There is a charity worker at the entrance to our supermarket, collecting money and giving out information for the RNLI, the Royal National Lifeboat Institution. They save the lives of people in distress around British waters. Most of its lifeboat crews are unpaid volunteers, so while I am too poor to donate to them, they have my respect.
A customer and his teen son are at my till.
Customer: “A year ago, I would have given to the lifeboats, but now I see they’re the ones saving all the illegal immigrants crossing the channel so f*** ’em.”
I stop scanning his items and take a pause. I look around for someone else, but he’s talking to me. I have no idea why he thought I would not only want to hear such a vile opinion, but surely he’s not expecting me to agree with him, is he?
I continue scanning in silence.
Customer: “It’s a f****** shame what my taxes go to.”
Me: *Speaking before thinking.* “They’re a charity and they’re mostly volunteers. That’s why they’re asking for money. Your taxes don’t go to them.”
Customer: “Well… good. They still shouldn’t be saving all those illegals who get on the boats. They want to risk it, then leave them to the bloody sharks! They did that to themselves!”
Customer’s Son: “Dad, aren’t you always going on about how your grandad escaped to England on a boat just before World War 2?”
Customer: “Well, that’s different!”
He quickly changes the subject and looks at me as I scan the last of his items.
Customer: “What’s the damage, darlin’?”
The customer’s sudden desire to move along hasn’t gone unnoticed by his teenage son, who knows he’s on to something.
Customer’s Son: “How’s that different? Weren’t they escaping, too? They had German passports, didn’t they?”
Customer: “They were Jewish children! Now be quiet—”
Customer’s Son: “—lotta kids on those boats I see being rescued on the news.”
Customer: *To me.* “How much, love?”
Me: “£27.40.”
Customer’s Son: *Not giving up.* “So the RNLI should rescue the drowning kids, but leave the adults to drown? Should they be holding their passports out while they’re in the water so they can check they’re under eighteen?”
Customer: *Paying by card, desperately trying to get me on his side.* “Crazy what they’re teaching them in schools these days, eh?”
Me: “It’s crazy to teach someone to save a drowning person?”
Customer’s Son: *Still going on.* “Didn’t Mum have to go to hospital last year because she smoked so much she can’t breathe? Didn’t she do that to herself? Should the NHS refuse to help her then?”
Customer: *Grabbing the shopping and leaving as quickly as possible.* “You say nothing all day, and now you won’t shut up!”
The customer’s son kept bringing up valid points all the way to the exit, with the customer unable to find a counterargument. It was beautiful to behold.
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