Yesterday I had to go to a builder's supply place to buy a five gallon bucket of tar. What happened was tropical storm Lee caused a leak--AGAIN A LEAK--through the flashing around the fireplace. Flashing is what they call the metal strips on the roof around the fireplace chimney that is supposed to seal out water.

Over the years I suppose the house has settled and/or been shaken by various hurricanes etc. and I'm getting leaks. I noticed Monday as Lee was still huffing and puffing and raining cats and dogs that I had a two leaks--again! On my (new) ceiling tiles, only five years old. I could scream. My cousin came last year and tarred the flashing, but obviously it didn't work. So a fella tells me he'll do the job and what to buy, that's why I was in the builder's supply.

To make a long story short, while I waited for the clerk to round up the tar, gloves, trowels etc. a couple came in the store. The man had a little girl, about two years old, (I assume their daughter) on a leash. One of those chest leashes like for dogs. It was a harness like thing that crossed her chest, with a strap that was a big as a seat belt, and the man held on to the short leash as the child toddled in. The little girl wasn't noisy and chatty like most kids that age. She looked grim and solemn as the couple went down one aisle and up the other and left.

I think the man brought that child in on a leash just so someone would comment on it, like the clerk did, who said "Oh, that's just the thing!" My hackles rose. It gave me a hinky feeling. I watched them walk back to their SUV, and where most dads would scoop up their toddler in their arms and take her to the car, no, he didn't talk to her or hug her or pick her up, uh uh. I mean this isn't New York City where kidnappers lurk in big crowds, this is a rural town. A harness??
It makes me wonder what other kinds of discipline he inflicts on that baby at home.

Then I went to Wallymart and was in line at the Customer Service dept. Ahead was a woman in deep discussion with the clerk. She had a two year old boy sitting in the catbird seat of her shopping cart. He was facing a woman in a wheelchair being pushed by her husband. The kid says to the wheelchair lady "You Fat!" Then he yells "Mama, fat lady!" His mother ignored him; she was trying to return something without a receipt. The kid looked down at the w/c lady and said over and over "You Fat!"
What a brat. I bet he's never been put in a leash.

susil