A Short(ish) Story

~Prologue~

She loved the shoes. Black Madeline Stuart pumps with delicate detailing, a cute strap and just the right heel. A perfect addition to her new skirt and top. They were super cute and she had scored a screaming deal on them. Ross was awesome! She was having a lucky streak there. She purchased them and vowed to return soon to see what other bonuses she could find.

~Chapter 1~

After wearing the shoes ONCE, she tossed them in a shopping bag (for reference purposes) with some items she was planning to return/exchange and headed back to Ross. She left her shoes and other items at the customer service counter, per Ross return/exchange policy, accepted her claim ticket for them and ventured into the store with high hopes.

She didn't find any more cute shoes, but she did find a skirt to replace one she was hoping to exchange. She approached the checkout, handed the cashier her claim ticket, proceeded with the exchange for the skirt and informed the cashier she had just brought the shoes along for reference. The cashier handed her the bag containing her new skirt and the beloved shoes and she headed for the exit.

~Chapter 2~

Just then, she realized she had forgotten to look for something else.

She turned and said to the cashier, "I need to do a bit more shopping. May I take my bag back into the store?"

"No. You need to leave it here. Just sit it there and I'll take care of it when I'm done with this customer."

In her naivete, she did as she was told.

~Chapter 3~

She spent a few more minutes in the store and then returned to get her bag. She said to the cashier, "I just need my bag, I didn't find what I wanted."

The cashier cast a frantic glance toward the empty spot on the counter. Stunned silence followed.

She raised her eyebrows and said, "Didn't you put it behind the counter?"

To which the cashier replied, "Oh my heck! I'll bet that pregnant lady with the boots took it!"

"Are you serious?!?" she exclaimed.

"Um...yeah. I was having trouble getting the security tag off her boots and she set her bags here and..."

MORE STUNNED SILENCE.

She did her best to gather her wits about her, to resist screaming like a raving lunatic.

"Well. I would hope if your store policy doesn't allow customers to carry their purchased items back into the store, along with their reciept, that you would at least put those items in a safe place while that customer was possibly spending more money in your store."

At this point another associate who had witnessed the scene bolted for the parking lot in a futile attempt to track down the 'pregnant boot lady'.

While the chase ensued, another associate proclaimed, "This happens more often than you would believe."

"Fantastic," she thought.

Out of breath, the track star associate returned and said, "I couldn't see her. Let me go check the video to see what happened ."

Indeed.

She waited. She was fuming. Standing there, being ignored by all associates, except for one who pushed a loaded Z rail past her and whispered, "I'm so sorry."

"Yeah, me too," she muttered...mostly to herself.

The video detectives returned and confirmed that, clearly, 'pregnant boot lady' had absconded with her skirt and beloved shoes.

~Chapter 4~

"Well, why don't you just give us your name and number? Then we'll call you IF she brings them back," they said.

"No. I don't think so. I'm going to get another skirt off the rack and since I know there are no other shoes like that in my size, you are going to refund my money for the shoes," she stated, grateful that she still had the reciept for the shoes in her purse.
"I'll also leave you my name and number. I'd appreciate a call if 'pregnant boot lady' returns the bag. I would really like my shoes back."

They had no choice but to agree. She left the store shoeless and blazing mad.

~Epilogue~

She called the store manager. Explained the situation. Expressed her extreme disatisfaction. Ranted and raved.

Then she listened as the manager apologized, promised she would discuss the problem with her employees and vowed to find the shoes at another store.

Several days passed. The phone rang. Her hear leapt...then sank. The beloved shoes were nowhere to be found.

Additionally, 'pregnant boot lady' had not found it important to return the bag that was not hers.

She accepted the manager's apologies again, along with an offer for store credit.

She wondered if 'pregnant boot lady' was enjoying the perfect shoes. She secretly hoped that her pregnant feet were too swollen to fit into them. And also that she was having trouble sleeping at night...and not just because she was pregnant!

~The End~