Stealin' a Cookie

The other day, I think it was this Monday, I went to Redifer for lunch. That's the place that I go to now that Simmons has terrible food - more about that later. At least Redifer is somewhat nearby though. In any case, once I was done my lunch, I wanted a cookie, and I told Gina that I was going to get one and she could meet me outside or something if she wanted to split it, and she agreed.

So I got a cookie from their display and got in line. There were only I think two or maybe three people in front of me. It was a coffee type place, although I forget the name of it at the moment. I could see two people behind the counter, and I knew that there was a third on the side working with the soda fountain or something like that. In either case, they were taking forever with whatever order(s) they had. I couldn't even figure out what they were doing. Maybe they were fixing something? Or maybe they were just trying to make a drink. In either case, it was exceptionally slow.

So I was standing in that line with the cookie in my hand, with a worker on the side who couldn't see me and two who were very busy turned around working on whatever, with two girls in front of me, and I started contemplating stealing the cookie. Although I'd say it was more like borrowing, because I did honestly plan to go back and pay for it at another time when the line wasn't two people and twenty minutes long.

I started considering the conversation.

"Hey, let me pay for a cookie."

But you're not buying a cookie...?

"Oh, I know, it's okay, I stole one earlier so I'm paying for it now."

Why would you steal a cookie?

"Because I was in a line that was taking FOR. EVER."

You still probably shouldn't have stolen the cookie.

"Look, I know, but at least I'm paying for it so really what do you care?"

I guess at that point I would hopefully be able to say "Do you want me to pay for it or not?" and they would just say yes. Hopefully they wouldn't try to take me down for stealing or something. But like, really, would it be stealing? Would it just be deferred payment since I was actually completely serious about doing it? If you buy something, do you always need to pay for it right this second?

The girl in front of me ordered a soy latte. I don't know what that is but it occured to me that it might take another eternity to make. So I just held up my cookie to the cashier, as if begging her to just check me out now so I wouldn't have to wait.

"Oh, you're just getting a cookie?" she asked. So I said yes, and paid for it, and left. It was a good cookie. I still wonder what that later conversation would have been like, though. Ah well.

Peace out.