i'm the type of person who avoids getting into confrontations of any kind with people i barely know. simply because, one, i don't know the person so i don't know what state of mind he or she is in–even if that person looks normal in the true sense of the word; and two, i tend to lose control of the situation and most likely end up on the losing end of that confrontation (though this hasn't been proven yet, it's just based on gut feeling). but, as the saying goes, "there's always a first time for everything." and it happened when i least expected it, and on a situation that's profoundly mundane.

as i was preparing to go home from work yesterday, i received a text message from my mom asking my to buy some groceries since we're a bit running low on supplies at home. though this was "outside the regular spending pattern" (a phrase commonly used by my agents when trying to verify transactions by customers) for me, i gladly obliged and proceeded straight to the supermarket. i almost forgot that it was a saturday morning so upon parking my car, i kinda expected the lines to be long at the check out area so i thought of limiting what i would be picking up. so i got in, snatched a basket from the pile near the entrance and went on my way.

it took me roughly 15-20 minutes getting what i think was needed. with my basket nearly full and getting heavier to carry, i then proceeded to the check-out area. on normal grocery shopping with my mom, we would normally have a pushcart full of items and would take around 15 minutes for us to have them scanned and paid, but since i was only carrying a basket, i was hoping to get out faster. i then proceeded to the counters on the far right side of the supermarket for people using baskets instead of pushcarts (i guess most major supermarkets have these counters for people who only get less items they need) and fell in line. there were a few people ahead of me so i thought to myself, "this could take a while." while passing time, i looked around and thought of some things that i might've overlooked. i went over the stuff in my basket just to make sure and was convinced that i had everything i needed.

i read the sign on the counter which said, "BASKET LANE (ONLY ONE BASKET PER CUSTOMER)." suddenly, a woman with a half-full pushcart falls in line next to where i was at. though that line was quite shorter, the people in front had more items on their baskets compared to the people in front of me. i then thought to myself, "lady, you're on the wrong counter." i just kept silent, hoping that she'll notice that other people lining up were carrying baskets, not pushing carts and eventually, she'll be transferring. with her arms crossed, she stood and glared at the line in front of her, but waited patiently. people around started looking at her as if she has a red-colored dress and all of us are wearing white for the simple reason that she was on the wrong line and would further inconvenience the people behind her (all carrying baskets as per the sign).

in similar, yet completely different scenarios, i would just mind my own business and ignore what just pulled up beside me. but i looked around and she was the only one with the pushcart and either she still hasn't noticed that she's on the wrong line, or is just queueing on this line since it's quite faster and she would get away with it. even with her stone-faced glare, i decided to stand up for the other people who wouldn't. with a smile, i calmly told the lady, in my own native tongue of course, "excuse me ma'am, this is a 'basket only' line," and pointed to the sign. suddenly, i felt like i was in the scene of the movie, "You've Got Mail" wherein Meg Ryan was on a cash only line and she only had a credit card with her. i swear, i could never forget that look she gave me after i said that to her. it's what i coined as the "who died and made you king?" expression. she just gave that look and kept silent, yet didn't move. "uhm, ma'am, you're in the 'basket only' lane," i repeated but with a tiny bit of increase in volume, thinking she might've not heard me the first time since there was the music on the background and people around chattering. to which she then quipped, "so what? does it say that no pushcarts are allowed here?"

with fatigue setting in, my normal patience started to wear thin. i mean for god's sake, doesn't this lady have any common sense at all?! still composed, i replied, "ma'am, everyone on this area who are falling in line are carrying baskets because the sign says so." she then looked at the sign and around her, and with people looking back at her, you could've swore she would feel at least a bit embarrassed by where she was at, but she still stood her ground and sarcastically replied, "yeah, i know. so what?" at that point, i just backed off and just let her be. i mean, it's useless getting into that thick attitude of hers. i then noticed that she felt uneasy with the people staring at her in approval of what i just did. suddenly, she left her pushcart and came back with two baskets and started transferring her stuff to the baskets! i had to admit, i was initially impressed by her ingenuity, yet still felt sorry for the people behind her who felt that she's getting one over them.

as she was stuffing the baskets with her stuff, i noticed that she would look at my way at times, trying to display that she's now following the sign with her face spelled, "are you happy now?" as the baskets were overflowing, i then retorted, "ma'am the sign says only one basket per customer." she then gave me a fierce look and shouted, "c'mon, i'm in a hurry! don't mind me, ok?!" at that point all the people in line looked at her, including the ladies at the cahiers, surprised about what just happened. a security guard then arrived, asking what the commotion was about. she then explained what she was trying to do and pointed at me as the culprit for starting everything. i told the security guard what i said to her, and noticing what she was doing, reiterated what the sign says and asked her to just transfer her items back to the pushcart and proceed to another line. disgraced, disappointed, angry and embarrassed, she placed the baskets on the pushcart and angrily stormed away.

the people around us can't help but smile at what happened, especially the people behind the angry lady. after a few more minutes, it was my turn at the counter, had my stuff scanned and paid for. my question is, do people still read signs and read them well? or is it just us filipinos who have the tendency to find a way around such signs just for their own personal benefit? i never intended to pick an argument with that lady. i was just an educated person showing another educated person what the sign says, hoping she would understand. sadly, it turned out to be one confrontation i wouldn't forget for days to come. i guess the lesson here is to read the fine print so you can avoid being escorted out of the building. better yet, understand the fine print and have your dignity intact.