"You are important, too, nonna!."

 

We were seated nearby the table of five. Three children with two adults, their backs to us. All seemed fine till it happened.

It was November 18^th, black Friday, unbeknown to us, till the signs in the store reminded us. We had taken this day off to shop. Shopping was not a favourite pastime of mine. I shopped because of need - mostly. Dining out was always a special event so where we dined was always uppermost in my mind.

The buffet was laid out in one scrumptious row after another. Hot food, cold food, soup and dessert. I was predictable: soup, hot table then dessert: creme brulee. Keeping to a protein based meal was always my goal. (Rolls, pizza, fries served no useful dietary benefit.) Then it happened. The spitball arrived soon after I was done.

I looked at her, this young girl, whose celebratory lunch with her younger sister, older brother and grandparents had created this unsavory moment. I guess she thought the event was funny till I looked at her, waving my finger to and fro in surprise indignation. Who does that to strangers in a nice restaurant? Sadly, nonno and nonna would soon find out.

I walked over the these precious grandparents who had taken time out of their day to bring their grandchildren here. Normally they are good, she said. Yes, I responded. Normally ours were good till a bit of larceny changed everything. As grandparents, our job is to have fun and spoil our grandkids. Discipline is not our job. But today everything changed.

Nonna apologized then apologized again. She had tried to contain them as they fought near another table. She was sorry for her oldest granddaughter's behaviour. I spoke softly to remind this gentle lady that that she had done nothing wrong. The young lady had. I suggested that a lesson for another visit could include only two of her progeny, a reminder that there are consequences for public misbehaviour. She smiled. This gentle lady listened so sweetly. 

I hope her grandchildren realize what special grandparents they have.  Momsey had none who bothered. Five minutes would have been great for this lonely little girl growing up.