Mom and pop pharmacy tucked between a huge new Walgreens and a big CVS, with a close-by Rite Aid or two around town. We go in here to fill a prescription-- my girlfriend has been here before; we like to support the little guy. She's at the counter, talking to the male pharmacist (store owner?) and I am in an aisle, five feet away, in full view of the counter, browsing.
Female pharmacist behind the counter tells me I "have to pay for that," and motions to my coat pocket. I pull out my own glove (it's February) and tell her there's nothing else in my pocket. She picks up the phone and I immediately take off my coat and offer it to her over the counter to search it. I say "Take it, look through, I didn't steal anything." She continues to try to get through to someone on the phone (the police?) and shakes her head no to taking my coat.
My girlfriend, now realizing that I am being accused of stealing (my own glove?) as she is trying to fill a prescription, takes her prescription out of the male pharmacist's hand and declares that she can't believe that I am being accused of stealing by his partner. He tries to tell her that "it's a pharmacy, these things happen" and she says that we do not steal (we don't) and these things do not happen with us. I realize that maybe with a winter coat and the suspicious nature of a pharmacy in Inwood that they are always looking for the next thief in the aisles. But I immediately offered my coat, even pulled out my gloves and the pocket lining, and they didn't want to hear me-- no apology for accusing me, no convincing them I didn't take something (my own glove?), no regard for their repeat customers, and no more supporting this little guy. We turn and walk out, and go directly to Rite Aid.
I hope we are in this neighborhood for a long time, and I hope the big box stores choke this pair of pharmaceutical clowns out. read more