Hi,
In the following paragraph, what does "a tragic invalid of some sort" mean? Does it mean that barista treats her as if she is somehow awfully miserable and feeble?
[‘I think you’re really brave,’ she whispers as she sits the coffee down in front of me. I look at the coffee, then at the well-intentioned, if somewhat patronising barista, and I clear my throat and mutter, ‘Thanks?’
I don’t intend the question that slips out with the word. Brontë gives me a gentle smile and pats my shoulder as if I’m a tragic invalid of some sort, and returns to the line of customers waiting for her attention.]
Source: A Mother's Confession, by Kelly Rimmer
In the following paragraph, what does "a tragic invalid of some sort" mean? Does it mean that barista treats her as if she is somehow awfully miserable and feeble?
[‘I think you’re really brave,’ she whispers as she sits the coffee down in front of me. I look at the coffee, then at the well-intentioned, if somewhat patronising barista, and I clear my throat and mutter, ‘Thanks?’
I don’t intend the question that slips out with the word. Brontë gives me a gentle smile and pats my shoulder as if I’m a tragic invalid of some sort, and returns to the line of customers waiting for her attention.]
Source: A Mother's Confession, by Kelly Rimmer