Skins Don't Need Assumptions (my experience)

So.....today was an interesting day, to say the least. My city tends to be what it is; questionable in every manner is how I view it. Surely I know the state of things, and especially due to the integrating cultures and people. Typically, I don't bother folk who I don't have to bother with. Today however, my character was tested. Did I fail? Did I pass?

I was trotting my Adidas Alpha Bounce sneaks into the Pioneer Market on MLK Drive, and typically it's pretty likely for me to be in there (even though I basically live @ the Extra Supermarket located close by). I gave the employee at bag check in the front my reusable bag, and she gave me the little card with the number 165 on it. Maybe that number represents the amount of days it'll take me to forgive the individual who started what happens shortly.

The bag I brought to be held had 6 items in it, and I went to Pioneer for ONE thing! After minimal searching, I went over to the ice cream section, and smiled. They had the Southern Butter Pecan gelato by Talenti, which is the ice cream my Empress (mother) wanted. I quickly grabbed it, and sped to the checkout line. This was to be an in & out run; I couldn't wait to return home and just savor the day under my A.C. I'm glad Frigidaire exists as a brand, because that machine is a definite heat remover, for sure!

I got to the checkout line, where the cashier is the same person who did bag check. I paid for the ice cream, grabbed my bag, and went to an aisle near the door. There I took out an item from my bag, so I could fit the ice cream in, and leave. After the proper adjustments were made, I began walking towards the door, when suddenly an older man who I believe looked Italian, grabbed an end of my bag.

I said, "excuse me." He then told me to take out the can of tuna (or sardines...I genuinely don't remember which) from my bag. I told him that there's no can of fish in my bag, and he didn't soften the grip at all. As the cashier who helped me came over, I told him that I was adjusting my bag, because it was already full when I came in! She was watching me the entire time!! The cashier told him that I only bought 1 thing, as he continued searching my bag. There was no room to hide anything in there, and the items I bought were all large enough in size, to be viewed without obstruction.

While he stares at both myself and the bag, switching sight of either, I took a quick breath to remove my fueling anger, and began slowly removing the contents from my bag. I picked up the 2nd to final item, revealing the bottom of the bag, and began to place my groceries back in. No apologies were said; no regrets or hints of remorse spoken or enacted. I wanted to look in his face, and release the fury I had developed while simply putting my stuff back in. At that rate, my annoyance meter was high, and I collected enough words to sink a hole in his ego for years to come.

I then said, "thank you," took my bag, and sped out of the store before my heart opened my mouth for sake of pure anger. I am not a thief, and I didn't want the possible attention that might have brought upon me. My skin doesn't dictate my character, good or bad, and for an assumption like that to have been made on me, created a spot in me that honestly is still being cooled down. The nerve! I'm glad I kept my tongue at bay, but I truly wanted to go off. God keep my mind & tongue!