Sit Where You Can

I walked in to the small medical office waiting room. All 13 seats were taken. The oldest person sitting looked about my own age. There was a woman of roughly late thirties-early forties sitting with her four noisy teens. Three were definitely boys and I suspect from "her" attire that the fourth just wanted to fit in. They had defied the “No Eating or Drinking” sign and clumsily dropped a chocolate muffin on to the carpet. “What are we supposed to do now, mom? We’re still hungry.” There was no answer from mom. Near the door was an elderly woman who obviously at some point had confronted the ravages of a stroke. She looked even though the effects of her malady, 70-ish. Her expression was grimaced. I sensed the expression was from bracing herself against the wall for support rather than any permanent effect of her stroke. I offered a sympathetic half smile, but she was beyond empathy/sympathy; old girl needed a friggin’ seat! I looked at each person seated silently questioning, do you see this woman? No one seemed to notice or care. As well, I am not trying to make it their responsibility, but I also wondered why the office personel had not asked someone to give up their seat for the woman? Finally a seat became available. I, of course insisted that the poor woman sit. She gratefully accepted. Most of those seated gave me a look as if I were that arsehole who works too fast on the production line making everyone else “look bad.” The topper was when one of the teens tilted his head towards me and made the international limp-wrist sign. To my shock the teens and their mother had quite the giggle at my expense. While I do believe that manners and good grace are inexcusably important, I had no idea that they were usually accompanied by a limp wrist and thus defined sexuality and as such were laughable. The very idea that one might sit while an elderly stroke victim woman leans against a wall is inhuman. Please understand that I get no accolades for doing what was absolutely correct in that situation either. WTF is wrong with people?