Cheersbarnaby

Hey Barnaby,

The checkout attendants at my local supermarket that I’ve lived next to my whole life went on strike a while back. I found this out when I walked there hoping to pick up a carton of milk for my cereal one morning and they were all standing out front with signs. One of them that I know by face really well but not by name saw me and asked me not to buy my groceries from there until their strike was over, but because I really needed the milk at that moment, I said sorry and went in anyway. Their strike ended a few days later (they didn’t end up getting raises, which is what they asked for) and everything went back to normal. Except that now every time I go in there I see him and he’s always so nice to me, but all I can ever think of is the day I chose my cereal over his paycheck. It haunts me every time I see him. I’ve thought of apologizing, but I feel like that would make things even more awkward between us. What would you do in this situation?

Alexandra

Hi Alexandra,

I love cereal too and I can’t guarantee that I would have done exactly the same thing; especially if I needed my granola. Matters of the stomach are just as equal to matters of the heart in my book.

I was tempted to be nice here and tell you all the things you could do to appease this guy. However, this is definitely not your problem, and its not worth wasting your time feeling guilty about it. Be strong woman! Go in there as often as you like and buy as much milk as your cereal needs without even batting an eyelid. The guy clearly doesn’t remember you, so forget about it. If they strike again then maybe slip him a bit of money if your conscience needs to be appeased. If you tried to apologise to him it would be super-awkward for everyone involved, so don’t.

Cheers,

barnaby

My suggested soundtrack:

Milk – Garbage
Black Milk – Massive Attack
Guilty Conscience – Eminem