Wednesday, February 20, 2008

Cereal Killer

Last night I stopped by Wal-Mart to pick up a few things.

I was in the cereal aisle when this boy, about 7 years old, started walking down the other side of the aisle. He put his arm out so it was exactly behind the first cereal box, then he boldly strolled down the aisle with his arm outstretched, as one box after another toppled to the floor.

By the time he was done, at least 15 boxes had been knocked down.

I just stood there dumbfounded. Eventually, I graduated to sputtering. I could not believe a kid of his age was bold enough to be that destructive - In a public place. In front of an adult.


I was on the cell phone with Brett at the time, and I said the first thing that shot into my head.

“Sometimes the best argument for birth control is children.”

I didn’t just say it; I think I kinda shouted it. I heard a muffled cough behind me and saw a man raise his eyebrows before grabbing his cereal box and heading back to his cart.

Probably thinking, “What a horrible child hater!”

Meanwhile, I’m knee-deep in damaged cereal boxes.

The boy had caught up to his mother and teenage sister by this time. His mother was passing the aisle where I still stood glued to the floor in shock.

“Did your brother do this?” She demanded of the teenager.

“I dunno,” said the bored, hoodie-clad girl.

“You were supposed to be watching him,” her mother accused.

“Whatever,” replied the teenager as she walked off to look at clothes.

“Go pick those boxes up,” the mother told the boy.

Then she LEFT!

I watched, stunned again, as the boy did exactly what his mother told him to do. He picked up each box and flung it back on the shelf. By the time he was done, it looked like a 3 ½ foot tornado had taken on the Wal-Mart cereal aisle. And won.

I stood in the aftermath and marveled. Eventually, I just shook my heard. Not my problem.

I started down the next aisle. Where I ran into the man who had passed me moments ago.

He gave me an acknowledging wave and smiled. “I agree,” he said in a voice barely above a whisper.

I grinned all the way home.

7 comments:

Heidi said...

sounds like the kid who dropped the candy on the floor and the parent picked it up and put it back in the package and back on the shelf from my blog.

Heidi said...

At least he kind of obeyed. What a nightmare for the wal mart employees who have to straighten the aisles every night.

Alice said...

Before we had kids and would go out to a restaurant and the host(ess) would ask, "Smoking or non-smoking?" We would say, "We'd like the 'no children' section, please."

Anonymous said...

And the question that comes to my mind is, "How DOES God put up with us?"

mom2mine said...

you would be amazed at how often this happens. even at the Dollar Tree, but I have to say more often than not I blame the parent, not the child. (especially if they are young)

Deb said...

Don't mean to brag, but I gotta'. Ian(he's also 7) does just the opposite. He sees things in disarray at the store and puts it back in it's proper place. :)

Ann-Marie said...

I WISH those were the kind of kids I ran into - the Lord seems to send all the rascals my way. He's teaching me something...or trying, anyway...