A hippie's watch

"You b*#ch!" 

They were my initial thoughts. 

For the most part it was like any other Saturday really; where I sit in with my grandfather while he works at our local department store. A watch repairer by trade, he's been at it for almost 64 years now. My grandmother, before her death, participated in this weekly ritual; sitting in with him while he worked. As best I can I have tried to fill her shoes. 

Now customers come and go on any given day. Some stay only for a minute or two while they get links taken out. Others feel an urge to stay a little longer. His office is small, intimate; a little alcove in the corner of the store. Those who have guilty consciences somehow mistake it for a confessional. I believe cabbies have the same problem. Women share tales of their adultery, men boast of their encounters with prostitutes, teenagers b*#ch about their parents... 

My grandfather has a quiet disposition that lends itself nicely to this role. I simply sit back, enjoy the show, relish the tales and silently snigger at the absurd pantomimes these customers perform.

For the most part, these people are polite. Occasionally they can be demanding, arrogant... traits I'm willing to forgive because it's in their nature. 

But last Saturday, there came a couple from a small hippie-ish town in northern New South Wales.

The lady's first statement was, "Oooh what a terrible office they've given you. So small."
There was no malice in her voice, no condescending tone. For her, it was merely a statement of fact. She was completely ignorant of the impact her words had. This put me on edge.

"...And you've been doing it for over sixty years! That must have been terrible, having to do this terrible, terrible job. You poor thing." 

And that's when I thought those two terrible words. How dare she judge him like that, put him down like that, patronise him! I was fuming.      
It was in this moment of what I can only describe as paternal passion, a question reared it's ugly head... 

Is this how a parent feels when their children are threatened?