A Poets View

Photo courtesy of www.hereinreality.com

I was walking around my neighborhood shopping area about a week ago doing errands.  I stopped by my favorite little independently owned bookshop to check out their latest poetry gems.  There were two people working there, one at the counter and the other stocking shelves.  I found a book I liked and brought it to the cashier.  There was a woman at the counter talking on her cell phone and trying to find her credit card in her large purse so that she could pay for her purchase.  The clerk was obviously annoyed staring at the women with a look as if she wanted to just slap her.  I realized this would be a while so I did a little more browsing.  I went back to the counter when the customer had finally finished her call and was talking incessantly to the clerk who obviously just wanted her out of the store.  The clerk interrupted the woman and told her to move away from the counter so she could ring up my book.  She however did it in a way which was not only rude but condescending though the woman just kept talking as she walked out of the store.  I was done and shoved the change in my bag, walked up the block to the corner store to get my MUNI fast pass.  When I went to pay for the pass I realized I had 5 dollars more than I should have and that part of the change the clerk handed me at the bookstore included two brand new $5.00 bills which had stuck together.

I thought for a moment and said to myself “if I don’t return this $5.00 Karma will come get me.”  So, I headed back down the block to the book shop.  I walked in with my receipt and $5.00 bill in hand.  The clerk was doing something on the computer behind the counter and the other employee was still stocking shelves.  I walked up to the counter and said hi.  The clerk looked up at me did not say a word and continued what she was doing on the computer.  So, I waited a couple of minutes.  Still no recognition.  I then said “I just want to return this.”  She without looking at me put her hand up as if to say wait a minute.  So, I again waited.  By this time, at least 5 minutes had passed.  I then said “Can I just leave this here, I have to go” With that she again puts up her hand and goes over to the phone and starts dialing.  By this time I’m thinking the hell with karma, I turned around and walked out of the store.  Five bucks richer I decided to go treat myself to a Soy Latte.  Thank you West Portal Bookshop clerk for being so rude as that Latte was delicious.

However even though I attempted to do the right thing and return the money, I did it with the wrong intention.  My intention should have been returning it because it was a mistake and the clerk would not balance that evening.    Instead I returned it for karmic reason which is basically selfish.  So, I was in the wrong as well.  

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