Thanks, Grandma!

I was in the queue at the local grocery store, waiting for the lady in front to finish her transaction.

I'd left a bit of space between my cart and her body so as not to disturb her.

I should have known better.

Within seconds, a Chinese grandmother rolled her cart next to mine instead of queueing behind me. When the woman in front was about to move on, Grandma began to angle her cart toward the till, even though my cart was mostly in the way.

As I inched my cart forward, she smiled and said [in Cantonese]: "You go first." I nodded while thinking to myself: I have every intention of doing just that.

Then I felt an absurd emotion, something like gratitude: not because she "let" me go ahead, but because she didn't snake me. I'm certain it would've happened had I left a little more room between my cart and the till.

Then, while I transferred items to the checkout, Grandma kept pressing her cart into the back of my legs. It was annoying as Hell, but I let it go; no sense getting upset at a harmless old lady who had no clue about the concept of personal space.

I was therefore amazed when I rolled my cart away from the checkout and returned to find she hadn't moved forward to cut me off from the payment area. Once again I felt a peculiar sense of gratitude for having been spared that little ordeal, which has happened so many times I almost expect it.

Funny, I don't recall applying any Grandma repellent. No matter; I paid for my groceries and left with a smile on my face.

It's fascinating: I've become so used to people disregarding polite behaviour that when folks don't screw me over it's a happy moment.

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