Magnetics

People are drawn to me. I don't mean this egotistically at all, but actually mean it literally to where people just know my bubble isn't that big. For the most part it doesn't bother me. People can stand close to me when they talk to me, or give me a hug whenever they say hello and goodbye. The one place I cannot stand it is in a line. I inevitably end up in front of that person who thinks its okay to press awkwardly into my back. Well I have news for these people... IT'S NOT OKAY! It's not that I am uncomfortable being in close proximity to people. I find it incredibly humorous and tragic how people scamper out of your way in grocery aisles or book stores. The thing that irks me is the attitude behind this little act. It's so blatantly pushy and impatient and rude and immature. I get that these people are in a hurry, but more than likely I am too and you don't see me spooning with the person in front of me in line.
These rantings are brought on by a little incident that occurred in the University Bookstore today. I knew exactly what books I needed, so took a short trip to the back and immediately jumped into line. It wasn't a minute before Spooner Lady jumped in behind me. I was instantly aware of the problem. She was in such close proximity that I could feel her breath and the fine little hairs on the back of my neck. Of course, everything within me revolted against the rude way she was trying to get me to spoon with the guy in front of me and made me want to hang back conspicuously, widening the gap so that Spooner Lady would see that I can be just as pushy and rude. On a side note, I'm not really sure what that accomplishes, but apparently in my mind at the time, something... Things were going along as well as can be expected, standing with some lady breathing down my neck and some guy 3 feet in front of me, when I felt a subtle hand brush... across my butt. My first reaction was one of jumping away, smacking her with my books, and shouting, "Woah, woah, woah, nobody touches my butt!" Before I responded with this reaction, however, the thoughts in my head ran thus; "Wow, I wonder if she did that on purpose. That's awkward... this is a really odd place to put the moves on me, but if thats what floats her boat. Actually, I don't really care if she feels up my butt. It'll just make her feel awkward if it doesn't make me uncomfortable at all, which is really doesn't. Of course, she probably just moved her hand and accidentally touched my booty. Well, what does she think is going to happen if you try and spoon with someone? She got what she deserves."
With these thoughts in mind, I did not react with a pullback, but rather shifted the weight in my hip slightly, moving myself closer to her. Spooner lady, on the other hand, made a very obvious motion of pulling away, hopefully embarrassed by her faux pas. She gave me a little more space after she felt up my butt. I, on the other hand, took great pleasure in continuing to hang back from the guy in front of me, and lean on her a little.
I actually learned a valuable lesson from the experience (at least, I hope it's valuable, namely, I hope I will use the information I acquired). I learned that sometimes our initial reactions are not the actions that will get the reactions that we can act upon. At least, that is what my reaction tells me.