I had a test today in my History of Islam class. I had an hour to study, so I went to the cafe near the creek.
50 noisy 6th graders on a field trip barged in and set up camp. OK, this won’t work.
I hurried over to the library and walked up the stairs to the 3rd floor. This is the floor dedicated to “quiet study”. Everybody knows this is the “quiet study” floor. How could you not know? There are signs EVERYWHERE.
I picked a private desk-booth thingy and began to read. I’ve got 40 minutes before class.
Then I hear two women talking loudly as they are walking past. SIGH. I let it pass. Then I hear their kid, which must be about 2 or 3. The kid starts yelling. OK I’m starting to get a little pissed. The mom tries to shush her kid. I try to tune them out.
The kids runs over to the window and starts banging on the glass and yelling. I shoot the mom a dirty look. I’m really, really getting upset now.
Mom: “Honey be quiet, that man is giving me dirty looks.”
Damn right I’m giving you dirty looks, lady. What the fuck? I’m trying to study, here.
Now she tries to pick up her kid. The kid begins to scream unintelligably.
I can’t take this bullshit any longer. I slam my book closed, throw it in my bookbag, and storm off towards the elevator.
While I’m waiting I can still hear the kid screaming bloody murder. The two women come up behind me. I don’t say a word. The elevator opens. The two women step inside, kid still screaming. I am NOT getting in there with them.
Woman #1: “Have a nice day.”
Woman #2″ “Jerk.”
What the…
I don’t look at them, I don’t say anything.
Am I jerk for expecting quiet on the quiet study floor? Did I overreact?
Comments please
You are not a Jerk. You should have said “Ma’am, this is the Quiet Study floor, and I’m trying to study quietly. Please remove your screaming ankle-biter, as it is NOT quiet.”
I would have slapped the bitch.
Yeah, you’re a jerk, but it has nothing to do with this incident. 😉
Yes, yes we all know I’m a jerk (love ya, fade).
She should never have had her kid at the library. Everyone knows that a two year old is incapable of being quiet, right Chicken Butterfly?
I would have asked her to move to the “non quiet” area of the library……and she still would have called you a jerk.
Hey Beck, I called you this afternoon to vent… but you didn’t pick up. You knew, didn’t you? You didn’t want me to pull a Deborah on you, so you didn’t answer the phone. Right? RIGHT?
Yeah Tom, you’re really a jerk for leaving to find somewhere else to study after being rudely interrupted by the lesbians. What’s wrong with you.
The first part of the rAnt makes me laugh because I am sixth grade teacher. I can just imagine Skillet’s face as I walk up with a gagle of 11 yr. olds. I wish, ……priceless.
The moral of Skillet’s rAnt is – “Don’t blame the child”
Skillet you did nothing wrong – I think the woman reacted to you being passive-aggressive – obviously she didn’t have a problem with confrontation. Interesting mix – woman#2 and you in a library together. Hilarious. Hope you did well on the test.