I'm Too Nice

It's not like this is a news flash for most of you; just thought I'd share a cute story from yesterday. The way I see it, there's no reason you shouldn't be nice in all situations. And is being slightly put out for even seemingly insignificant reasons that big of a deal, really? Had Chris bore witness to this, he would have surely reacted differently.

Yesterday, Clara and I went to our Wednesday movie, Flicka. We got in line behind a group of kids that had to count out change for their popcorn, and then didn't have enough money, etc, etc. So by the time we got into the theater, it was packed. The movie was just about to start and I saw a few empty seats on the very back row, my row of choice. I ask the woman sitting there with her kids if these seats were taken. She informed me that someone had been sitting there, but they had left and she didn't know if they were coming back.

Hmmm, surely they're not coming back if they didn't leave someone to save them, I think to myself. I decide to risk it. So, I set down my bag, balance my popcorn on the seat, put the booster seat on the seat for Clara, sit her in the booster seat which promptly squishes her closed in the seat. Then I wrangle with it for a second until she's secure, turn around and my popcorn falls on the floor under my seat. Oh wait, it landed upright, Sweet! Ok, grab the popcorn, unfold a napkin and place it in Clara's lap for her popcorn, get her sippy cup out of the bag and into her cupholder, and I think we're set.

Then, two little boys, probably 6 and 8, walk up and in loud voices, inform me that I'm sitting in their seats. I tell them that no one was here, so I didn't know that they were their seats. They said they had gone to the bathroom. People are turning around because they're being so loud, so I just get up so as not to cause a scene. I start loading up my stuff, but must not have been quick enough, because the little one was standing in front of Clara telling her, "this is my seat; you need to get up." She just looks at him and keeps stuffing her face with popcorn. Daddy would've been proud.

I tell the boys they need be patient, that it would take me a minute to get all of our stuff. As I'm finally getting up, the older one says, "my mom told us not to leave our seats, so if she finds out, we would get a spanking." I tell them that maybe they need to listen to their mom next time.

So, here I am, in the dark, carrying Clara, her bag, her blanket, a bag of popcorn and a booster seat. An angel in the next row over heard everything and said there were two empty seats next to her. She was very nice. She held the seat down for me so I could get the booster in and Clara situated and she held my popcorn. When Clara couldn't find her cupholder during the movie, the lady would help her get it back in.

She had a couple of older kids, so she was thoroughly enjoying watching Clara watch the movie. Horses would come on the screen and she would point and say "horse" (I'm assuming that's what she meant anyway) and she would neigh and move around like she was riding her stick horse. During songs, she would start bopping her head, moving around and clapping. She put on a show of her own and the lady was loving it. She kept getting her daughter's attention so she would look over at Clara and she leaned over to me and said how much she missed having little ones. It was fun. I didn't mind at all that I was asked to leave my seat by an eight year old. It allowed me to sit next to an angel. I planned on talking to her some after the movie, but Clara didn't quite make it though and we left probably 5 minutes before it was over. I made sure to lean over and whisper a big thanks for everything before we left.

See, I love it when people go out of their way to be polite and courteous. It just doesn't happen very often and I really appreciate it when I'm on the receiving end. I'm positive the two boys appreciated my kindness, if only because I saved their little behinds. Literally.