Customers please note: no refunds, returns,or exchanges allowed in this shop.......

En route from church I went shopping this afternoon, not that Jesus hadn't tried his best to uplift my soul and make my spirit sing Hallelujah again. He had, but as feel good factors go, I was just being greedy, there's nothing quite like retail therapy to get that adrenaline pumping again. My adrenaline pumped alright, I hit all my favourite shops, Selfridges, Top Shop, Zara, House of Frasier, that adrenaline rush sure came at a price, £137.54 pence to be exact. In light of this credit crunch bizzness causing havoc with peoples pockets, I should have probably made do with Jesus, at least his hallelujah feel good soul shaking is free with even biscuits and coffee thrown in at the end. Okay there I was standing in line at New Look, paying for something or another. Not that I know how I found myself there, I don't like New Look, to me its a payday version of Primark. Don't ask me what that means, don't have enough money least New Look decides to sues. Anyway there I was waiting to get served in New Look when the lady behind the counter who is not doing a very good job of being fast and efficient ( not that £5.34 an hour provides much in the way of motivation for being quick and efficient) exclaims in a loud 'look I don't get paid enough to be dealing with this' kind of tone, "I'm sorry it says on the receipt no refunds, or exchanges allowed on sale items." This definitely gets my attention and well that of the other 16 odd plus customers waiting to pay for their 'not quite like Top Shop but more up market then Primark,' New Look merchandise. The customer a hefty size 20 is trying to return a dress which suspiciously looks like a size 12 ( yes some people are THAT delusional) tries desperately to uuuh, ahhh, beg and plead but the shopping assistant on £5.34 an hour is having non of it, I'm sorry she says 'Its company policy, no refunds or exchanges allowed on sale items." (what happened to the customer always being right). The size 20 lady who is almost a size 12 (in her mind that is ) slinks away in a huff probably off to weight watchers determined to get that non refundable size 12 dress fitting before Christmas....... now all this palaver about no refunds or exchanges gets me thinking, would I take him back? Seriously if YT was to appear right there in New Look, down on bended knees, heart in hands, tears in his eyes, his pride torn to shreds (yeah I'm not being melodramatic here, but me thinks that if someone has to beg they better do it right!), and asks me to take him back, would I? (not that his asking but what if ?). Just like New Look, Definitely Maybe has always had a 'no returns policy' stamped on her heart. Its either you stay in or you sty out. You leave, you lock the door behind you and throw away the key. I do not watch reruns on TV and I conduct my relationships (if you can call them that the same way. No matter how much i enjoyed the film or loved the bloke, or still love the bloke, I don't do refunds period. I am one of those stick to my guns type. The type that would cut off my nose to spite my face type. The foolish type. The either its black or white type. The type that allows no room for failure no margin for error. I'm the type that expects perfection even though I cant give it, the one step out of line and you are gone type. My mother has a favourite saying when it comes to relationships 'only a dog will eat its own vomit (self explanatory huh?) so you see I am my mother's child. But maybe just maybe should I allow a little room in my life for error? Does everyone not make mistakes? I have had a few good men in my life (so I've been told by others) but I let them go simply because they could not confirm to the Definitely Maybe Military school of expectation , harsh discipline and demands of 100% perfection. Is it time for DM just like New Look to compromise on that no refunds policy least I drive all 'my customers' (potential for happiness) away. What is it that I am afraid of? What is it that lies in the murky waters of my past that has made my heart rigid when it comes to second chances? Should people be given second chances? Is it a second chance to make things better, or a second chance to break your heart all over again? To those who are into second, third or even forth chances, are the risks worth it? was it better the second time round? The bible says forgive 70 times 70 times, but can you not forgive without being foolish? Is it not once bitten twice shy? Is giving someone a second chance to make things right, foolishness, or is it simply being human? so if YT was to appear right there in New Look, heart in hands, tears in his eyes, his pride torn to shreds, would I?............. Suddenly its my turn to be served, I smile reach up to the counter and whisper to the customer service assistant, on £5.34 pence an hour, "maybe, just maybe, there ought to be refunds, or exchanges allowed in this shop...............