I was sitting in Panera's, having a cup of coffee, minding my own business, when a woman, positively bristling with indignation, approached.
'I just want you to know that's extremely offensive!! What if a child saw it?!'
Really, she thinks I care if a Random Stranger is bothered by my choice of reading material??? And she's pulling the 'think of the children!!' card? BTW, there were no kids around. Which is unusual -- Panera's usually has a few in there.
I looked at her, took another swallow of coffee, looked back at the book and told her 'Go away.'
If possible, she got even more indignant, sputtered more, fussed more.
'YOUR behavior is offensive to me. Now leave me alone.'
She went storming off to counter to complain. I couldn't hear what they said to her, but since no one told me to my offensive book and self away, I imagine she had to leave without the satisfaction of getting me tossed out of the coffee shop.
If that woman is offended by the title of a book, she better stay away from any venue that involves adults in tee shirts. You were right to tell her go away.
Considering how I hold a book when I read it -- I'm not holding up in front of my face -- she must have made some effort to see the cover. Maybe she was just curious -- I check to see what other people are reading all the time, in case it looks interesting -- and was 'offended' by what she saw.
It's a fascinating book -- a trifle dated, late 1990s -- I'm at the chapter on political wives and other women who have made their husband their career.
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