The Neighbors and Friends Go to the Supermarket - Part II

Peter and Mary also raised, the man started running, without releasing the cart, and they ran after him, followed by grandmother shouting:
- Get a security officer, quickly, get a security officer!!
It was a big mess! The man, scared with the persecution, realized that to achieve escape he had to leave the cart. It was what he did and, already without the cart he accelerated trying to became lost in the middle of the walking people in the corridors of the shopping center. But John continued after him and managed to pass him a trick that made him fall down. A security officer came,. then Peter, then Mary. Grandmother arrived next, pushing the sopping cart, concerned if someone got hurt.
The security officer held the man, who was clearly ashamed looking for them all. “Mas o que é que lhe passou pela cabeça, por amor de Deus?” “Têm de vir comigo, vou chamar a Polícia e depois apresentam queixa”, disse o segurança. Grandmother talked to him:
- What was in your mind, for God’s sake!? Someone could be hurt!
- You must come with me – the security officer said - I will call the police and then you may file a complaint.
- Grandmother didn’t answer immediately. She was looking at the thief thoughtful. She could see that the man was about to cry but trying to hold it. And he was still looking ashamed. So she declared:
- Never mind, we don’t want to complain, we recovered our things and that’s the most important.
Everyone looked at her, completely surprised. Even the thief who must have been the most surprised of all.
- Thank you very much, ma'am! - he said – You can’t imagine how your generosity is important for me! I apologize for my stupid behaviour. The truth is that my life is being very difficult and I saw the cart, it seemed that nobody was taking care of it ... But after all this boy was. It is brave, the kid!
- Even if nobody was watching on you knew those things belonged to someone. – said Grandmother in a reproach voice. – You shouldn’t do what you’ve done! But I don’t want to increase the difficulties of your life.
The security was a bit defeated, but if Grandmother didn’t want to complain and once it had not been really a robbery it was better to let the man go. It was what they did. They saw him departing, after thanking again Grandmother. Then everybody began to speak at the same time, excited, discussing whether it was right or wrong to let him go. Grandmother explained her position the best she could:
- You know - she started - if he is a thief he’ll steal again, and sooner or later he will be caught. But if he is just a regular man, going through major problems in life, this will serve him as a lesson and is unlikely he’ll return doing something so foolish.
(to be continued)