Manners

It was raining today so I decided it was a good day to keep my promise and take the children ice skating. Dad dropped us off and after a short queue we were all decked out in very uncomfortable ice skating boots. Before I'd skated a quarter of the way around the rink my boots were rubbing so I had to make a couple of adjustment stops. By the time I joined the children Ben was skating unaided and quite fast. Everytime he saw Dillon pass us he speeded up and despite falling a few times he just got up and carried on skating.

After about 15 minutes I could feel a blister forming rather nicely on my heel and Ben said his boots were rubbing so we stopped to loosen the laces. Back out on the ice the boots hurt Ben even more and when I took his sock off to have a look his skin was rubbed raw. That was the end of skating for Ben and I. I left Ben watching by the rink and joined the long and slow queue to get our shoes. After 10 minutes a young smarmy looking guy walked up and started talking to the guys in front of me. He asked them how long they had been queing then began waving, beckoning people further down the queue. This made me cross because everyone else was waiting their turn. Next he got out his phone to call them and when they didn't answer he walked off. Just as I was a few people from the front of the queue he reappeared so I decided to question him. Our conversation went something like this:

Me: 'Do you think it's ok to push in when everyone has been queueing for ages'

His friends turn their back on him

Him: 'Yes' turns away from me laughing.

Me: 'Do you think it's funny to push in when everyone else is waiting"

Him: 'I think it's ok to join my friends who have been in the queue'

Me: ' Well your other friends didn't want to push in so why should you'

Him: 'If you're that bothered you can go in front of me'

Me: "Why should you push in front of everybody behind me, they've all been queueing as well'

He shrugs his shoulders

Me: 'It's not fair'

Him: 'Why not?'

Me: 'Because it's good manners and good etiquette to queue and wait your turn. I'm here with my children and I teach them to wait in turn and not push in. I bet you wouldn't let them push in front of you'

At this point the girl behind me tells him to go to the back of the queue.

Him: 'Do you want to go in front of me"

Me: 'Yes please'

He moves aside to let me pass and everybody moves forward effectively blocking him from joining the queue so he has to go to the back.

I know some people might think I've made a mountain out of a molehill but I believe that birthright or cockiness or youth does not entitle anyone to do as they please and I will not sit silently and watch these people jumping the queue.

I'll get off my soapbox now!