A woman was following a grandfather, in the supermarket, with his badly-behaved 3-year-old grandson. It was obvious to her that he really had his hands full. The child was screaming for sweets in the candy aisle, and for fruit, cereal and soda in the other aisles.
Meanwhile, Gramps was working his way around, saying, in a very controlled voice, "Easy, William. We won't be long. Easy boy." Another outburst, and she heard the grand-dad calmly saying, "It's okay, William. Just a couple of more minutes, and we'll be out of here. Hang in there, boy."
At the checkout counter, the little terror was now throwing items out of the cart. Gramps said again, in a continuing controlled voice, "William, William. Relax, buddy. Don't get upset, now. We'll be home in five-minutes. Just, stay cool, William."
Very impressed, the woman went outside, where the grandfather was loading both his groceries, and the obnoxious little cuss, into the car.
She said to the calm elderly gentleman, "It's really none of my business, but, you were simply amazing, in there. I just don't know how you actually did it. That whole time, you simply kept your composure and, no matter how loud and disruptive he eventually got, you just calmly kept saying that things would soon be okay. William is so very lucky, to have you as his grand-father."
"Thanks, lady," said the grandfather. "However, I'm actually William. This little brat's name is Steve."
Don blame me. Blame Doug.
In Berkeley one often can't tell the fathers from the granddads! I often mistake the gray haired, 60ish, married for the second time dads of 2 or 3 year olds for grandfathers. I have learned not to ask.
ReplyDeleteSurely, I've been there, just yesterday, in fact, but no one mistakes me for the mom. However, the number of old guys married to younger wives, with new families - well that's a whole other matter. Best not to ask.
ReplyDeleteActually I should have said that I've learned not to assume!
ReplyDeleteGrandpa William is a man after my own heart...
ReplyDelete