Marines and Christians Both Think They're Special

So, I'm at a laundry mat. I'm putting my stuff into one of the washers and overhear and existing conversation between a guy (maybe my age, maybe a few years younger) and an older lady.

From the gist of what I heard, he's a veteran who goes to a church for his alcoholism program. I kept my mouth shut about. If he believes in the Judeo-Christian God, then why did the God allow him to have alcoholism? Not saying anything, I cotinued to mind my own business.

He, and the woman, start talking about "God's plan" and "mysterious ways" and, once I get the washer going and it's locked, I leave to run an errand.

About 20 minutes later I return. The woman is gone and the man is sitting in his truck in the parking lot.

I'm standing here watching my clothes go in circles and listening to Malicious Compliance stories on YouTube when the dude, who apparently came back in, starts talking to me. Keep in mind, I'm wearing a headset, machines are going, a couple TVs are on and other people are talking.

I finally realize he's talking to me, pause my video and ask him, "What's up?"

He's asking me to watch his basket (pictured) that was sitting there the whole time he was in his truck (smoking, by the smell of it). I said, "Sure."

He replied with, "God bless you."

And, I repliedu with, "There are no gods." Which seemed to have stunned him.

He stopped and said, "I was dead."

"So, I'm taking to a ghost?"

"I was killed in Fallujah. I was dead for two minutes and God brought me back," he tried to explain.

"No," I said, "the doctors saved your life. Thank them."

"You don't have to be a prick," he said.

And, I responded, "You're the one pushing your religious crap on me. But, yes, I'll watch your basket and make sure no one steals it."

"I wasn't preaching," he replied.

I pointed towards the door, where he was headed anyway, "Door's that way."

He left and I started typing this out.

Fast-forward about 15 minutes and I'm sitting in a chair where my dryer is. It's narrow through here, too narrow for a person to walk though ulless you move. Think old-school movie theater without the recliner seats. The guy comes back in and I stand to make way for him. He grabs his basket and clothes from the dryer and started making his way past me again, presumably to fold his clothes. So, I step out of his way, making even more room for the laundry mat's basket thing (also pictured below).

As he's passing me, without even acknowledging my existence, I say, "Are you going to thank your god for me getting out of your way?"

He looks at me, "You don't have to be a prick."

I laugh, "So, that's a 'no,' then?"

"Fuck you! I'm a Marine!"

I didn't tell him I was in the Army. Instead, I just said, "So?"

"So, I could kill you."

"You can try. So, try."

He, obviously upset his appeal to 'Marine worship' wasn't working said, "I'm a Marine, we have discipline."

"Cool. I said. Go have discipline over there," I said, pointing towards the tables for folding.

He walked away.

Marines and Christians. They both think they're special when they're not.

[Blogger mobile app for Android turned these images 90°, which is par-for-course for Blogger mobile app].