Rule of Three...

People don't respond well if you say, "What?" more than once.

Mum's get annoyed and say,"Don't keep saying 'What?' all the while!"

What's the alternative? Pretend you didn't hear them say something they now won't repeat? Not wonder what it may have been?

I think it's 'fair' to say, that the response to,"What?" is likely to be unguarded.

While someone's deciding what it is you want them to repeat, they're usually Looking at you.

A Process is involved, deliberation.

While I'm watching this I'm concerned with avoiding any possible cause for offence, I may feel awkward, because at this point part of what I heard sounded like mumbled or disjointed noises to me.

In a way I imagine it's similar to those occasions when you slip or fall and hope no one else has noticed. There's the potential element of embarrassment involved.

Anyone can make a mistake.

I learnt this on my way home from a pocket money shopping expedition with my brother. I think I was about 7 or 8 which makes my brother approximately 5 or 6 years of age at the same time.

We were almost home, I could see our front garden wall,

I looked for my brother who was lagging behind much further now

I called to him,

"Hurry up slow coach!"

and walked on a little before turning again to see where he was

A couple were walking in front of him

I noticed the elderly lady looked cross as she turned to her companion to make some comment.

Looking past them I could see my brother still taking his time (it seemed)

So I shouted to him, "Come on Lazy Bones, I'm fed up of waiting!"

To my surprise

The Elderly lady replied,

"Do You Mind!"

I glanced behind me (empty pavement)

She addressed me again,

"How Dare you speak like That to Me?!"

I stared a few moments, as her chest heaved and

Closing my mouth first I replied,

"I'm so sorry, but you see...."

She started saying, "I think you're Very Rude... in fact..."

As my brother approached I caught his sleeve and added,

"I was talking to him"



So I learnt:

Don't assume someone is talking to you, you could be mistaken even if they appear to be looking directly at you.

If you don't get clear confirmation be very careful how you do respond or you could end up being embarrassed.

If you feel insulted by a comment, it is probable that, at least, you feel it is true about you in some bad way.