--quickly rang my groceries up and bagged it, and giving me a nervous look---told me to get the heck out of there before the man thought it over and confront me. I grabbed my bags and walked out. Halfway down the block..I realized --oh no, I forgot one of my bags of groceries--but then thought ..hmm--if I go back and that man is there--who knows what he might do to me. So even though I had paid for my groceries and would lose them---I decided not to push my luck--and kept walking home..feeling proud of myself for speaking up and yet regretting my lack of courage to go back and reclaim my groceries.
