I went to Pleasantville today to pay a parking ticket, and who would have thought?  It was actually really pleasant.  I mean every aspect of the whole experience (save for paying a sorely needed $15) was really nice and enjoyable.  I’ve paid parking tickets before and usually there’s a glass window that the money has to be slipped through.  And usually it’s to some frozen faced old hag.  Here, I stepped into a nicely lit office, with Werther’s Originals on the oak-finished counter (I took one, guilty!) and a very warm, smiling woman behind it.  Sure, she was still old, but she could have easily been the aunt or grandmother I never had.  Even the pudgy meter maids sitting off to the side were smiling, and we all know what a bitter bunch they can be. We all exchanged pleasantries and then I told her I was there to pay a ticket.  

“Aww, that’s a shame,” she said.  
“Yeah, I know,” I said.

As I paid the fine, I noticed that the temperature of the office was just right, and detected just the faintest scent of pine in the air.  Before I left, I took another Werther’s.  I walked out thinking, “Ahh, that was pleasant!”

This entry was posted by Matt, on Friday, November 04, 2005. You can leave your response.