Thursday night shopping

Must tell you of my lovely string of events earlier this evening.
A string of stories to bring a smile to my face.

Had to go shopping after work, to buy birthday presents for Eliza (4) and Jack (5).
Note: Eliza is getting a feather boa & some rose-coloured sunglasses. Jack is getting Han Solo and some bubbles that you blow that don't pop.

1st
At Grace Bros the lady was giving me back too much change. At first I thought 'excellent! I love tips!". But then I saw she was giving me $30 too much! This was too much for my conscience, so I said something along the lines of 'are you sure this is right?'. She said 'you gave me this much, and they cost that much, and so I have to give you this much'. I told my conscience to not think of minor matters and instead think about the war in Iraq or something serious like that. I didn't fight it and took the money (am I bad? don't answer). Afterwards, I also talked myself into justifying my actions by thinking that maybe she just liked my legs.

2nd
With an extra bounce in my step I marched over to David Jones.
I bought 3 toys to the toy section cashier. She started to charge them up and picked up a fourth toy that was lying on the table. I told her it wasn't mine. So she correctly charged me for the three toys, and as I was getting my money out, she put all four toys in the bag!
What is happening with these people, I thought to myself! Is it Thursday Night Apathy (known within medical circles as TNA)? Do they have the flu? Are they simply depressed about the state of the world? Could it be all three?
I really felt no need for more generosity from these stores, so I pointed out to her that she had given me more than I'd paid for. Unlike the Grace Bros lady, she didn't dispute it and took the toy out. Three toys were quite enough. (The toys I bought were nicer anyway).

3rd (and best of all)
Walking home I went through Hyde Park.
I stopped at one point as I was using my mobile to listen to messages on my home answering machine.
Nearby there was a wonderfully cute brush-tailed possum running around. It ran hither and thither. I stood still. To my wonderment it then ran straight towards me. I was waiting for it to dart around me or something, but instead it came right up and sniffed the tip of the umbrella I was holding (long black umbrella recently purchased from Gowings - you can't buy better). Such a brave little tike! A man came down the path and the critter moved away. It then ran up to me again, only to be scared off by a second man walking past. I then looked around and saw nobody else was coming past. Possum looked like he was about to start up a tree, so I crouched down, held out my hand, and went 'tch, tch' - like you would talk to Skippy, I guess. Felt very sorry I had no food with me.
Anyway, the darn cutie went for it. Ran straight towards me. Have never seen such a friendly soul. Such big beautiful eyes too. S/he sniffed my finger. Once. Twice. Then bit me! Totally clamped that little jaw on my index finger! You wouldn't think someone could be so happy getting bitten, but that's how it was. It was just one bite, followed by a light tug (I presume to see if my finger would fall off & he could take it back up the tree for dinner). Disappointed, he turned his back on me and went back up his tree.
He probably saw the whole experience as an annoying waste of his precious time, but oh was I happy.
Lesson: Always take bread or fruit with you when walking through Hyde Park at night. Having these provisions will also be useful if you happen to fall down a well.

4th
After that highlight I was filled with joy.
Had to do something for the world in return.
Crossing at the zebra crossing outside my house, a car with a very nice driver very politely pulled up to let me past. All very nice. But then right behind it was a zippy black sports car, with a middle aged man driving it. He put his foot to the peddle to go around the other car. How rude! Taking advantage of the first car's politeness! Just not on, I say! But I got him. I timed it perfectly to get there just fast enough so that he would have to stop for me. And I slowed down just enough (almost imperceptibly) so that he would have to wait for long enough for the other car to get away first. Poor mister mid-life crisis in his black sports car had to eat humble pie and continue on back behind the other cars. Hooray for justice!

That's my story.

Must remember to go Thursday night shopping again next week. You'd be a fool to miss it, really.
____________
matt
Sydney 2003