A stranger demanding my wheelchair for his weary wife turned an otherwise uneventful trip to Walmart into a hectic ordeal. A throng gathered as things got out of hand, turning my typical shopping day into one I will never forget. Feeling satisfied with my purchases, I was wheeling myself throughout Walmart. Suddenly, there was a man in my way. “It’s my wife’s wheelchair,” he insisted. Behind him, his weary wife stood looking embarrassed.
I said, “I need this chair to get around,” with grace. If your lady needs to take a break, there are benches up front. Anger burned his face. He said, taking a step closer, “You’re faking it!” Miguel, a Walmart employee, stepped in at that precise moment. Miguel said coolly, “Sir, we can’t ask customers to give up mobility aids.” The man became even more enraged by this and insisted on seeing the manager. He stumbled into a canned goods display out of fury and fell quite spectacularly.A few others laughed as his wife assisted him in standing up. Miguel asked for help as the man made threats to file a lawsuit.
The manager of the store expressed regret and checked on me. A kind customer later complimented me on my poise. Miguel’s assistance served as a reminder to me that goodness always triumphs against conceit. This experience strengthened my resolve to advocate for people with disabilities, including myself.
