Cry Baby

After dropping the kids off at school today, as it was my day off, I had my list of things that needed to get done.  Where would I be without those lists?  So once the glass-smith (is that what you call them?) had arrived to pick up the kitchen cupboard door to be fixed, I gathered all the kids library books together (no small mission) and headed to the public library.  Usually, I would have just dropped the books in the returns slot but I wanted to go in to convince them to purchase a book, that I am too cheap to buy myself.  I do love reading autobiographies and found this book that really appealed to me and got excellent reviews.  Just Like Someone Without Mental Illness Only More So: a Memoir has recently been released in the US but I haven't been able to find it here.

Anyway, as is usual for me whenever I go into a library, I can't help having a look around.  I picked some random book off the shelf, sat down at a table and quickly became engrossed in it.  I was vaguely aware of the mother and her baby looking at books in the same area only really because the baby was crying a little.  Not one of those loud high pitched piercing crys of a sick baby but the heartwarming soft cry of a new born baby.  I know all you mothers will know what I'm talking about here.  The cry that brings a smile to your face and makes you go "oowwww'.  So, I had that 'owwww' moment in the library as I tried for a few seconds to remember back to my own children's tiny soft sounds which were lost a lifetime ago.  Oh, how I miss that quiet baby cry.

However, why I was distracted in thought, to my horror, a rather determined looking man stormed over to this woman and barked, "If your baby is going to cry, please take them out of the library as it disturbs people".  Of course, I was somewhat bewildered, as this woman and I were the only ones who were in the area until he just arrived.  The poor woman looked as she was going to burst into tears as she proceeded to apologise profusely to the man. 

Now, I am usually the sort of person who sits and observes as things unfold before me, but in this instance, I couldn't stay glued to the seat.  I jumped up and said, ever so assertively that I surprised myself,  "I don't have any issues with a crying baby and would love for them to stay.  If you have an issue, it may be best if you are the one who leaves." 

Well, you could have almost heard a pin drop as the man stood speechles looking at me. Then he turned without a word and walked off in a huff.  Which was actually quite good because I have no idea what I would have said next and I could feel that intense pounding of the heart that engulfs me whenever I have to deal with angry or aggressive people.  I was half expecting the librarian or manager to return with him and tell us both to leave the library, but they never did.

The woman was so relieved, she thanked me.  We sat down together and chatted for awhile.  Both of us trying to understand why some people think they have a right to express every thought that pops into their head without any consideration of others feelings.  Turns out this woman had been hiding away at home since the birth of her baby and this was her first outing with her new born after people telling telling her the importance of not isolating away at home.  The poor thing!  On her first outing she encountered a drop kick, and I don't mean me :) 

So, you just never know how your day will turn out and who you will meet along the way.