this is the story about a sweater that gives me guilt

This is the story about sweater that gives me guilt. Not guilt as in it was so expensive and I never wear it but more so guilt in being selfish.

Here is the scene: I’m at a shop perusing the wares for 10 minutes until my man/ride rings for me and I spot this sweater on a rack but there are no other sweaters like it anywhere around. It is cute, bright and has a bow on it. But it looks a little too big and I’m not sure which is the front and which is the back and maybe it is too bright. So me thinks I’ll just hold it for a bit. Then a girl comes up to me and in very broken English she says “Um, excuse me, that is very beautiful. May I ask where you found it?” I explained that it was on a rack but without any other similar items around it so I wasn’t sure but if I found others I’d let her know. Not sure what came over me but I clung to this sweater with a vengeance! That isn’t me at all! My man rings that he is outside waiting for me. What to do? Buy a sweater I don’t need that I haven’t tried on and that I can’t return unless I get store credit (which I don’t like doing) or give the sweater to the nice girl? Selfish Ali bought the sweater. Then I get home and it doesn’t fit right and is kind of scratchy and I can’t return it (lost the receipt). So because of my selfishness I make myself wear it even though it scratches me and I look like a clown. I’m trying to teach myself a lesson. Even Ctron said “Maybe it could be a sweater to just wear at home?” Yeah it is that bad. Next time, Ali, just give it to the kind person. You don’t need a bright pink scratchy sweater with a bow on it that is three sizes too big for you.

Seriously.

Author: Ali Carras

At a very young age I lost site of my mom in a local grocery store in Boulder, Colorado. I did, however, have the smarts to go to the customer service counter. The kind woman at the counter asked "What is your name little girl?" My reply: "Assi." The woman gave me a look like, "Are you playing with me you little devil?" but she proceeded to blast on the loudspeaker the "We have a lost Assi at the front of the store." Customers throughout the store gagged and giggled, but my mom knew exactly who the woman was referring to: the mullet haired little girl with a tongue too big for her mouth, wearing a leotard, skirt, tights, and jelly shoes (with florescent green laces in them...even though they didn't need the laces). A shy little character for whom every little detail in life was a huge thing. I am pleased to report that today I am able to fully pronounce Allison (aka Ali), but the Assi pseudonym has always stuck, evolving into Aszi. As for the shy little character for whom every little detail in life was a huge thing? Some things never change. I have closed my comments due to mass amounts of spam that no filter could ever control. Feel free to contact me abeckord [at] gmail.com! View all posts by Ali Carras