Today I went to the Bead Shop in Palo Alto. Although I had a specific "list," I didn't trust myself once I got in there to stick to The List. Beads, especially pretty gold sparkly beads, can really add up. Therefore, I took in a specific amount (okay, $20) and NO credit card of any kind. Then I parked 3 blocks away.

Yes, pretty gold sparkly beads and colorful crystal shining in the sunlight is that tempting to me.

So I walk in, grab my little shopping muffin tin, and started looking around. As I accumulated beads, I kept a running total in my head of how much I was spending. For me, doing math in my head is HARD. I have many talents, but trying to remember numbers, and then adding and subtracting said numbers is just ... hard.

So I kept picking out beads until I reached $18.00 (and you'd be surprised just how quickly that happened!). Without actually doing the math, I figured that the 8.25% tax would put me just under $20.

I went to the register, and the Register Chic starts counting the beads out and putting them into baggies, all the while entering the totals. During this time, at least three people came up to her for various reasons: one wanted some class notes that she'd left at the store by mistake, one wanted earrings that had been made for her, and someone else had a question. It didn't really bother me, because she was doing a pretty good job of counting beads, entering numbers, and dealing with all of these people at the same time. Still, I was prepared for the total to be off a bit... and it was. It was only $9.00. I gave her an odd look and said that seemed a bit low; were any of the beads on sale or something? After giving me an odd look of her own ("Um, no, lady - I do not make such mistakes"), she assured me that it was all correct, so I paid and left.

About 1/2 block away, I looked at the receipt, thinking that maybe I was worse at math-in-my-head than I thought, and noticed that she didn't charge me for any of the little crystal beads I'd picked out. Hmmmm.

Now here's a dilemma. I could:

A) Screw it - I had questioned the total and she said it was fine. Therefore, I should be absolved of any further responsibility. Besides, I think their beads are way overpriced anyway.
B) Go back to the store and point out the mistake.
B1) Either she'd thank me profusely and say, "Oh, that's okay, don't worry about it - my mistake" and remember me from that moment on as "That Honest Girl" or
B2) She'd thank me profusely and then ring up the beads. But would still remember me as That Honest Girl.

I have to tell you that I was almost kinda fully expecting B1. It was busy in the shop and I didn't think that she'd take the time to do it. The extra added bonus was that my good karma would remain intact. And maybe, just maybe, I'd rise a notch in Dante's Inferno Quiz in which according to my answers, I am to be banished to the 8th level of hell (out of a total of 9 levels. Yes, most of my friends were in the top 3-4 levels. Not me. I'm totally screwed.)

So, with the Beaming Glow that can only come from one so pure, light, and honest, I went back to the shop and told her that she forgot to ring up the crystal beads, and that was why the total ended up being lower than I thought. She kinda did that knocking-your-hand-against-your-forehead thing (either that, or she was just trying to shield her eyes from the Glow) and said, "Oh! I can't believe I forgot those! Thanks for coming back - I'll ring them up."

Damn!

She then apologized for the aforementioned return Odd Look that she gave me when I questioned the total. I halfheartedly quipped that I was happy to realize I could do math in my head after all.

Hopefully I'll at least have the title of That Honest Girl.