The little plastic bag broke, of course, as I was loading it with apples. As it often does, in the little corner shop.
Red apples bounced on the floor and rolled among the feet of two men nearby who were waiting for the cashier to ring up their groceries.
And none of them lifted a finger to help me pick them up.
Yet, I know what it's like. The Finnish sense of independence and self-sufficiency, that strength and pride, is so powerful that the instinct to help doesn't even penetrate it. You see someone have a little mishap - nothing serious, just mildly embarrassing - and your Mind Your Own Business-gene only registers a mild relief that it's not you, and you move on without another thought.
Sometimes I hate my own people.
No comments:
Post a Comment