Stranger Danger, But The Stranger Is The Kid

I arrived at the airport early (as wise travelers do) and decided to splurge on a ridiculously priced bagel to get something in my stomach. I sat in the waiting area, munching away, when a little girl walked over to me. She taps me on the arm.

Little Girl: “I want some.”

Me: “Sorry, kiddo, no. Ask your mom to buy you one.”

Mom: *From a seat nearby.* “It’s fine. You can share.”

I had to stop at the audacity.

Me: “Excuse me? No. Please go get your child her own snack.”

Mom: “She asked you, and I told you that you can share.”

Me: “I can share, but I won’t. You don’t even know if I have Herpes, or COVID, or any other number of contagious infections. Also, it’s really creepy that you want your child to accept candy or food from total strangers.”

Mom: “You’re being really rude!”

Me: “And you’re being an idiot. Either buy your kid her own bagel or tell her she has to wait. Either way, I’m not giving your kid my food.”

I then stand up, take my carry-on with me, and move to another seat, while the mom hugs her now wailing child, and glares daggers at me.