Mindy's Error

I want to tell you a story.

There was was a school with a variety of teachers.  One of the teachers was a perfectionist who had been raised with good manners and what was expected of a Christian gentleman.  He liked his space and didn't enjoy being with others who ate with though mouths open or without napkins.  One day he went to the cafe to eat and sat at the end of the table.

Another teacher saw him sitting apart from the rest and asked him to move over beside her.  He reluctantly moved over and explained to her he liked his elbow room.  He quietly added that he didn't want to be stuck sitting near two people in particular that had less than desirable eating etiquette.  She reassured him it would be okay and happily continued her meal.

Suddenly out of the corner of her eye, she saw not one but both of those very same teachers enter the cafe.  Looking at the teacher's table, she noted the only free spots left were beside the teacher she had encouraged to sit beside her.  Gulping, she saw his warning look at her.

The two got their food and then came over.  The very one he didn't want sitting next to him (he doesn't keep his elbows in) sat next to him.  The one he didn't want across from him (uses his hands to wipe his mouth instead of a napkin) sat across from him.  That day he was also suffering from a cold.  Without napkins, he sat there with his nose dripping as well.

She looked down at her food and ate.  Realizing the teacher beside her wasn't eating, she look over.  He glared at her and in a deadly whisper warned, "I will talk to you about this later."  He left early.

To this day I laugh when I think of that.  It wasn't funny at the time but it makes a great memory.