“Relax”

He gets a little excited. 

We pulled into the parking lot of Walmart for our semi-weekly excursion to buy a new Cars toy for being a good boy at school.  I barely put the car in Park before he threw open the rear door.

Finesse is not one of his strong suits. 

The car door banged lightly into the passenger side of the car parked next to us. 

I do not have the greatest luck.

The neighboring car was occupied by a middle-aged man and his wife(?).  I scolded my son and waved to the occupants of the neighboring car offering a gesture of apology. 

It wasn’t accepted. 

The middle-aged man rolled down the passenger window and screamed at us, “What the Hell is wrong with you?” 

Patience is not one of my strong suits.

I yelled back as we kept walking, “I said I was sorry.  Relax.” 

He didn’t relax.

He screamed louder, “You dinged my car!  What the Hell is wrong with you?”  Then he began to get out.

My son was now starting to get very upset.  The yelling was making him anxious.  My peripheral vision was starting to darken.  I went into a defensive posture and I was getting angry.  I started walking toward my new friend.

Over his shoulder I made eye contact with his wife(?).  She had been sitting in the driver’s seat.  She mouthed to me behind his back, “I’m sorry.”  Then she motioned to his head.

I understood instantly and I felt guilty. 

I led my son to her window and prompted him to say he was sorry.  She replied, “It’s O.K., honey.  I know you didn’t mean it”. 

I apologized as well; not for the car door.