Sunday, February 04, 2007

The Food Court Showdown

I'm perusing the insanely busy food court trying to spy an empty seat so that I don't have to sit across from some random at a 4-person or worse yet, a 2-person, table when I spy a couple of empty seats by the pillar.

I was in a somewhat foul mood because my attempt to get McDonald's was thwarted by the throngs of ringette-tournament tourists in the mall who were also jonesing for some McD's it seems (because McDonald's in Edmonton is vastly different from the McDonald's in Hinton?) so I settled on Taco Bell.

I set my tray down only to have the guy on the other side of the pillar lean in and state "Uh, do you mind? I'm saving these seats for three people" with this entirely dead serious look on his face. I look at him blankly, and politely decline to relocate (I'm hungry/fuck off!) at which point he turns to his companion and remarks indignantly "I'm saving the seats!"

Now, I'm kinda miffed and I face him and say "Dude, this is a food court, not a bus in kindergarten - you cant just save seats!" to which he replies "I'm just saying, I was saving the seats for people who are getting food. Where are they supposed to sit". "I don't really see how that in any way affects me" is my terse response, and we proceeded to have what cold easily be described as the most awkward lunch date ever.

Both of us refused to give in to the other's wishes so he simply talked ultra-loud in my ear to one of his companions (who had since joined the pillar table) who was seated on the other side of me.

I can just picture his recounting of the story to his wife/anyone else who will listen "...and then the aggressive black girl refused to give up her seat! I mean, what kind of world do we live in?"

8 comments:

Maritza said...

Did this stupid mo*fo just hear what he said? Good for you for staying put! I hate seat savers in the movies or any other public place.

Nicoel said...

I know! The funny part was that the food court was completely packed so I really didn't have a choice.

Had it been a Monday (less busy, thus easier to find a new seat) and not a Saturday maybe my answer would have been different but I eat my lunch at that pillar everyday...

S* said...

Oh my god, you're black? Why didn't you tell me? :P

Nicoel said...

s* - lol, it never came up I guess. It's such a non-issue for me that I sometimes forget...

S* said...

I hope you picked up on the sarcasm in my previous comment...

Interesting though, I don't dwell or harp on my race but I'd never say it was a "non issue".

Nicoel said...

s* - No, I didn't unfortunately.

It's been a long week, although this being Tuesday, this doesn't bode well for the other 4 or 5 days depending on how you count it...

S* said...

I feel ya. This is the work week from hell.

And that was my little ghetto emoticon :P
It's a tongue sticking out...meaning sarcasm or tongue in cheek.

Nicoel said...

csr - lol. Yeah sadly the rage was more motivated by my long-ass Saturday retail shift