Soldier Ride

[AltumAngel]

The train was very crowded, so the soldier walked the length of the

train, looking for an empty seat. The only unoccupied seat was

directly adjacent to a well dressed middle aged lady and was being

used by her little dog.

The war weary soldier asked, "Please, ma'am, may I sit in that seat?"

The French woman looked down her nose at the soldier, sniffed and

said, "You Americans. You are such a rude class of people. Can't you

see my Little Fife is using that seat?"

The soldier walked away, determined to find a place to rest, but after

another trip down to the end of the train, found himself again facing

the woman with the dog.

Again he asked, "Please, lady. May I sit there? I'm very tired." The

French woman wrinkled her nose and snorted, "You Americans! Not only

are you rude, you are also arrogant. Imagine!"

The soldier didn't say anything else; he leaned over, picked up the

little dog, tossed it out the window of the train and sat down in the

empty seat. The woman shrieked and railed, and demanded that someone

defend her and chastise the soldier.

An English gentleman sitting across the aisle spoke up, "You know,

sir, you Americans do seem to have a penchant for doing the wrong

thing. You eat holding the fork in the wrong hand. You drive your

autos on the wrong side of the road. And now, sir, you've thrown the

wrong bitch out the window.