THE RED TOILET by Jane in NY: This was more than 40 years ago, but I was at Sears paying my charge card bill. Back then you had to go to the Customer Service office of the store to make a payment. I had my little 2-year-old daughter with me. She was adorable in one of those white fur hats that tied beneath the chin with big fur balls at the end of each tassel.
At that time, display toilets were set up in the store. About three or four different styles were in a cluster in the center of the aisle. One of toilets – stunning in the early 70’s – was bright red.
As things go, my time at the Customer Service Desk took longer than expected. As I’m writing out my check and finally finishing up, I hear a scuffle in the direction of the display toilets. Not that I cared; I had suddenly realized that my daughter was missing! She’d been holding my hand the whole time – right up until the time I had to let go to write the check and deal with the teller. My God, where was she?
Through the crowd that was gathering around those stupid display toilets, I finally saw my little girl’s furry white hat. I went running.
When I got to the scene I couldn’t believe my eyes. I had reinforced over and over again to “go on the potty.” Well, she did! On the brand new bright red display toilet, there sat my little 2-year-old, pants down around her ankles, huge fur hat surrounding her angelic face, and a big smile for all the people who had come over to say hello to her. I could feel the heat start at my toes and radiate through my face.
As I tried to tend to her and still retain whatever dignity either one of us had left, an elderly woman shuffled up to me, an important expression on the her face, and asked me, “Now you aren’t going to spank that child are you?”
She put it all into perspective. This was just a situation – people understood! I smiled at the woman and said, “No.” I felt better……until the salesman for that department looked into the toilet. He stood with an unsmiling look of utter distaste, turned to his cashier and promptly instructed, “Call Maintenance.”