Time out

Barbara Thomas

After it had been heavily advertised in the local paper.

My mother, myself and my late husband decided to visit Aldi’s supermarket in Southend on Sea Essex to see what all the fuss was about.

 

As we entered the new surroundings picking up our baskets and looking forward to checking all the goods on show.

 

Mum picked up several items then picked up a large jar of pineapple, all excited she explained she hadn’t seen that fruit for years, so without fail it went in her basket.

 

Then she was gazing at other jams and noted something that made her frown then she turned to me and asked me a question “was Aldi’s a German company” I replied, “yes it was, why?”

 

Well! before I knew what had happened this smart quiet 88 year old lady, took everything out of her basket.

 

Then looking round she glimpsed the elderly old man on the opposite aisle.

She immediately went up to him and said that was he aware that the shop was German owned. He said, “no he hadn’t realised”, then Mum asked him had he served in the forces during WW2

A bit taken back at first after being accosted by this little lady, he said quietly that yes he had served for 6 years in the Royal Engineers during World War 2

 

Now this was the time out moment:

 

My Mum then told this innocent man to immediately put his goods back and go leave the shop, as in her words, “we lost too many of our good men in that war to start giving money to the Germans”.

 

He obeyed my mother and without another word, walked out of the shop followed by, you guessed it, my mother.

 

Although weeks later my mother saw a music centre she had seen advertised in Aldi’s and would I get it for her?

My reply was “No! I thought you didn’t give money to Germans”.

 

Copyright Barbara Thomas