So I go to the butcher just on the corner that has great quality meat. I know that it is expensive but... It is market day and he seems happy to be busy. I walk in and say bonjour and wait. When it is my turn to be served I say quite clearly (in French of course) twice that I have 6 Euro in my pocket and I want to make some soup. I'd like to have some chicken BUT I have only six euro.
He responds, "oh you'd like to have a chicken cut in peices?" I respond, "Yes please BUT I have only six euro in my pocket is that enough, can I get something for that?"
He goes to the back mumbling something and gets a whole chicken and proceeds to chop it up. Then weighs it and I see the number 22.37. I say "Not bad for 6 euro." and move to the cash register with six bags of various fruits and vegetables that go for 1.50 per bag. A huge load of onions, apples, pears, clementines and pumkin; a good job for 6 euro at the second stand in the market.
The butcher without looking me in the face says "That will be Euro 22,37." I say, "What? I have only 6 euro and I told you more than once." He says" Oh you can pay later or when your boyfriend gets home he can pay." He knows that I have a credit card so I say that I will have to be more clear next time and reluctantly pay euro 22,37 for a freakin cut up uncooked unseasoned chicken. I feel like slapping the guy. I walk out frustrated and remembering how when he usually weighs things he slams the meat down on the balance with his hand on top of it and presses the button of the balance before the rebound. How pathetic, I think. i swear to myself that next time if I go back I will say something.
Then when I get home I recall reading in an interview with painter Lucien Freud that he describes how inhospitable he found Paris when he first came here, how people will just run right in to you as you walk down the street. This has actually happened to me as i was just standing there and not walking toward the other person. I vow to hit the next person that does it to me; perhaps the face of the butcher will overplace the face of the runner-in-to.
