I came back from my lunch break with an uneasy feeling that something was up. I noticed a couple of cops walking in the direction of the store stairs, but that wasn’t unusual. Another shoplifter probably being escorted out. But as I headed toward the stairs, my face burned in disbelief when I saw the person being led out in cuffs was my co-worker. Someone I considered a friend. His usual joyful demeanor was absent as he stared expressionless at the ground. The white floor tiles floated one by one under his feet until he finally passed through the doorway of his now former place of employment. I tried to not to stare, knowing he felt my eyes and those of the rest of our co-workers glued on his back. We knew we probably wouldn’t see him again. The silence following his exit lingered for a few minutes, but then it was right back to the hustle and bustle of commerce, as if his presence hadn’t been a permanent fixture in the building less than an hour earlier.

​Later on we learned internal theft was the cause of arrest. But it confirmed nothing. In our subconscious minds we already knew, and that was even more unsettling. ​It was none of my business, and I wasn’t about to condone stealing, but for some reason I remained upset long after my co-workers quit speculating over details. I guess he had it coming, but there was onee unanswered question that had my nerves shot for the rest of my shift. In an age where materialism reigns, how far will people go to keep up with the Joneses?

I thought of his young son he spoke so highly of, his plans to get promoted, and the irony of his intense reactions towards shoplifters. I thought of those silver handcuffs around his wrists, and what they represent to minorities in our society. Another young man in the system. A happy man at face value, with much to gain, but much more to lose from poor decision making.

We really don’t know that person we smile and say good morning to when we enter our work space each day. Background checks can’t screen for good character, and looks can be the biggest of deceivers. Stereotypes are a pain, but when played out in reality, the annoyance turns into pure embarrassment. There is no way or reason to defend wrong, and it sucks.

Tomorrow there will probably be another person being led away from the tempts of materialism by another police officer. Presumably caught on camera. I just hope it won’t be the guy I left my purse sitting next to in the break room.

Image Source:”Una Giornata Con Yasmeen”, ELLE Italia, November 1995 Photographer – Marco Glaviano Model – Yasmeen Ghauri

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Laik
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