Ummm, Excuse Me?

Overheard:

Two young women who have not seen each other for a while...

The first, Penny, smiles, says hello, good to see you and turns to introduce her companion to this friend.

The friend, Laura, acknowledges briefly and states baldly, "I don't have time for you right now."

????

Oh.

Well.....ok then. (Talk about a conversation killer!)

Yes, obviously she had just been on her way out - to work, shop, visit the boyfriend... But no one was asking for an eternal commitment. Just common courtesy.

Now the bystander's couldn't help but think about what a different impression would have been made if our abrupt young woman had chosen to respond with something like this:

Hey, Hi! Great to see you too! Welcome back! You know, I was just on my way out, but I'd love to hear all about your summer. Would you have time for me to stop by later? Yes? I look forward to it! Okay - see you then. :)

You know, we all understand busy. But in-your-face rude? Not so much.

Let it go, right?

But...

Same girl. A little later - like, that night. It seems Laura had borrowed a few things while Penny was gone. It was time to give them back, but apparently that was not convenient.

Penny, the owner, had to insist that they be returned. Laura (who had let herself into Penny's apartment,  uninvited, when no one else was there, and was found canoodling on the sofa with her boyfriend,) had the gall  to cattily remark to the guy, loudly enough so Penny could hear as she walked into the other room, how selfish Penny was to not let her continue to use the items. (That she had been able to use free of charge.  That didn't belong to her. That she hadn't paid for...)

???

Oh dear.

Hearing this, I cringed, but obviously this is just business as usual for this little gal. When one is that self absorbed it's a gift that just keeps giving, eh?

The list of faux pas goes on and really doesn't bear repeating. Still I think there is an old saying about, "With friends like that, who needs enemies?"
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