Shopping can be theraputic most times, but sometimes all it takes one person to ruin the whole shopping experience.
Jacob has grown out of all his jeans so it was time to hit the stores. I took him to the mall to get a couple of pair, after school.
I grabbed a pair or two to try on myself. After we had picked out a few pair, we headed for the fitting rooms. I didn't have any qualms taking him into the women's side (the fitting rooms for the guys were locked) because their stalls have full-sized doors – you can't even see a person's feet underneath. Besides we were the only ones in there.
Anyway, I gave him the three or four pair he had to try on then he closed and locked the door behind him. I went into the next stall. I took off my pants, tried on the first pair. They were too big, which made me happy. I did my little dance and pranced in front of the mirror, then took them off. I reached for the smaller-sized pair. I got them up to my hips when some woman started to open the door to my stall. I had forgotten to lock it. Instinctively, I pushed back and said…
Me: Sorry, someone is in here.
I closed the door and locked it.
Woman: Are there clothes in there?!
I look around and see there are clothes lying on the chair.
Me: Yes. There are a couple of things in here.
Woman: Well, those are mine!
I open the door just a crack and hand her everything that was on the chair. Then quickly shut the door and locked it. She goes into the stall next to me and…
Me: Sorry about that. I didn't know anyone was in here.
Woman: Yeah. I was outside, but those are my clothes.
That's when I realize the clothes that were in the chair were the clothes she had on when she walked into the store, not clothes she meant to try on. Then I remembered seeing a guy in the womens department looking kind of…lost. She was probably out there showing him the outfit she had on.
Me: I don't know how I was supposed to know that. The door was open. There was no sign. There wasn't a purse or anything left behind.
Woman: Except my clothes!!
Me: Ummm…yeah…but I didn't know they were your clothes. People leave clothes in fitting rooms all the time.
Woman: Yes. Well, I guess it's okay. All is forgiven.
I was really sorry that whole thing happened…until she forgave me. "All is forgiven"? Forgiven…like the I-ran-over-your-dog kind of forgiveness?
I didn't say anything after that because I wanted to smack her. I don't think anyone was really at fault here – least of all me. But now that I think about it, maybe it's her fault for just leaving the door open. Or how about being gone long enough for me to take off my clothes and try almost two pair of jeans on. I mean what the hell was she doing – taking a smoke break?
I'm just sayin'.
Of course, the next time I enter a fitting room, I'll be looking all around for someone who may have left their clothes in a room. I'll be asking everyone around the area if they have anything in the fitting rooms. I'll be warning everyone that I'll be going into a fitting room. =/
Which is why I NEVER try on clothes at the store anymore. I look at them, hold them up to my body, buy them, bring them home, try them on and then take them back if they don’t fit. Unless it’s something I REALLY like, and then I’ll lose weight to get into it. Right now I’m between sizes because I’ve lost about 36 pounds and I will soon have to have a new wardrobe. I need to lose a few more pounds before I feel comfortable buying new clothes. I want to make sure I can keep it off — I’ve had a problem with that in the past. You were NOT at fault. Some people think they own the store when they are in it. She could have closed the door and saved everyone a lot of embarrassment. I understand your angst about being “forgiven”. It’s bad enough when you’ve actually DONE something to be forgiven for — but it’s condescending of someone to “forgive” you when you haven’t done anything wrong.
That said, let it go, Annie. She’s not worth losing your good feelings over. Just know you were NOT wrong. Remember it takes all kinds to make a world and we’re all a work in progress. If she felt she needed to “forgive” you instead of admitting that she left herself wide open for the episode, let it be HER problem, not yours. Love you, Hon. I know you’re ticked off about it and I don’t blame you, but let it go.