Sometimes I feel like James Whitmore in the movie The Shawshank Redemption, especially now that I've retired and left the establishment where I worked for over 36 years. If you recall, Mr. Whitmore played a character named Brooks Hatlen in the well-known prison movie. He was the old guy who had been in prison for most of his life, had done his time, and now was free to go - free to return to the outside world - a world that was full of noise, cars, buses, and people who always seemed to be in a hurry. Most of them were unkind or, at best, indifferent and aloof. I felt like Mr. Whitmore today when I went into the local office supply store.

I felt like him not only because I'm old (although not as old as the movie portrayed him) but because, much too often, the world seems to be cold, indifferent, and oddly impersonal. Anyway, when I walked into the store to return some used printer cartridges for recycling, the door alarm went off! That was only a signal of what was to follow. Mind you - I was ENTERING the store, not walking out with stolen merchandise. I guess I was stealing stuff INTO the store? I approached the "courtesy" desk, which was not altogether ironic since the employees were courteous enough. The store policy was stupid.

I placed the used ink cartridges on the desk and asked if the store accepted them for recycling. The lady said, "Yes," and that not only would they take them, but I could get $2 in credit for them if I took them to the cash register. I merely wanted to be a good citizen and not pollute the environment by ensuring that the little cartridges found a good home and a new life. (Actually, I just wanted to get rid of them responsibly.)

So, now I'm looking around the store for something I could use and apply my $2 refund. I seriously considered everything from a set of pens for $4 to an iPad for $699. After what seemed like a half-hour, I decided on a $5 roll of white duct tape. I felt it could come in handy around the house.

I then proceeded to the check-out with my white duct tape in one hand and a bag of ink cartridges in the other. After entering my phone number into their computer/cash register system, the cashier rang up $2 worth of ink cartridge credit. She then rang up $5.31 for the roll of white duct tape, for a grand total of $5.31. I then asked her, "Where's my $2 credit?"

She politely answered, "That goes into your rewards."

"OK," I said reluctantly, and I paid the $5.31 for the roll of white duct tape, all the while vowing to myself never to enter the store again.

So, as you can see, not only did I not receive my reward, but I never even got any form of redemption.

Story and Cover Illustration Copyright © 2021 by Michael DeFrancesco