How cool is this?  I'm writing this blog laying down on my couch.  I love not being tethered to a desk when I want to use the computer.  I'm really excited about my new toy.  We should have bought a laptop years ago.

Today was a crazy day.  As usual.

This morning we went into the PX to check on my laptop order, to pick up some items, and to get some cash.  We went into the comic book store inside the PX "mall" since Xavier has been begging to go there for some time and they're always closed "for 30 minutes". 

So we caught them open.  The boys did not have a significant amount of money to spend and I made it clear I didn't intend to buy anything for them, so it was just a "research" trip so they could get ideas for things they wanted to earn money to buy. 

The place was empty except for one lone employee who was sitting at a long table watching anime on a projection screen.  He didn't speak to us, so at first I just assumed he was a customer loitering and soaking up the free anime.  The boys looked at posters and comic books and Xavier found a Dragon Ball Z DVD that he thought his brother would like. 

Comic book guy decided we might purchase something, so he strolled on over to the cash register.  From there he had a direct vantage point of the large toy/candy dispenser.  This thing is filled with a child's favorite video game and comic book character-related treasures.  It was turned toward the large window of the store, but with a couple feet of space between it and the window.

I thought it was an odd way to position it, but when Orian began to put his own change in while the guy looked on and said nothing, I assumed the placement was intentional and maybe it was facing the window to attract children. 

Orian put in 4 quarters and was surprised when he was not able to get a toy to come out, despite turning the knob with all his might.  He complained that nothing came out.  At this point comic book guy looks at me and says, "It's out of order."

My jaw nearly dropped.  He let my child put his own hard-earned money in that machine and didn't say a word. 

I don't know what comic book guy thought would happen, but I turned to him and said, "You'll need to give him his money back."

He looked shocked and stammered for a minute.  I knew what he was thinking.  *He* can't get the money out of the machine.  If he returns the money out of the cash register he's going to be short and either be in trouble for it, or make up the difference out of his own pocket.

Tough.

Before he could protest, I told him, "He's a little guy and money is hard to come by for him.  You need to return his money."  He frowned and then asked how many quarters Orian had put in.  Four.

He opened up the cash register and pulled out 4 quarters and begrudgingly handed them to me.  As he did, I softly reminded him that they might want to put an out-of-order sign on the machine (said with a smile!).  To which he lamely replied, "It's facing the window."  I thanked him and gave the quarters to Orian. 

He started to put one in the machine and I had to tell him, "No, no, no, no, no....don't do that!  The machine is out of order. If you put another quarter in there, you won't be able to get it back."

After that I forced Orian, who was suffering from an inexplicable bout of shyness, to thank comic book guy.  Comic book guy scowled and didn't "you're welcome" him.  Also not present was a nice, and politely vindictive, "Next time remember if it's not facing out, it's out of order."  Nothing.

I quickly put the Dragon Ball Z DVD back and ushered the children out of the store (and up to another treat dispenser in the open area).  Xavier reminded me that he was not finished browsing.  Too bad.  I wasn't about to reward that jerk of a comic book store clerk with a purchase.  Ok, not that it would matter to him or even to the store, but still.  It's the principle of the thing.

I'm sure he was glad the bitch with a million kids was gone.  LOL.

I think what bothered me, and what made me bold enough to demand he return Orian's money, was the fact that I saw him watch Orian put the money in, and he didn't say a damn thing.  He was looking right.at.him. and didn't stop him.  Otherwise it would have been a lesson-learned for Orian, but this douche bag should have spoken up.  Especially since there was no sign.

I'm sure some of you will think I was way wrong in making the guy return Orian's money, but my kids don't just get money.  They have to earn it.  And they sometimes hold onto it for long periods of time, just waiting for the right item (no matter how inconsequential that item may seem to you or me).  I wasn't about to make him give up a whole dollar just because some minimum wage dorkoid failed to scrawl a misspelled "out of order" message to tape on his otherwise working-looking machine filled with cheap treasures no 6 year old can resist.