Sunday Scribblings: Thief

It was a very smoldering, sticky and sunny day when I realized I had lost my third pair of sunglasses that week. I knew my sensitive eyes would not make it through the day, especially our daily escape to the pool, without sunglasses. I loaded up two whiny and rambuctious little girls and on a whim decided to see if the four-year-old neighbor boy wanted to join us on a trip to Wal-Mart to replace my sunglasses.

After shopping with three children and picking up the many miscellaneous deals I seem to find at Wal-Mart, I decided to save myself a minute and go to the self-check-out line. After sliding the debit card, I started to walk out of the store. As I walked out the door, three kids close by, alarms started to sound and employees started to run toward me. "Ma'am, we need to check your bags."

At this point I began to blush profusely and because I was blushing, I blushed even more. I looked guilty, and I didn't even know what was going on. My kids and Jesse were looking at me with questioning eyes...and then with accusing eyes. I started babbling; I continued blushing. The sweet lady asked if she could look through my bags. I stammered affirmation and continued babbling that I had no idea what could have set off the alarm.

It was then that the white-haired employee lifted a bag and there sat the sunglasses...the entire reason I took the trip, caught between the buggy and the purchased items. I had missed the sunglasses and set the bags down right on top of them. They had set off the alarm. I continued to blush as she told me that it was alright and to just go pay for them.

Head bowed, face blazing, three kids in tow, I walked back to the cashier and paid for the sunglasses. I had been an unintentional and very embarrassed thief.