キャミー・タング著「戌年」連載小説 プロのドッグトレーナーであるマリ・ムトウは、厄年を迎えている。 犬小屋と訓練所の改築をしながら、いつも不服そうにしている家族と同居することになった。母と姉に言わせれば、犬の毛とよだれかけにまみれる仕事は、家族にとって恥ずべきものだという。彼女は元カレを説得し、数ヶ月間犬を預かってもらうことにした。しかし、彼の兄は、数週間前に彼女が誤って車に追突した、怒り狂ったセキュリティ専門家であることが判明する。 アシュウィン・ケイトウは十分な問題を抱えている。叔母が玄関先に現れ、同居を希望している。彼は彼女にすべてを借りているので、断ることができません。母親が家を出て行った後、ネルおばさんはアシュウィンと弟を引き取り、愛のあるキリスト教の家庭で育てた。しかも、弟のダスティもアパートを追い出され、居場所を求めている。しかし、彼は犬を飼っている。そして、その犬の飼い主は誰だと思いますか? しかし、旧友でオアフ島のノースショアでデイスパを経営する私立探偵のエディサ・ゲレロから依頼を受ける。マリの施設で奇妙な破壊行為があり、3年前に失踪したエディサの妹の財布を発見する。エディサはマリが危険な目に遭っているのではと心配する。警備の専門家であるアシュウィンがすでにマリを知っていることを知ったエディサは、忙しい若い女性を密かに監視することを彼に依頼する。 アシュウィンは、活発でのんびりとしたドッグトレーナーに不本意ながら惹かれていく。彼女は、幸せそうな母親を思い出させる。その母親の裏切りによって、彼は人と距離を置くようになったのだ。マリは、アシュウィンの冷たい外見を見抜き、彼が家族に忠実な男であることを認める。彼は、彼女のキャリア選択を批判するだけの母親や姉とは違う。 マリのバラバラな家庭とアシュウィンのバラバラな家庭の中で、過去を隠そうとする人たちから、彼らの周りに危険が迫ってくるようになる。彼らは、影で動く秘密に光を当てることができるのか? 過去に発表されたパートへのリンクはこちら。 *** 第8章 - 恐ろしくも真っ白な不動産書類 『みんな仲良くできないのかな?』 マリは無用に力を込めて箱に本を投げ入れた。最近、なぜ彼女は人生の中で全員と言い争いをしているのだろう?もしかすると、これは本当に悪いアイデア
Captain's Log, Stardate 01.08.2008
I'm in an emotional quandary.
I offered to do something for a friend. She said, "Great!" and gave me the info I'd need.
No "thanks," "thank you," etc.
Am I just too old-fashioned, that I expect a "thank you" if someone offers to do something for you?
It also occurred to me that maybe this friend feels so comfortable with me, she assumes she doesn't need to say thanks, that I already know she's thankful.
But something in me just wars against that kind of thinking. I don't care how comfortable you are with me, or how long we've been friends--I want a polite "thank you" if I'm doing you a favor.
What do you guys think? How do you teach your kids about stuff like this?
I'm in an emotional quandary.
I offered to do something for a friend. She said, "Great!" and gave me the info I'd need.
No "thanks," "thank you," etc.
Am I just too old-fashioned, that I expect a "thank you" if someone offers to do something for you?
It also occurred to me that maybe this friend feels so comfortable with me, she assumes she doesn't need to say thanks, that I already know she's thankful.
But something in me just wars against that kind of thinking. I don't care how comfortable you are with me, or how long we've been friends--I want a polite "thank you" if I'm doing you a favor.
What do you guys think? How do you teach your kids about stuff like this?
Comments
If i ask someone to do something for me i always say thanks. its something thats just manners.
even if you are very comfortable with others manners doesn't hurt and is often more so.
So, while I'm on the subject ... thanks for the great blog posts Camy! You always make my day :-)
Maybe she's figuring she'll thank you when the deed is done, but she should be appreciative of the offer as well.
I'm a mean mom. If someone gives something to my children and they don't say "thank you", I gently remind them. Still no "thank you", I firmly remind them. After that, if they still don't say it, I make them give their gift back. If they don't/can't appreciate it, then they don't need it. I haven't had to do that in a loooonnng time though.
And on that note, thank you for writing about this. Good post.
-TimK
But I also know, for myself who hustles and bustles from early AM to late PM every day, that occasionally I forget what my mother taught me. My mind is moving off to the next thing before I finish the last.
Usually I'll remember that I neglected my manners or a niggling question will make me wonder, in which case I'll back track and ask, "Did I say thank you? If not, I meant too. Thank you much." or simply "Just wanted to thank you for ..."
So perhaps it was simply an unintentional ommission, unless that person exhibits a pattern of neglect. I'm a big believer in "benefit of the doubt" until evidence suggests otherwise.
Thanks for an interesting topic!
So here's part of it.
Camy, thank you for all the prayers, love and support over the years. You're a far better friend than I ever deserve, but I value you more than you'll ever know.
Hugs!!!!
Luk 6:31 Just as you want others to do for you, do the same for them.
Luk 6:32 If you love those who love you, what credit is that to you? Even sinners love those who love them.
Yeah, I'm still learning too.
So maybe this friend thinks he/she is your bff? :))
L.Stewart