Words

Words

Thursday, July 30, 2009

GERM-A-PHOB



in the making, or already sealed?

I overheard this at the theater yesterday as we were passing time awaiting our movie. (We arrived early to get out of the 90 degree heat and we were sitting at the metallic tables across from the concession stands.)

Scene: Two elderly people off to one side of small round table top. The woman farthest away from the table, her husband next to her. His arm resting on the table top, sitting in a chair behind his walker. Great grand son off to his left, sitting in a chair a good two feet away from the table. Looking at his great grandfather with a most incredulous expression. At first I thought he might be looking or commenting on the large band-aid that covered the mans forehead, but no.

Grandmother, in her 50's standing next to her young grandson in the chair, off to his left. The four of them made a lopsided semi circle.

Four year old boy, "That's gross, you shouldn't touch it," to great grandpa.
"What?" great grandpa asks.

"It's has germs all over it. It's filthy." he says, clearer, but with a small child's voice and baby like inflection.

"What?" great grandpa asks again.

"Germs are all over that table. You shouldn't touch it." he replies.
The old man looks down at the table. Scoffs, slowly shrugs, bends his arm bringing his hand, forearm, and elbow off the table and looks down again. He looks back at his great grandson with a curious expression. He sits his arm back down to stabilize himself and gently shrugs his shoulders, silently replying to this boy that it is really no big deal to have his arm on the table.

This blond, curly headed small boy starts to talk about germs again but time with a more urgent tone. The great grandfather begins to speak but is interrupted by the standing grandmother.

"Just stop talking," she tells the young boy.
"Be quiet," she says as they stood up to walk out of the lobby.
Like I said, only four years old and already someone has contaminated his poor little thoughts. So young to already be worried about something so small.
I'm glad my grandmother's motto was, " A little dirt never hurt."

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