"I Want To Go To Sidney's!"

[dotinthesky]

Tantrum, a photo by Gillian Syer on Flickr.

I was waiting for a bus home at Bethnal Green when I noticed a father and his young son standing nearby. The boy was holding a union flag umbrella and was arguing with his father about something. The bus arrived and the father ushered the pissed off little boy inside.

As they climbed the double-deck, the boy started crying. I'd been thinking about my brother and his son and I became curious about these two - about what they were arguing about and how the dad was dealing with it. So I chose a seat right behind them to eavesdrop on their conversation.

I didn't realise I'd just purchased A1 Stall tickets for the mother of all tantrums!

The boy cried louder and louder, his face red and wet from tears. The father told him to shut up and calm down but it only wound up the boy. "I want to go to Sidney's! I want to go to Sidney's!!" he cried. Louder. And louder. AND LOUDER.

The father slapped him once, then twice, then three times, telling him to shut up and calm down. He could go tomorrow to Sidney's, not today. This worsened the situation because apparently the dad had previously promised a visit to Sidney's today. Everybody in the bus was hypnotised (some disturbed, some smiling with sympathy.)

Comments

[myendeavorca.livejournal.com]

What?! You're allowed to publicly slap kids there?!

[suede.livejournal.com]

Haha I do the same, when I want to spy on strangers conversations I try to seat next to them or walk close by!

[naturalbornkaos.livejournal.com]

I feel for Sidney in this situation, who's probably still sat there waiting. :(

[changeling72.livejournal.com]

I used to get slapped across the arm or round the legs. And look how I turned out...

[millionreasons.livejournal.com]

Urgh, those situations are grim - when you feel sorry for the parent dealing with such things and then sorry for the kid as the parent acts badly. But all this is good stuff to use!

[norabird.livejournal.com]

That union jack is only whetting my appetite!

[sor-eye-ah.livejournal.com]

So what was the outcome in the end?