The Object Of Charity

I could not believe my ears
when I stood in the shop
quietly browsing the goods
and I overheard a customer
say to a member of staff
of an item that was for sale
'This item is not very cheap.
I thought this was a charity shop!'.

It could have been a joke in poor taste
but the customer genuinely expected
 to be the object of charity herself
-little realising that her money
was the reason for goods being there
not her need for everything to cost less.

The cheaper we expect life to be for us,
the less we can pass on to others.