What’s on my mind? We were walking hand-in-hand when I spotted a handsome young couple. She was filming him as he spoke into the camera. Then she talked into the camera, filming herself. They were Chinese.
I don’t understand Chinese, but guessed they were tourists - an assumption I made only on the basis of their ethnicity and the fact that she was filming him and herself.
I did what I always do when I see tourists - smile and be friendly. “Would you like me to take a picture of both of you?”
Himself squeezed my hand - hard. A warning. I wanted him to stop. I squeezed his hand even harder.
The couple looked up and smiled back.
“No, thanks!” she said.
“Happy to do it …” I offered again.
Himself tightened his grip. “COVID!” he said, within their hearing.
“COVID!” I shouted. For a moment, she stopped smiling.
Walking on, I suddenly felt intensely awkward. What if they thought I meant …? I turned to face them. Because we’d walked on a little, I had to shout.
“Not COVID because of you! COVID because of everyone! It’s everywhere!” She smiled. He didn’t. I’m not sure he spoke English. Another assumption.
And then, to be extra friendly, I shouted: “Welcome to Canada!”
Himself gasped. “That sounds racist! They could be Canadian!”
Would I have said that to a white-skinned couple? Probably not. Deeply embarrassed, I turned again, shouting: “I didn’t mean ‘Welcome to Canada!’ I meant …”
With a little shrug, she smiled again. “It’s okay …” she said.
Knowing we were out of earshot, Himself said: “How could you have said that? You’ve made it worse!”
And I had. Insensitivity? Racism? If so, it was unintended.
Words matter. I need to remember that, as do we all.
© Nicole Parton, 2020
