Have you ever watched an old black and white movie where one of the characters slips on a banana skin and then launches into mid air before coming crashing back to earth again. Cue howls of laughter. Oh stop, my aching sides. I always thought such scenes were confined to the silver screen. Surely such idiots didn’t exist in the real world. Until two days ago, that was.
I was walking through the city centre, on my way to the train station, minding my own business, when suddenly I was propelled skywards. In a scene more befitting of a slapstick version of ‘The Matrix’ I found myself experiencing a weird, out of body sensation. I realised I was in mid air and hung there, awaiting gravity to do ‘its thang’ and return me to terra firma. I didn’t have to wait long.
My right hip collided painfully with the pavement and I lay there, dazed and confused, staring at the offending article. A banana skin. I was more embarrassed than hurt. It was a busy street and I cringed, expecting howls of laughter or, at the very least, a stifled snigger. Nothing. I waited some more. Life continued on around me, as if I was invisible. Had I imagined the entire episode?
Hauling myself gingerly to my feet, I checked all was in order, desperately avoiding eye contact with any of the pedestrians hurrying past in either direction. Too late. An old man caught my eye. Oh well, at least he had the compassion to show an interest in my well being. I braced myself for an embarrassing conversation about how I was fine really, no harm done, thanks for asking anyway, etc etc.
‘You slipped on a banana skin,’ he cheerily announced, before continuing on his way, a broad smile on his face. ‘Er yes, I was aware of that,’ I sourly replied, not sure if he was extracting the urine or somehow thought I was unaware as to what had happened. An old lady then distracted me, by asking was I alright. In the the meantime, 8,473 other people had scurried past, unconcerned as to my plight.
I thanked the lady, muttering I was fine, before fleeing the scene as quickly as I could, given my aching hip and bruised pride. In hindsight, I should have disposed of the banana skin, to save somebody else a similar plight, but at that moment in time, all I wanted was for the ground to open and swallow me up. Later though, I thought about it more. Are people really that uncaring in today’s society?
Okay, I wasn’t badly hurt, but I could have been. Bar Olly Obvious and the old lady, it was as it my aerial antics had been invisible. Are city folk that conditioned nowadays to avoid interacting with other people, for fear of being stabbed, mugged or otherwise harmed? Where have all the Good Samaritans gone? Would I have ran to someone’s aid if I witnessed a similar scenario? I’d like to think I would have. Does that make me a minority of one?
Life is full of banana skins, scattered along the road we travel, just waiting to trip us up along the way. It’s inevitable we will all come a cropper one day and find ourselves flat on our backs, staring up at the sky. It’s then that we need people around who love us and will help us back onto our feet. People who will always love us, no matter what the circumstances. People who hang around, when the going gets tough.
We need those people. We also need to be those people.
Have you ever slipped on a banana skin? Or witnessed someone else? How did you feel? What did you do?
Have you the people around you, who will step up to the mark, when you need help in your life?
Black Thoughts 
Unfortunately, in today’s society, people do not want to get involved with other people. Having had a similar incident happen by slipping on some ice – landing flat on my back in the middle of a street – a man drove right next to me and glanced out his window at my prostrate form on the road – and kept on going. I managed to get myself back up, retrieved my purse and hobbled home. Yes, it does leave you feeling somewhat bewildered that no one would come to your aide. It’s a sad statement for today’s world.
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It is. I hope you’ve recovered from your fall. Stay safe.
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Yup, same experience. Managed to break my shoulder in the fall, adjacent to plenty of onlooking traffic. I was completely dazed and had great difficulty getting up. No one said a word or stopped. Interesting experience. I agree, we need to be those people that show up with love.
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That’s awful. I hope you make a full recovery.
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Oh, all good now, thanks!
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As a reserved Swede who has a good heart, my two-pence is this: I reckon most people do want to help but maybe feel embarrassed. Might just be a case of “minding one’s own business” and being shy! There have been times when I’ve kicked myself for not stepping in or saying/doing something as the only thing that holds me back is my somewhat cool and aloof (read: UNCOOL) Scandinavian nature. I feel embarrassed easily, don’t like to draw attention to myself etc. With age and hopefully SOME maturity I’m better now at these things and would like to think I would have stopped to see you were OK. Probably would have cracked some nervous and awkward joke too. 🙂
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Yes, then I could have replied with an equally awkward comment. Then we could have looked embarrassed for each other, mumbled something, and shuffled off in opposite directions 😊
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Precisely! 👍
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Has more than my share, and thank God in heaven at least more than one person was concerned about my welfare. people don’t always get involved because they’re afraid to or they don’t have a clue where to start.
As for others slipping, I see someone that get’s hurt or whatever, the old cop/EMT takes over and asks the obvious question. I’ve also been known to take care of them till the real Police/Fire Rescue/EMTs arrive.
