Ah the joy of being in high school. That’s what I was thinking about as I sat in the McDonald’s drive thru awaiting my late Monday evening dinner.

A group of four, could’ve been five, teenage girls came bouncing out the door and I could only imagine what they had done earlier.

School, spending the day glancing at items in Perfect Touch and then piling into the neon green Volkswagen Beetle to enjoy a snack at Mickey D’s.

None of them had to go back to the office to sit behind a desk, and I was just wishing I could be like those young ladies who had the rest of the afternoon off — until they did something that made me want to call all of their mothers. I hope mommy dearest is reading this as we speak and will do something about the unspeakable actions their “young women,” and I use the term loosely, completed within the next few seconds.

As I sat there, daydreaming about the afternoons I spent with my friends during spring days and summer nights, my thoughts were rudely interrupted by the sight of a McDonald’s cup being flung over the door of the dropped-top mini convertible.

Soda, ice, the lid, and the straw flew in all different directions.

As a sat there with my mouth wide open, windows closed of course so no bugs, it wasn’t a minute before all the girls were in the car and the driver passed another cup to the passenger, who threw that one over the side as well.

Now, if these “young ladies” hadn’t been less than 10 steps away from an outside trash can, I probably wouldn’t have had a problem with the situation, but is that really how we are treating the next generation to care for and take pride in the place they live?

I hope not. But it’s not just the young people who are doing it.

Last week as I sat in the Hardee’s drive-thru — and I usually don’t eat that much fast food but I’ve been on a roll the past few days-I saw the same thing, but this “woman” was my age, or a little older.

I was on the phone with my mother when I pulled up to the speaker box to order my food. As I announced my order, the white car in front of me began to pull around the corner. Now, it’s my estimate that it can be no more than 12 feet between the box and the pay window, but this “woman” found those few seconds enough time to throw an entire McDonald’s bag out of her window. And the sad thing is, her passenger just sat there as if nothing happened, maybe he didn’t know. But keep in mind, there are two dumpsters within a few feet of the building, not to mention this “woman” had to interact with someone near a garbage can to get her food.

As I put my “you ought to be ashamed of yourself” face on, I complained to my mother, exited my vehicle and picked up the bag.

I cleaned up her mess and I could see this “woman’s” face looking in her side mirror and laughing. Yea, real funny you disrespectful, dirty, and immature “woman,” real funny.

I just don’t understand why people feel the need to throw their trash wherever they feel. How would these litterbugs feel if, instead of putting my garbage in the can, I drove to their yard, and dumped it there. I don’t think it would be appreciated, or maybe it would.

Maybe they like trash and dirt, and figure that everyone else must enjoy living in filth as they do.

I have no idea, but it’s things like that which lead to additional bugs, and rodents roaming freely around the city and eventually finding their ways into our homes.

Not to mention, it’s just plain rude to make someone else clean up after you, when the simple and considerate

thing to do would’ve been to walk three feet to the trashcan.

I put “young ladies” and “woman” in quotes because I feel as though a real female, or just any human for that matter, would not only carry herself in a respectful manner, but would respect other people and their property as well.

Throwing trash out of your car, knowing that someone else is going to have come behind you to clean it up doesn’t scream “I’m a lady,” and it definitely doesn’t portray home training and values, contrary to what their parents may have taught.

Please be mindful, and respectful,

of your surroundings. Besides I may just get permission from the Demopolis Police to start making citizen’s arrests.