My boys aren't angels, far from it. They have more than their fair share of rude and revolting moments.
But today one of them was greeted by an adult's appalling ignorance. Boy Two and his little friend G were playing one of their endless and elaborate games in the garden. It involved a trampoline and a football - trampball or footoline, if you will.
Perhaps inevitably the ball went over the fence into next door's garden. Reminded to observe their Ps and Qs Boy Two and G trotted off to ask for it back. They could have just walked into the garden and picked it up in seconds without anyone noticing, but they didn't, they asked nicely because I told them to.
A wide-eyed and slightly shaken Boy Two recounted the following response from the man next door: "I'm too busy to get it. I'll do it later. Now, go away." And he slammed the door on the pair.
Even if he is too busy a more mannerly response might be nice, or even suggesting they go and collect it themselves.
Should I have marched around in a state of High Dudgeon (whatever that might be) and demand an apology or should I mark it down as another life lesson for the nine-year-old and his little pal?
