[“I’ll Smile When You Shut Up”]

I’m a gal who could be all business when I know what I want. So when I walk into a Starbucks, my main objective is to get my drink and go. I’m not there to make friends and change the world.

As I walked up to Starbucks last night, a group of people were sitting out front. I tend to block out everyone and not look at anyone when I’m out and about doing my thing. I heard one of the guys sitting down yell out in a really cocky, yet genuine tone, “Smile! It’s almost Friday!” I wasn’t sure if he were speaking with me, seeing as though some of his other friends were walking up to them at the same time. I didn’t look at them anyway. I don’t make eye contact with strangers.

He must’ve been talking to me, cos after I got my drink, and opened the door, everyone was looking at me. I looked straight ahead and walked on by. I heard him yell out, “C’mon! Smile!”

As I got to my car, I became frustrated. If I were in my right mind, I would have told him to fuck off. It put me in a bad mood. His attempt to “make me show happiness” only brought me anger.

Don’t tell me what to feel.

What gives you to the right to bark out orders to me? I don’t go around telling you to shut the hell up, or to walk (he was in a wheelchair). Cos that would be insensitive and rude. What if I wasn’t smiling for a reason? Did he know that I was on my way to work, and going into work is nothing to smile about? I should have told him that I just learned I had cancer and that I didn’t “feel” like smiling. That’d maybe put him in his place and realize that he shouldn’t tell people what the hell to feel when he doesn’t even know them or their situation.

Sorry, that just really irked me.