(If you want to hear Lori read the story click) here
The other day I did a job for someone. When I was writing up
the bill I named a price of $38 but I fully expected her to pay me $40. I
mean, who would count out those ones when two twenties would do it?
But the next day I got a nice note with.... $38 in it. I was annoyed. What a cheapskate.
Then I realized that she had paid me exactly what I asked for. On what basis was I complaining?
Sometimes John does precisely what I ask for. Like the Christmas we
were pretty pinched and we decided to not give each other presents. He
did what we agreed, the schmuck. I expected him to give me something, but no he took me at my word.
There were times when I would simmer around the house, and John would eventually ask if something was wrong.
"No, nothing," I would reply tersely. If he is too lame to figure it out I am sure not going to tell him.
This kind of disconnect between what I say and what I mean is not
helping. I think I am conducting lessons in Advanced Mind Reading, but
people around me are simply confused. Or not. They think they have done
their part in asking what I want to get paid, or what is wrong and are
oblivious to the hurricane between my ears.
One of the things I enjoy about being with little children is how
genuine they are. If they are mad, they do not throw up false fronts to
hide it, even if you are at Grandma's house on Christmas. If they love
you they wrap their arms around you and plant a kiss on your cheek. If
you messed up they let you know.
Like the other day when I had a children's choir in church. We had
practiced several times, and the songs were ones I had written years ago
so I certainly knew them well. But when my mouth opened to begin the
wrong verse came out. One little girl looked at me with question marks
in her eyes. I wriggled uncomfortably but I had to keep going. I
eventually finished the wrong verse and began properly at the beginning.
They sounded sweet and clear. But as soon as we were done, she spoke
into her microphone for all to hear.
"Mrs. Lori you sang it wrong."
Photo by Jenny Stein
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