Elzeva L. Cuffy

It was a Friday afternoon.

I  entered a well-known but sparsely populated supermarket.

A parent of one of my former students conversed with another lady. 

 I didn’t quite eavesdrop but heard enough to assume, so I interjected:

 ‘Are you referring to Sammy (not the real name).

Parent: “Yes, how you know”.

Me: So, doesn’t he work? What does he do all day?

Parent: Nothing

Me: (impulsively) And you feed him?

Parent: Yes, he’s just eating off everything in mi house.

1st  Eureka moment. My parent colleague became disgusted. With force, items were grabbed from her shopping cart and tossed back into cold storage.  She vowed, ‘Not me I am not wasting my money on him.’

Me: There’s still a place for tough love. It works.

2nd  Eureka moment. She addressed her shopping mate and I. With animated gesticulations, she alerted,

 “You all see my size, well next time you see me, and I look small,  is fast I fasting his a-- outta me house.”

That encounter still mystifies me. 

Was it impolite to intervene like that? Did I bring out the worst in that parent?

I’d love to hear your thoughts.