My sister bought a Christmas card once that had a beautiful holiday scene on the front, and inside the card read, "Merry Christmas, but just remember at 12:01 am on December 26, it's back to F' You Charlie." I remember laughing out loud at this card because it seemed so true, and this year was no exception. After Christmas, I was witness to many people out to prove they had not one ounce of holiday spirit left in their bones.
The Sunday after Christmas I decided to go to a local shopping area to see if I could find Christmas items marked down, and of course, I wasn't the only person who had this brilliant idea. However, I think I was the only one with the brilliant idea and a touch of holiday spirit still left in me.
I was in a great mood while shopping and I found some beautiful birds for my Christmas tree for next year. I also found some cool yule candles for the dining room, and few other things I didn't really need but when the sign says 50% off, I'm on a mission to buy something whether I need it or not. Anyway, I won't go through all of my purchases and bore everyone into a 2010 coma. The real treasure at this after-holiday sale was the people-watching. The store should have charged for the people-watching. Everyone knows I love people-watching and I had reached nirvana.
As I was shopping, I noticed a grumpy,cross old man not far from me. I noticed him because he loudly called one of the store workers, "girl." I'm serious. He said (loudly), "Hey girl, I need you to help me." That almost made me want to lose my holiday peace and love attitude and kick him square in the nuts, but as always, I refrain because I don't think I'll like jail. It's just a feeling I have.
Apparently Mr. Disagreeable Grumpy-ass wanted to buy several prisms that were hanging on a display Christmas tree. When the "girl" told him they weren't marked down because they were not considered "Christmas" items he lost it! "What do you mean these aren't Christmas items, they are hanging on a darn Christmas tree aren't they?" Yikes! The poor sales clerk was amazing. She seemed to ignore his jackass attitude and politely said, "Yes sir, they are on the tree because we had no where else to hang them, but they are not 50% off because they are not Christmas items. However, we will be happy to call the owner and see if she will give you a discount." He seemed to accept that answer and the sales clerk called the owner of the booth (this shopping area is like a large store with consignment booths, so each "booth" is owned independently). Turns out the owner of the booth said she would give him 20% off the prisms and no more.
Now, I don't know how the story ends with Mr. Petulant Pants, because I was in line at the check-out area when all of this was going on, and my transaction was complete, so I promptly left the store before finding out if Mr. Grouchy accepted the 20% deal, although I did hear him say, "20% isn't enough" as I was leaving. My fantasy of what happened is this: he refused to take the prisms at only 20% off, and as he turned to leave, he tripped over one of the many fully decorated Christmas trees in the store, had to ask for help getting untangled, but all the "girls" were helping other customers.
--Fortuitous Observer
