DEAR MISS MANNERS: My husband was at the grocery store yesterday and a woman was blocking the aisle, bending over to look at an item on the shelf. A male shopper in front of my husband asked her to please move so he could pass by, which the woman did.
My husband, a man with a noticeable paunch, approached her next, asking her to let him by. She responded, “If you didn’t have such a big belly, I wouldn’t have to get out of your way.” My husband, a kind and friendly man, walked by -- shocked, rightfully insulted, and at a loss for words.
What would have been a good response from him to let the woman know how cruel and insensitive she was? Her remark hurt.
GENTLE READER: Do we think she was unaware of this? Or that any response would have been more effective than the hurt look on your husband’s face?
***
(Please send your questions to Miss Manners at her website, www.missmanners.com; to her email, dearmissmanners@gmail.com; or through postal mail to Miss Manners, Andrews McMeel Syndication, 1130 Walnut St., Kansas City, MO 64106.)
