And So It Happened..

Something amusing happened over the weekend.

The day started humdrum enough with the usual soccer session for the boys in the morning.  I didn't bother dressing up and the darling daughter spent the entire morning amusing herself with rolling all the soccer balls in the mud.  After the session, the husband decided to walk around in town.

Yes, town.

The boys were togged in only their training outfit sans boots, slippers flip flopping and the girl with the lower half of her body stained with goodness knows what after her own training session in the mud.

We stopped for prayers (and cleaned ourselves up) at the mosque in the middle of Orchard Road. Matin made do with an available sarong to cover his shorts and Diyana, surprisingly behaved well beside me while I performed my dues.

Obligations done, we crossed the road, entered the swanky Paragon shopping centre and lo and behold, found ourselves in front of a high end store.

I was hinting about it for the longest time but I have never hoped that it will actually happen.  I mean, the probability of this thing happening is as likely as a cat growing horns.  But then again, who can deny the arrangements of fate?

We entered.  Yes, we did.  Me and the bunch of rag tags flopping ourselves at the first available couch like we own the place.

They greeted us.  Nicely.  I'm not sure if they're told to be discreet but I kept telling myself - hey, they just worked there.  Commission might be peanuts and they're all living in a HDB somewhere, so they have no right to judge.

But seriously, I was taken aback by the friendly greetings.  

Me on the other hand pretended, like I know what I wanted and used my 'atas' English just to see if I can get away with it.  I shouldn't have bothered.  Ended up purchasing a bag and although I knew it's at a killer price, I just stubbornly refused to let myself regret that purchase.  Just bring it baby.  I'm just surprised at myself for handling the surreal situation like a real pro.

There was a slight glitch when they said that they didn't have Nets.  Well, of course they didn't have Nets.  They didn't even have a cashier!  I should have suspected it when there were no price tags on their items. So much for handling the situation like a boss.

Anyway, they accepted debit cards and the nice sales rep told me to wait on the couch while she glided away somewhere to test out my card.  Glitch number two.  "Sorry ma'am but there is a limit to your card, perhaps we can use two cards, yours and your husband's to facilitate this transaction".  I have to give her credit for being so polite and discreet.

The husband was explaining to her about 'privacy', 'protection' and 'security'. Like a pro.

After the purchase, they let us through the doors ringing out 'thank yous' and 'goodbyes'.  It was not until we hit the streets when I was struck by the hilarity of the entire situation.

I just bought an obscenely expensive handbag, dressed in my marketing garbs, dragging my kids who looked like they really need a good shower and enjoying the situation with nary an ounce of regret.  It was wrong but comfortably right at the same time.

I'm still smiling.