Lovers' Quarell Best Left at HOME!

In light of the fact that it's Superbowl Sunday and many people will gather in homes, sports bars and restaurants with large TVs, surround sound and the feeling of camaraderie; I wanted to touch briefly on a topic that may have affected you at one point or another in your life. Have you ever been in a public setting, minding your own business and found yourself in the middle of a domestic dispute?

Yesterday I felt adventurous and went to a roti shop in Fort Lauderdale (Big ups to all my Trini readers) - and what happened in there was crazy. After placing your order in this particular restaurant, you have to wait for an extended period (20-30 minutes) as the food is made from scratch with each order. It was while I was waiting for my food is where things started getting a bit interesting. Imagine this, the place has a few booths (7 or 8) for which people can sit and eat, but most people take out. So while you are waiting, you are sharing a booth with strangers.

 
So like everyone else, after I ordered my food, I found a booth and proceeded to read my morning paper. Now, what I didn't tell you is that this was the only free booth left in the establishment - which meant - all the other patrons would be squeezing in with me to wait on their food. I'm now sitting in the booth - gearing up for the extended wait- and a young couple sits across the table from me. The gentleman (late 20's) was about 5'8", very muscular, tattoos all over his neck and arms - and I can see how he could be perceived as intimidating. Joining him briefly after - was a a statuesque woman - extremely slim  and tall (mid 20's, stood  about  5'10"), looked a bit timid and frail. They looked like quite an odd couple but hey, love doesn't always look the way you envision it in your mind.

Immediately I noticed that there was tension between them - There was no eye contact, he was buried in the sports section of the newspaper and she had her arms folded looking the other way. I must admit - I felt quite awkward at the table - I scanned the restaurant to see if any of the stalls had opened up - unfortunately - I was stuck! Then the "adventure" began.....

"Yuh looking at that paper the way you looked at that $%^& girl earlier!" she said (AT THE TOP OF HER VOICE) - I thought to myself - this is not going to be good! He turned to her and said "Are you really gonna put our business out there for everyone to hear?" he pleaded (obviously this wasn't their first outburst). "I don't care what these people think - they don't know me!" again at the top of her lungs. What people who say that don't realize is that after the outburst - people, in this case complete strangers do actually get to know you and the type of relationship you are in - anyway I digress - back to the story.....

"So what if I looked at her, It's not like I F*^%$#@# her!" at the top of his lungs. Now the woman turns to him and says "You think she will wash your dirty draws, cook for you, clean for you and put up with the fact   that you can't get it up without an hour of prepping?" OK - now it's getting serious - if they hadn't before, they now had everyone's attention in the restaurant....Please bear in mind that I am sitting directly across from them at a booth. The man looks her dead in her eyes and says "If you knew how to "prep" me I wouldn't have to do it myself or look for someone who could, you skank!" He said angrily. She get's up from the booth and is now pointing at him and screaming how worthless he is and how he needs a real job and how she hates his sister and his mother is a whore - Blah, Blah, Blah, yadda, yadda, yadda,.......At this point he goes back to reading his paper while she is sending verbal knockout punches his way and he is totally ignoring her - WHICH MAKES HER EVEN MORE ANGRY....  She get's louder and louder until the owner of the restaurant finally steps in and tells the couple that if they don't cease and settle themselves they will be removed from the establishment. The woman calmed herself down - sat right beside her boy friend, folded her arms and it was as if nothing happened.....

The cashier called their number - the order was up - she picked up their food and the minute they both stepped out of the restaurant - they were at it again. I can't lie - there is a part of me that was actually enjoying the argument - people say some of the strangest, most revealing and hurtful things when they are angry - and when it is at someone elses expense - it makes for an interesting listen. I have to admit though that I really thought the guy may have tried to physically harm her because of the type of personal information she was divulging to the public - and in that case I would have had to at step in - but it didn't get that far (Thank God) - At least not at the Roti Shop....

Ladies and gentlemen of the public- PLEASE LEAVE THIS TYPE OF BEHAVIOR AT HOME! There is absolutely no need for you to be spilling that kind information for others to bottle. Furthermore, if that is what you consider to be a "NORMAL" relationship - you both have much deeper issues going on and you need serious counseling. As you can well imagine - after they left the shop - they became the topic of conversation and I am quite sure that no one had anything positive to say about them. The strange thing is though - they didn't seem the least bit embarrassed or ashamed of themselves. I am pretty sure that next week - same bat time, same bat place - they will be there as if nothing happened the week prior. Do us all a favor - wait outside for your meal or better yet, in your car - once is good enough for that type of "entertainment." With that I say - hug and kiss your significant other if he or she respects you enough to never do something like that to you in public - it's these types of experiences that makes us realize how good we have it. Have a great week my friends....