I both love and am horrified by the ABC show "What Would You Do?" I love the concept of the show, but I'm routinely horrified by the reactions (or lack thereof) of the people faced with these scenarios.
Apparently, I'm nosier than much of the population. I have something in me that screams out for justice and not much impulse control when it comes to confronting others. The other day, I found myself in a situation that begged for a camera, and my reaction was par for the course.
I took the girls to Target (hand to god, first time in months) to get Caroline a swimsuit ($5.99!!). As we pulled into the parking lot, I spotted a space pretty close to the front. Then I noticed two teenage boys doing something to the car next to me. I turned off the car and got my bag together, watching them more closely the whole time. The car's windows were rolled down about an inch (something we do all the time in Texas too keep the inside from becoming an inferno). The boys were grabbing the panes and wiggling them, cupping their hands over their eyes to stare inside, and wrenching around the windshield wipers.
(Before I go on, let me take a moment to further set the scene: It's the middle of the day on a Thursday, we're in a brand-new Target parking lot with oodles of security cameras, and these boys don't look frightening at all. In fact, I pretty sure I could take them, even with a baby on my hip.)
As I get the girls out of the car, I go out of my way to interfere with them - opening the doors widely, making them move, and generally giving them the 'ol skunk eye. One of them goes back to the windshield wiper and starts pulling on it again.
"What are you guys doing?" I ask, with no disguise of my suspicion.
"We're just trying to get in the car," the one with the windshield wiper in his hand replies.
"Is it your car?" I ask.
"Oh, it's our friends."
"Then why don't you go ask him for the keys and permission to get in?"
"Well, he's real far back in there - so this is just easier."
"Why are you pulling on the wipers?"
"Um, I was gonna use it to unlock the door," he answers, motioning to the window - apparently planning to use it like a coat-hanger.
"No. I don't think so. You need to go find your friend and leave this car alone."
"Well, we're not trying to break in and steal anything if that's what you think."
"I don't care. You need to stop," I answered, taking the girls with me into the store.
I proceeded right to a cashier and asked her for security. She found a manager right away and I relayed the story. She sent a security guard out and I went on with my shopping, trying hard not to think about what might happen to my car if the security guard didn't stick around to make sure they left.
A few minutes later in the check-out line, I saw the manager again. She reported that the kids were still there monkeying with the car with the security guard arrived. She thanked me for alerting them. When I got out to my car, both the teens and the car they were picking at were gone. And my car was unscathed.
I can't imagine reacting any other way. Not only for the sake of whoever owned that vehicle, but also because my girls were there. And watching. And learning. And now they know that it's not okay to let creeps get away with BS like that. Especially when you're in a safe environment.
How 'bout you? Would you have said anything? Have you had any John Quinones moments lately?
