My coworker and I went to the Palmyra Recreation Cafe for lunch like we always do. It was busy, so we sat at a table that was against a wall. Four people were seated at the table next to us, one woman and three men. One of the men talked loudly and sounded as if he had a learning disability. One man and the woman got up to leave. This seemed to excite the loud learning disabled guy and he became very animated. After they left he sat back down. My coworker and I were mid conversation when he whirled around on his chair and asked who I was. My reply:
"I'm sorry?"
"Your not from around here?"
"Ahh no."
"Whats your name?"
Let me just say that he looked normal, but he did not annunciate any of his words and spoke in an "outside voice" and as fast as he humanly could.
"I'm Lady M."
"What is your last name?"
"M"
"How old are you?"
"I'm sorry?"
"How old are you?"
"Why?"
"Are you married?"
"Ahhhh no."
This seemed to really excite him, he turned his chair to face me and started telling jokes and talking....about what I don't know but he wouldn't stop. I smiled, and said
"ohhh, really, that's nice." and faced my coworker in hopes he would get just go away.
O.K, I know for a fact he is off and the other man with him must be a handler of sorts. So, every 2 minutes or so I would turn to face his handler sending telepathic messages like...hey mother fucker get a leash.
"I'm 26 and single."
"Oh."
"What are you doing tonight?"
"Working."
"Where are you staying?"
"At a hotel."
"Do you want to go out?"
"No."
My coworker sensing my good naturedness was wearing off shoveled the rest of his food in as quickly as he could and went out to get the truck. I got up and went to pay. The learning disabled guy (LDG) got up, stood in front of me, grabbed my shoulders and went in for a kiss. I turned my head, he kissed my cheek and I pushed him away. He backed off and sat down. The woman behind the counter, uncomfortably said:
"Pay him no mind, he was in a really bad 4 wheeler accident. He is lucky to be alive."
"Does he usually act this way."
"Yeah, he don't get out much."
"No kidding."
LDG got back up and came around to my side. He started bouncing his knee into my thigh. I gave a evil stare to his handler and left as fast as I could.
OK, first your thinking why didn't I freak out. Well because I am in a very very close knit small town and I come here at least once a quarter, I don't want any trouble with the locals. Second, isn't being mean to a potentially retarded person one of the lowest things you could do? Third, I really like their food and have never seen him before. I didn't want to be a total ass hat and not be welcome back.
What bothers me the most is his handler did nothing but watch as his whatever was being inappropriate. It is not polite to interrupt strangers in the middle of their dinner and I think it is a major faux pas to try to kiss a total stranger.
In rural cities or southern states dinner is lunch and supper is the evening meal (we call dinner). I have only encountered it in rural parts of Civil War slave states. Believe it or not I have even been referred to as "The Yankee".
The rest of the day I obsessed about etiquette and the mentally challenged. What would have been the proper response? I am positive I could have handled it better, but torn between do I approach the handler or the mentally challenged guy? Then it occurred to me, not one of those fucking locals came to my aid. No one, and they all knew him, said hold on whatever your name is, leave her be. I will go back tomorrow, and if he is there, just stab him with my fork. I'll make sure to wear my Jayhawker sweater when doing so.
Wednesday, January 7, 2009
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