Last night, I was in the queue to buy a programme. When I got there, it wasn't yet a queue, but one soon built up behind me. This was because the man in front of me, in paying £6, decided to offer the odds in addition to the note he was tendering. Fair enough, I was about to do the same myself. The difference being that I was making the odd with a pound coin. He decided to see if he could do it with shrapnel, which he laboriously counted out with shaky hand. Being a nice person, I stood patiently with non-threatening body language. That my thoughts were not of a nice person is irrelevant.
To my right as I queued I noticed a man. One of those tall sunburnt types who would delight in the description "distinguished" and with a tendency physically to look down their nose. I clocked him move to the far side from me of the elderly couple counting out their shrapnel. As soon as they had realised it had come to 73p and the programme seller had persuaded them to tender just the note and recived four pound coins in the change, this 'distinguished' man moved in to buy his programme. Having already seen his intention, I glided sideways, and smiled sweetly at her as I handed her the right money and said "I was before this...not gentleman". She smiled back and gave me the programme.
Naturally, I wish I had thought of something a bit more eloquent than 'not gentleman'. And I was hoping that he would say something like "Why make such a fuss about something so trivial when you'll get served anyway?" because I had that response ready - if it's so trivial, why did you need to jump the queue - and stand intimidatingly by the elderly couple. My elbow was just on the level of his beer belly. Just because one looks distinguished doesn't alter the fact that it's a beer belly.
Later on, I discovered I was pretty much out of money so I went to the cash till in Victoria Station. There are three alongside, all run by different banks, but all taking most cards. I went to the middle one, but it said "Sorry, we are unable to dispense funds at the moment". It dawned on me that the woman in front of me had left the machine with no money and joined the next queue. I did likewise. I was just about to insert my card when I saw a chap go up to the middle one.
I said "That machine's not giving money at the moment" using my card to gesticulate wildly in the direction of the machine he was about to use (I wasn't drunk, but I'd had a few). He gave me a look of utter condescension and said in a very patronising tone of voice (ex public school) "You've got your card the wrong way round."
"No, your machine.." I said, in a very neutral tone.
"Oh, I'm sure I won't have a problem!" he exclaimed arrogantly; as I got my cash out he said, "Oh! It won't dispense cash at the moment...!"
I summoned up all my icy dignity and firmly said "Quite!"
Just because I'm just 5'2" and don't feel the need to dress for effect does not make me stupid; it shouldn't make me invisible. It does not make you a better person by ignoring or patronising me. I have a much quicker brain then you could ever dream of. I am (usually) fleeter of foot than you would think by looking at me.
I am woman, watch me roar. Or something...
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