05
Comedy
During our weekly family visits to the supermarket, we are aware that we are the only Black faces in the entire Walmart like store. We have gotten accustomed to it as most people either ignore that fact, or engage in a friendly manner with our children.
This time, the one who greeted our daughter, was a petite pregnant woman who asked our daughter where she was from. As my daughter responded, I immediately noticed this woman’s level of English and I knew I would use her ability to finally ask someone to help me find the pork less meat items on display. After she and my daughter exchanged their greetings, I politely asked, if all of the items on display have pork in them?
She began to pick up item after item, eventually reading that they were a mix of meats with pork being the main or secondary ingredient. After the fifth item, I told her thank you in my most gracious and kind tone because I appreciated her help, but did not want to waste her time.
She looked at me, almost piteously as she knows I was disappointed in not being able to find what I thought was there. Suddenly, her expression and demeanor changed and she motioned for me to wait while she dug in her shopping cart. I was a bit perplexed as she dug, but remained quiet as I knew she was going to give me something. I stood there waiting for the seconds that seemed to creep along.
motioned for me to wait while she dug in her shopping cart. I was a bit perplexed as she dug, but remained quiet as I knew she was going to give me something. I stood there waiting for the seconds that seemed to creep along.
She returned from her digging expedition with a gift for me. It was meat and it didn’t appear to be pork. She sweetly asked, “Do you eat dog?”. In my head, my hand clutched my invisible pearls and I had images of myself gasping loudly “ The only dogs I eat are the ones from Coney Island served up in buns, but in reality, I merely shook my head and politely said, “No, Thank you."
In all transparency, I was disgusted and wanted to scream, but the kindness of this woman would not allow me to insult her with my Detroit dramatics. So I just pretended as if I was offered bits of dog meat regularly, as if my grandmother served it up at Thanksgiving meals...as if it is a soul food treat that I miss.... but as we all know, it’s DEFINITELY NOT. Hopefully, she couldn’t see that.
I
I Only Eat Coney Island Hot Dogs!
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