about a year ago this time

Last year about this time, when C4 was C3, we walked in Big Blue to a music class in Mt. Ranier. The music class, with Q3's favorite teacher, Miss Audrey, was scheduled for 10:30. 10:35 rolled around and the café in which the music class was to be held was not open. I, being on-time (Purposely not early!) and annoyed, left, telling C3 we'd stop at Glut Food Co-op, and we could buy some crystallized pineapple.

Seconds later Q fell asleep.

Not one to wake up a sleeping baby, I told C she could go in by herself, but I couldn't leave Q in the stroller on the street, and Big Blue would not fit into Glut.

C4 was so disappointed. She cried. She insisted she wasn't old enough to go in by herself (even if I stood in the doorway) and she could do it when she was 4 or maybe 5.

Fast forward to this week.

We stopped by Island-Style Ice Cream, where I had ginger, C40 had stout, C4 had vanilla with sprinkles, and Q3 had dairy-free vanilla. After eating, C4 and I walked to Glut ... to buy that pineapple.

I was allowed into the store just to check prices with her, then I was shoo'ed out.

C4 did a fantastic job. She waited in line patiently, she presented her money, she waited for her change, she said please and thank you.

She actually did a little too well. Behind her stood a woman who kept bumping up into her (luckily C4 has no concept of personal space), physically stepped in front of her (C4 did step up and claim her place in line) and then when they go to the counter ... she put her items over C4's head to go first.

I was blocked by patrons wandering around in the store, so I saw snippets of this. I saw her get in front of C4, and I stepped in, but C4 handled it politely and well, so I thought no problem. But then I was blocked by other people and when my view was unobstructed the woman was ringing up her stuff.

I was ripping mad. The woman stayed inside longer than C4 (packing up her stuff) so C4 came out first, so I couldn't really say anything without going in and being confrontational. And then C40 and Q3 came by. And frankly, I'm sure I couldn't be polite, so it was better that the (EXTREMELY RUDE) woman didn't come out until we were well down the street.