Eternally 21: A Mrs. Frugalicious Shopping Mystery Read Online Free PDF Page A

out the comments section,” Tara whispered. “But, please do come back to the store.”
    Before I had a chance to say thanks or goodbye, Tara and Andy had taken off in the direction of Eternally 21.
    “Nervous Nellie, that one,” Nina said over the beep of her walkie-talkie. “No wonder Laila’s always talking about letting her go.”
    A janitor appeared with his rolling bucket, Nina stepped away to answer, and I stood there wondering to myself the same thing the janitor said as he began to mop:
    “What the heck happened here?”
    2 . Travel-size toiletries are a necessary evil and are often priced accordingly, particularly at the hotel gift shop. Buy the TSA-approved plastic bottles and refill everything you can. Buy anything else when you use that $5 or $10 coupon for your total order at the grocery, drug, or discount chain.
    3 . Weight loss and dietary supplements can be costly, so shop wisely, compare ingredients, and use coupons. If, like me, you are using them to diminish appetite as part of a diet and exercise plan outlined by your trainer, the benefits in terms of food not consumed can easily offset the additional outlay of dollars. That is, assuming you follow your eating plan and resist the urge to splurge.

Four
    A few keystrokes and We Want to Hear from You scrolled across the display of my smartphone. I couldn’t believe I hadn’t thought of it myself. Not only could I express my displeasure anonymously, or nearly so, I could also commend Tara Hu on what could only be called exemplary customer relations.
    To Whom it may Concern:
    I was in your South Highlands Valley Mall store this morning. Since I was looking for multiple gifts and had coupons to factor in, I was removing items from the display, comparing them to each other, and consulting notes on a pad in my purse. While doing so, your manager, Laila DeSimone, falsely accused me of dropping earrings into my handbag. She called security and had me unceremoniously removed from the store. She also felt free to insult me in the process. I was, of course, cleared, but not until I suffered the further humiliation of being dragged across the mall. I’m sure I’d never set foot in an Eternally 21 again were it not for the assistant manager, Tara Hu. She couldn’t have been nicer or more helpful before the incident and was more so afterward. She not only apologized but tried to explain Ms. DeSimone’s mistreatment. She urged me to come back in to pick up the items I left behind. I thought you should know about Ms. DeSimone’s method of dealing with customers, especially in contrast with Ms. Hu, who saved me as a future customer with her caring concern.
    Thank you for the opportunity to express both
my displeasure and praise,
A Once-Again Satisfied Customer
    Using my most anonymous mikefamily email address, I sent the note off into cyberspace. I would have gone home and called it a day, but Karen B. was depending on Mrs. Frugalicious to come through with what could still be a killer blog post. With Laila on her break and my grievances expressed to my satisfaction, really there was no good reason to let my reader down and not go back to the store and buy the items Tara had set aside.
    After all, I’d done nothing wrong.
    As if in confirmation, my phone beeped with a thank you for your comments email, complete with a code for a non-expiring 15% off any online future purchases. 4
    With a few minutes to spare until Laila’s twelve thirty visit to the ladies’ lounge, I stopped into The Gap. I carefully noted the sale prices, selection, and size options on my notepad (but not until I was safely outside the store). Then I made my way into Macy’s. To make sure Laila had ample time to head off in the opposite direction, I lingered over a table of buy-two-get-one-free sequined tank tops. At 12:37, I walked out into the mall proper, passed Foot Locker, hesitated in front of Things Remembered to take a calming breath, and approached Eternally 21.
    I was greeted