Beef With A Stranger

It’s my mum’s 60th birthday. She wanted a steak dinner with all the trimmings.

I went down to the supermarket a few days beforehand. Said supermarket has these specially cut steaks in vacuum packs, and a deal of three for £10. I was choosing steaks and noticed a woman close by doing the same and picking up several. I took my three, put them in my trolley and moved on.

I moved on, got the remainder of my list, then thought of getting wine. I moved away from my trolley whilst choosing. When I turned back, that customer from before was leaning over my trolley.

Me: “Uh, hi. This is my trolley.”

Customer: “Oh, I know, I’m just taking one of your steaks.”

Me: “…Why? I chose those; you were there, too. I saw you pick some up.”

Customer: “Right, but I got fourteen, and I need one more.”

Me: “I have three! You’re not taking one of mine.”

I deliberately pulled my trolley away from her at this point.

Customer: “You have to! I need it for the multi-deal!”

Me: “And I need it to feed three people. No.”

Customer: *Red in the face.* “I’ll go get a manager then!”

Me: “Go ahead.”

She runs off and I finish choosing my wine. Five minutes later, I’m waiting to get checked out when the lady comes over with a manager. She stood back with this smug look while the manager came over.

Manager: “Ma’am, this lady says you stole one of her steaks. Is that true?”

Me: “No. I picked up three at the freezer, and later on found her leaning over my trolley and saying she’d take one. She said she needs it for the multi-deal.”

The manager sighed.

Manager: “I knew it. She does this. I’m sorry to trouble you; enjoy your day.”

Me: “You too. Good luck with her.”

The manager sighed again and walked away. As I checked out, I saw him guiding her away from the till points. A few minutes later, I heard a ‘security to the meat aisle’ announcement as I was leaving.

The steaks were lovely. But not worth stealing from someone else’s trolley.