On Speaking Up

I know I shouldn't be surprised when shit goes down at Walmart, but today really got to me.

I was standing in line at the checkout, and in front of me was a morbidly obese fifty-something lady in a scooter who was barking orders at her companion (they were possibly related? Or roomies?). The other woman was small, stout, and elderly, and was slowly putting the stuff from her scooter basket onto the conveyor belt. All throughout, the scooter lady was snapping at her to grab this or put that there or watch out for that. She was unpleasant, but some people are like that - such is life.

But once the stuff was bagged and the other lady was moving it from the counter to a shopping cart, she got downright mean. Yelling at her to "WATCH IT FOR GOD'S SAKE! THERE'S A JAR IN THERE!!!" or "God, can't you do anything right?" or passively aggressively telling the clerk that "She never does anything right. She's always been that way." All the while, the old lady just took it meekly, responding in nothing more than a weak protest, if anything at all.

I stood by, listening, brow furrowed. In my mind, I was fighting against the urge to say something. I know it was none of my business, but there's mean, and there's abusive, and this was toeing the line. The clerk met my gaze at one point, and he sort of gave me a "I see this...but what can I do?" look, and kept bagging.

Oh, but then, shit hit the fan, and I couldn't hold my tongue any longer. The scooter lady started telling right at the other one "She's mental! I can't believe you're such an idiot! Can't you show a LITTLE bit of intelligence?!?! Geez, that's why you're seeing a shrink." ANd she was saying it loud. Practically announcing it.

In the steadiest voice I could muster, and against all social etiquette, I piped up, "That's not necessary! You don't have to speak to her that way."

Oh man, scooter lady, whipped her head around (she was facing away from me), shocked and annoyed, "You don't know what she's like! She has mental problems!"

I replied that I worked every day with people who have mental health disabilities, so I do know what it's like (which isn't far from the truth). And that there's no reason to speak to anyone that way. Ever.

She went on to say that "Well, she's even worse at home. YOU don't have to live with her! She has to see a psychiatrist! And never helps out around the house, because she says her *haaaands huuurt*. Ugh!" On and on she went about how terrible this other woman was. The clerk continued silently bagging, avoiding locking eyes with anyone. The scooter lady was still facing away from me (the size of the scooter prevented her from turning around, but the elderly lady was facing me, so I smiled sympathetically and mouthed that I was so sorry. She seemed genuinely thankful for someone sticking up for her, and smiled at me and nodded.

When I was paying for my stuff, I tried to broach the subject with the clerk, but he just said that they're regulars, and there's isn't much they can do.

But isn't that elder abuse? Isn't that a reportable offence? I mean, shouldn't people be concerned that this is a regular occurrence?

Maybe I'm too sensitive about this... It just really bugged me. And now I feel like speaking up wasn't enough. Like I should have done more.