I scan the shelves one by one, fully aware of my surroundings. I hear the sudden sound of the microphone and my heart starts to race. "Attention! Can we please get some help on register 12," a young woman said. I sigh with relief; I keep searching the shelves until I come across the Extra Strength Denture Cream. I check my surroundings once again and collect 2 quantities of cream instead of putting it in my basket I slip it into a hidden pocket of my cashmere coat. I walk over to the register acting casual and place my items on the conveyor belt. “How was your day?” the young man at the checkout asks, “Um well.” I say, “That’s good.” he said. There is an awkward silence, I start to shake nervously. “Are you okay ma’am?” he asks "Yeah, I'm fine, it's just a little chilly, you know with the wind and everything." I respond with a chuckle, he scans the latest articles. “That’ll be $17.65 thanks.” he says I take out my purse, I take some notes and put them back in, I grab my bags and start to walk out and as I pass the security scanners one starts beeping. I stop and start to panic, the shopkeeper calls me and says "Don't worry ma'am, sometimes these systems are a little faulty, but just to be sure I'll check your bags in." I hand him my bags and he passes them through the sensor, none of the bags beep so he asks me to pass through the sensor. I know if I pass, I'll get caught, but I'll take my chance. I walk over to the sensors and instantly they beep. The shopkeeper looks at me strangely, I start to think of things I could do like maybe I should run but I'm 71 I know I won't get far if I run, maybe I I'll get there to the parking lot but not further than that. It wasn't long before...... middle of paper...... ask. “Well, I was thinking we could go around the corner to this lovely French place, you know what they say Paris, the city of love. He nudges me, laughing at his own joke. “Um sure.” I said walking away awkwardly It was about a 10 minute drive, when we arrived the waiter walked us to our table and I ordered us a glass of pinot noir. .Graham wasn't that bad once we got to know each other we hit it off straight away, we had a lot in common but he was always making jokes but that's it. what I loved about him, his sense of humor a month later, when Graham proposed to me in front of the Eiffel Tower in France during our vacation, I said yes of course, and it's now been 10! years since Graham and I have been together, with three grandchildren We live in Paris, the city of love, and my shoplifting days are over We live happily ever after..