Paradoxically Yours...

Yesteryear Rules

(prompt: 'rules' 25/8/17)

"Rules ARE made to be broken."

"Not laws."

"No, I'll grant you that. Supposedly keep some semblance of order in the land. Hmm... Some!"

"You're right. NOT breaking the laws of the land. No. I'm thinking of basic good manners stuff." Joseph nodded his white, tufty-haired head in total agreement with himself. "There's a few to do with doors that used to matter a lot." He paused and rubbed his chin. "Not so much these days, though. All too bloody busy for the niceties of life, aren't they?"

"Doors! Huh! Don't you talk to me about doors. Why, just the other day this young blade was telling me about holding a great glass door open at a University for a lovely looking young lass - and you'll never guess what she said?" And both the old fellows shook their heads - Joseph questioningly, and George in disgust.

"Turns up her pretty little nose and then twists those kissable little lips real mean-looking-like, and snarls, "What are you? Some kind of Male Chauvinist Pig?'"

"Little bitch!" Not usually a man given to blasphemy and such, nevertheless the exclamation broke from Joseph's mouth with his outward breath, shocking them both into silence for a moment or two.

"And then yesterday," George continued when he'd stopped nodding his head self-righteously, "... yesterday I stood back in my most ordinary gentlemanly fashion to allow others to step on the train ahead of me— "

"Making smiley eye contact with each one, I trust." Joe interrupted in confident anticipation of the answer.

"Me? Of course I did! Took a leaf from Maurice Chevalier's book 'bout a thousand years ago, didn't I?"

Joe nodded again, eyes dreamy in remembrance of that consummate French gentleman, charmer of ladies of all ages - all-time record holder of ladies' hearts.

"Yes well... missed my train in the name of good manners, didn't I? No eye contact, no thanks - they all rushed past as though I was part of the train, leaving me standing on the platform with one hand raised, like 'What was THAT??' I don't know. Just not our world any more, Joe."

And the two old fellows nodded their heads slowly, almost in unison. George stoked his pipe, fairly unsuccessfully it must be noted - although maybe that tiniest of glows could be resuscitated with the power of puffing he was devoting to it.

But suddenly Joseph straightened his spine and lifted his head on an angle. A look of triumph spread across his face as he said, somewhat cockily, "What about the Golden Rule then? You're not the kind of old feller that'd be breaking that one, I'll be bound."

"Well, that's where it all unravelled, me old mate." George looked shamefaced and seemed to have sudden difficulties meeting Joseph's questioning eyes. "I reckoned I'd deserve a damn good kick in the pants if I behaved like that. And..."

"You didn't! With your gammy knee?" Understanding flooded his eyes and he started laughing, and the tears multiplied as he gasped out, "I've heard of being hamstrung by good manners... and coming a 'gutser' from lack of them... but crippled by good manners? That's a newbie. Ripper George!"