Karma So Obvious A Kid Would Understand
I work in a coffee place inside a big box store. I’ve just served a drink to a father and his young son, maybe five years old or so. The boy gets his chocolate and runs off with it. His father calls after him:
Father: “Don’t run, [Boy]!”
Of course, as five-year-old boys tend to do, he trips up and falls to the ground. He seems fine, but his drink has spilled everywhere. He catches us staring and starts to cry, mostly out of embarrassment. The boy’s father is kind but stern, checking his son for any injury.
Father: “This is why I said not to run, [Boy]. Now look what you did to the drink that the nice lady made for you.”
Me: *Coming by to clean up the spill* “Oh, well, accidents happen! If it’s okay with you, I can get him a replacement.”
Before the father can respond, another customer whom I just finished serving decides to join in the conversation.
Customer: “Kids are never gonna learn if y’all keep running in to kiss it all better and fix their mistakes for them.”
The customer makes one more smug look of self-congratulation, turns around, and walks smack-bang into a pillar next to the checkouts. Their coffee goes all over themselves and the pillar, drenches their sandwich, and ends up on the floor.
The customer stares at me, at the parent and child, and then back at me again as we all stare at them.
Customer: “Any chance I could…”
Staring intensifies.
Customer: *Walking away* “…yeah, yeah, I get it. Good one, universe…”