Respect

While parked up in the car park at the back of Cockerton shops in Darlington, I noticed that the dark blue Suzuki parked beside me was not stationed correctly inside the space provided for it, making it difficult for the driver to open the door.

As I waited for my partner, a frosty looking female pensioner approached the vehicle and gave me a look that would have sank a ship.

I smiled and beckoned her forward, then drove my car out of the way so that she could get behind the wheel and drive off without a hint of trouble.

Not so much of a nod of thanks or even a polite “cheers” in recognition.

She jumped into her car, gave me another cold look and then had difficulty reversing and turning it, before shuddering off into the distance like the Arkansas chuggabug from the Wacky Races cartoon.

I have always respected our elderly citizens, but it’s ignorant actions like these that could make people show them a lack of respect.

As for the lady in question, please have the windows open a little if you leave your dog in the car again, learn some courtesy for other drivers who go out of their way to assist you, and simply utter the words “thank you” in any language you desire, as most of us now carry international phrase books in case we get lost in Latvia.

Christopher Wardell, Darlington.