Bullying

In the gym, the woman’s shrilly-agitated voice cut through my attempt at serenity while attempting to corral my pain.

“Can one of you finish – or move on so I can do my routine? You are both just sitting on the machines, doing nothing but texting!”

Her near hysteria attempted to bowl us over like unleashed waves, trying to sweep us aside by her misperceived sense of injustice.

I just turned my bleary eyes slowly and upper body to look at her directly, and then turned away again without answering.

Then, I turned my attention back to my youngest’s texts to me and slowly began exercising to let her know my intentions.

Her irate agitation skyrocketed, and I could feel the young man break from his position and pretty much flee the scene.

I felt sorry for him, but had decided that it would not be me today who was yielding.

She did not know what I was managing, and did not deserve my attention for treating us both so discourteously.