Clear Aisles, Clouded Judgment

I was shopping at an off-price retail store, looking through candles at an end cap. My mother had gone to the bathroom, and my service dog was lying next to me.

I’m kneeling down, doing my thing, when I see a cart come up out of the corner of my eye. I assumed it was my mom, so I ignored it.

But a couple of seconds later, the cart moved uncomfortably close. 

I look up, and of course, it’s not my mom.

This random woman stares at me. Intentionally looks behind me, then back to me. I can see the aisles on either side of her, both of which are empty.

After a few seconds of me processing everything, I say, while gesturing to the aisles to the left and right of her:

Me: “You can go around.”

Woman: “Yes, I can.”

She intentionally flicks her eyes past me again before returning eye contact, as if she is expecting me to jump out of her way.

After a second of me looking even more confused, she says:

Woman: “You know, I have a disability too.”

Me: “That’s not even the problem here.”

She stares me down for a bit longer before huffing and turning her cart down the aisle to the left, which has been clear the whole time, and while glaring at me, she says:

Woman: “No wonder you’re living off the government.”

I just barely managed to get out, “I have a job, thanks.” Before she was out of earshot.