The other day I was at the grocery store picking up a salad from the salad bar for dinner. As I approached and picked up my big white styrofoam tray another customer walked up to the other end of the bar and sampled a bit off the salad bar. Now, you and I both know that it is not ok to take samples at the grocery store unless offered. But it's not my store, and what was I going to do? Some people think it's ok, and I'm certainly not in charge.
So he goes to the beginning of the bar and picks up a container. "Good," I thought "At least he's not just randomly snacking." He went back to the same bowl as before, which having proceeded on my way down the other side of the bar picking up green onions and hard-boiled eggs, I could now see was the baby corn bowl. He had a container in his hand, but he proceeded to shove at least five baby corns in his mouth as he filled it. This was definitely more than an ignorant sampling of the goods. And he was doing it with his bare hands.
But what to do?
I wanted to say "Sir, can you not afford the baby corn? Do you need some help, financial or otherwise? Because we can all see you eating the baby corn, and really, if you feel a need to steal from the salad bar you should choose something softer, because we can all hear you eating it, too."
But I didn't.
Would you?
I'll tell you what I am doing -- I am certainly never taking the baby corn again.
8 comments:
Gross! I hate when people do stuff like that.
Ooh, the baby corn. I have a really hard time with salad bars (and baby corn in particular) ever since I saw a girl of about 10 take a baby corn out of the salad bar, take a bite, make a face, and then . . .
wait for it . . .
throw it back into the salad bar!
I was stunned, but managed to say in my very best "grown-up" voice "That is distgusting! You don't do that!" and I threw the salad I was making into the trash. Nasty.
You know I'd be very tempted to give him a piece of my mind, but in the end I guess I'm not the grocery store police. And I'd have to decide if it was worth a fight. I can't figure out why they don't put those things closer to where workers can monitor them. Nor can I figure out why and when common manners went out of style.
Well now that is reason #62209 that my phobia of salad bars is ok!
Yuck so sorry that happened to you!
Oh see now I couldn't resist acting all ill-bred (although not as ill-bred as a baby corn thief!) and saying "What in the sam hill are you doing? YOU ARE STEALING THE BABY CORN!". You know, embarrassing him (and likely myself) in front of God and everybody.
Yikes. Definitely avoid the corn in future. And perhaps subtly suggest to the shop staff that they keep a closer eye on the salad bar...
Remember Eddie sampling the sweet potates in Christmas Vacation???
And bummer! The baby corn are one of the best parts of the salad bar. Too bad you didn't get there before he did!
That is one of my grocery store pet peeves. Why do people feel the need to "steal" out of the bulk food as well? And if they're going to steal, why can't they just use the tongs, and steal it without ruining the rest of the stuff?
I guess the best we can hope for is that the stuff they steal could be touched and thrown back like by that kid!
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