Grumpy woman

Today I was cross. Well, not CROSS exactly, just incredulous. Have you ever been in a shop (this happened to be a charity shop) and someone has an opinion that is just far too loud and embarrassing? The lady behind the counter today was having a go at another poor lady because she'd bought something from Primark. I pricked up my ears because actually most of my (and JT's) clothes come from Primark at the moment and it is actually really good, really cheap and vaguely ethical (check their web site).

Here was this lady saying "Oh you wouldn't buy stuff from PRIMARK?!! Have you felt it though?? Cheap tat! Oh it's awful!! Who would buy anything from there?? Nice charity shop jumper that I'm wearing look, nice quality, not like that cheap rubbish". A million thoughts raced through my head. Thankfully these words didn't escape through my mouth.

A few brave onlookers commented that they bought a lot of clothes from Primark and particularly childrens' clothes which are just as good as baby NEXT etc. She protested violently and I suddenly felt a little bit small in my £6 Primark coat. The child in me wanted to tell her that she looked like a sack of old potatoes in her "nice charity shop jumper" but I didn't think that Jesus would have said such a thing. I paused for a moment wondering quite what Jesus would have said in a situation like this and then chickened out. I felt quite sure that He wouldn't say "Oh aren't you just the most adorable little black hole of need?" or anything else that your brain comes out with when the pastoral gear stick hits 'reverse' in a random moment of mutiny. Five people shuffled out of the shop in a slightly awkward fashion. Noone bought anything.