'THE POLITENESS PROJECT'

This is the final day of  'The Politeness Project' -  LADIES' HOME JOURNAL

BY HOLLY ROBINSON

I hope you have enjoyed it, and have gained something from it.

Thank you for patiently waiting week to week for the next part. My only wish would be to hear from you. Please leave comments on this page or e-mail me at: 2maketheworldhappier@blogspot.com

DAY 7   I MAKE TWO NEW FRIENDS

      On the last day of my experiment I head out to my local coffeehouse. This Starbucks is a battleground; Virtual office workers with laptops constantly vie for the best tables. They set up like squatters, buying office space for the price of a latte. I know this because I'm one of them.

     I score a much-coveted piece of real estate--a central table away from the chilly door. I spread out my papers and sip my tea, happy and warm. Then two women loaded down with shopping bags come in and search the place. There are no tables left, alas, just the counter. And I wonder; Is it good manners to offer them my seat, even if they're just shopping and I really am working? I ponder this for a split second. Or would that be a selfless act that I'll soon resent?

     The only way to find out is to do it: "Why don't you take my table and I'll move to the counter," I say. The women are startled. They protest, uncertain, casting their eyes about the room for another option. There isn't any. Finally they acquiesce. I move to the counter, which, as I suspected, is too narrow to work on, though I manage.

     Ten minutes later someone gently taps me on the shoulder. It's one of the women. The other one has snagged the only free window table and is holding it for me.

     "We thought you should have it because you're so nice," they say--and we're all smiling.