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It’s great to hear that there are still kindly souls like you out there. William. Thank you for sharing 🙂
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In a novel that I wrote five years ago, someone picks up a banana skin and wonders if anyone ever slips on those in real life. You, sir, have provided the answer.
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Wonderful. You can include that in your second edition 😊
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I tend to be a klutz and while I have never slipped on a banana peel I have fallen plenty of times. It’s a mixed bag. Sometimes people help, sometimes they don’t. Either way we still have to get up and on with our day. But it’s always nice when there is someone there to assist you. I think another reason some people today are afraid to help is because it may be a scam. Look at me, I’m hurt and then you go to help and suddenly your being attacked by someone else. Sounds paranoid but it’s happened.
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I never thought of it that way. People are just too weird for words at times.
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Omg I can’t believe how blind people are. Some are really in their own heads and others. Argh. Even tho I do not have the strength to help I would stop to make sure you are ok and then if you needed help, grab some passer by to help. Hope your hip really is ok.
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Thank you I’m fine. And thank you for caring 🙂
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Thank you Miss Shae 😊
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That is terrible! I hope you are truly okay. I am struggling through the flu so to answer your question, I am truly blessed in my children who have been helping me through this. With their Dad in the hospital they are carrying the burden of looking after both of us. I am so grateful for them. I hope I would be the kind of person who would stop and help someone in need. I like to think I would.
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Thank you Carol. I’m fine. Hoping you recover and your husband gets home soon.
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You’re welcome. It looks like hubby will be hospital for a few more days yet. I have a pot of chicken soup bubbling on the stove – hope it does the trick! Thanks so much.
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I’m happy to say as an adult I have done well to stay upright but I definitely can remember an extremely embarrassing fall. I hate to see someone hurt so I don’t understand people walking by you but I happy to hear you are okay.
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Thank you Tanya. I live to fight another day lol
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Kinda funny and awfully sad, too. I believe we are so conditioned and it’s a shame. Maybe “conditioned” isn’t the right work; maybe most of us are distracted. Let’s resolve not to add to their ranks…
On my most speculate flight to date, I managed to slip on nothing at all and the only witness was my husband. All I know is I saw the ground and the sky switch places twice each before my landing whereupon I somehow scraped both the palm and the back of my hand. To this day, I have no idea how he avoided laughing…
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I’m glad you survived your tumble Heather. Your husband was probably too in awe of your acrobatic skills to laugh 😉
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Uh, yeah, sure… that was it… 😉
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Wow I’ve never known anyone to actually do that 😄 I hope nothing much more than your pride is bruised.
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Thank you. Would you have sniggered though? 🤨
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No I’m too nice, I would have said ‘Oh wow are you alright?!’ I can’t laugh at other people hurting themselves, I just go ‘Oh the poor thing!’ I’m rubbish with you’ve been framed, it’s just not in me! 😄
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Lovely post and most thought provoking. Firstly, am glad that only your pride was injured. Secondly, in truth (and I’m genuinely not trying to be all goody-two-shoes and sucking up) I would have come over to help. I’d have been slightly less likely to had I been with my husband as he thinks I’m a complete loon as it is and I would have felt foolish. And that’s the problem isn’t it? It’s not considered normal now to voluntarily offer help or assistance. People do walk by. We are conditioned to believe that strangers are to be avoided. We loathe being laughed at, or mocked for being different whether we are the person falling over or the one offering help and therefore standing out from the crowd. I think it’s a sad, sad world. Perhaps I am slightly odd however as my favourite job (apart from writing) would be to help out in a home for veterans, making them comfortable and feel happy. Maybe I am a loon after all …
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Thank you. Fortunately I am naturally well padded due to my predisposition for traybakes. I know you would have helped.
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I haven’t slipped on a banana peel but I have a great story that has cracked everyone up.My oldest was home this week between job assignments. She couldn’t get her computer to turn on and asked me to look at it. I got it on first try so I carry computer down to basement and walk into her pitch dark room. Her freaking suitcase is in the middle of the room which I do not see. I trip over it managed to gently set computer down on the ground while falling straight into her suitcase. I caused a goose egg to develop on my knee. She’s a physical therapist so as soon as she determined my knee was fine she says “you better not have broken my make up pallet.’ I fall at least once or twice a year. My biggest fear is people rushing over to ask if I am ok.
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You’re a true hero. Putting your daughter’s computer before your own safety.
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I’ve studied about the Bystander Effect. Basically, when we are surrounded by others we assume someone else will take care of it.
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I’d never heard of such a phenomenon but that makes sense.
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Lol! 8,473 people exactly? Sorry, I’m not laughing at your slip. Just the way you exaggerated the total views to it. I’m sure it felt like even more eyes were upon you.
You write very well byw. I’d like to do such great work someday…consistently.
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Thank you. I’ve only been going for 18 months but I’m hoping to have my first book published next year.
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