You know about the shopping I did Friday? Well, on Saturday afternoon, I discovered that one of the tops still had that dratted security tag attached to it!! The kind that you need a special thingy to remove the pin from the cloth or risk damaging it. I was able to leave the store without setting off the alarm, so the salesgirl must have scanned it but forgot to remove it.

Oh for goodness sake, I thought. What was wrong with the blooming woman? My dad's answer was quite colorful: "eyes in her arse". Ahem!

Now I don't have a car, and getting from my place to the mall isn't that far (about a 15min by cab and about 30 min by bus), except that it was pouring rain! No choice. I called a cab and spent $7.30 to get to the mall.

I was nervous. I knew that damm tag would trigger off the security alarm at the store's entrance. My thoughts were running amok as I took the escalator up to the 3rd floor. What if security pounces on and arrests me, completely disbelieving my story despite the receipt I wave in their faces? Would they handcuff me as they led me through the crowded store? Ack...

I waited till I saw a family about to leave the store, pushing their shopping-bag laden stroller. I timed their exit, and quickly darted through.

BEEP-BEEEEEEEEEP! BEEP-BEEEEEEEEEP! BEEP-BEEEEEEEEEP!

Oh for a hole to open at my feet! Face flushed, I practically ran to the customer service counter. Security was nowhere in sight although I did see heads turn in my direction. The floor manager was thankfully a nice motherly sort and was most apologetic. I was all about to launch into a major grumble but her sincerity, concern and understanding got through. Apparently the salesgirl in question was a trainee and a temp, part of the store's preparations for the crazy month and a half-long Great Singapore Sale. It was not easy training them or getting recruits in the first place, she confided. I totally sympathised.

She didn't even bother checking the receipt I clutched in my hand. She untagged the tag, refolded my top and rebagged it then apologised all over again. I left a happy puppy.

Thank you Metro & Noorsiah @ Century Square Mall.