Acts of the Gentleman
In 1970 I was involved in an established business with Mr. Kelly. It was very cold, as usual. I heard don’t trust Chicago weather and women – they can change at any time and you have to protect t your equilibrium. That reminded me to stay a gentleman. I was raised by my mother to be a gentle boy. My father made sure I became a gentle young man and my wife kept me a gentle man. Due to that, one day it was very windy on Michigan Avenue near Lake Michigan. I came down from the EL train and I was shivering in the wind of the windy city of Chicago, walking I heard heavy footstep behind me so I checked and saw a very young, gorgeous lady. I ignored and continued to my destination, 500 South Michigan Avenue and opened the door. I saw that gorgeous lady was also going in to the building. So I held the door and asked her to go first. She declined my offer and asked me if I was new. I answered that I am new and I am a gentleman holding the door for you to go first. She said, “You don’t know. We have liberated women in America. I am one of them, close the door. I am a liberated lady.”
So I told her that I am a gentleman and I am going to act as a gentleman. I asked her to please go in. She replied that she would not go in but I must be ignorant. I said yes, I am ignorant, illiterate and poor from India. I saw a sparkle in her eyes, a notion of superiority. So I decided to teach the lesson, to hold the door as long as she does not enter. People came and stared at us and see what would happen. Mr. Kelly came in and asked me what I was doing. I said I am a gentleman and I am holding the door fo9r her. He said some things you cannot change. Let’s go in the building. Some of the people laughed and enjoyed our innocent act. At that time elevator operators knew us. He asked me why I was standing in the cold and holding the door. Mr. Kelly said that I was protecting the lady from the cold because she had a thin coat. Everyone enjoyed our story. Finally I made a statement that no one is independent, no one is dependent, and we are all inter-dependent.
So I told her that I am a gentleman and I am going to act as a gentleman. I asked her to please go in. She replied that she would not go in but I must be ignorant. I said yes, I am ignorant, illiterate and poor from India. I saw a sparkle in her eyes, a notion of superiority. So I decided to teach the lesson, to hold the door as long as she does not enter. People came and stared at us and see what would happen. Mr. Kelly came in and asked me what I was doing. I said I am a gentleman and I am holding the door fo9r her. He said some things you cannot change. Let’s go in the building. Some of the people laughed and enjoyed our innocent act. At that time elevator operators knew us. He asked me why I was standing in the cold and holding the door. Mr. Kelly said that I was protecting the lady from the cold because she had a thin coat. Everyone enjoyed our story. Finally I made a statement that no one is independent, no one is dependent, and we are all inter-dependent.
By Gajendrakumar, Email: gajendra101@hotmail.com
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