Step a Little Closer Miz SHOPKEEPER!

So this nasty shop owner starts browbeating a timid customer who bought an item from her that broke immediately. Says she can’t return it, that’s their policy, then says if the timid lady doesn’t like it she can just shop somewhere else.Sooooo, being a brave crusader for justice, I wrote a column about it, ratting the shopkeeper out and a whole army of outraged consumers rallied to my banner too -  the whole world as it seemed – except for a thoughtful 80-year-old who emailed me  to say she never writes in this way but it does seem to her that it’s not quite fair of me to criticize the lady shopkeeper behind her back; what I should have done and still should do is raise the issue to her directly.Come to think of it I also have a piece of jewelry I bought there that broke immediately. So now I'm trying to get up the courage to go in and ask for some “help” myself. Will the shopkeeper yell at me too? Will I shrink and flee or stand and fight? We women over 40, you know: we were conditioned to keep the peace and go along. The aunt who raised me used to say it all the time like reciting a Commandment and her father used to say it to her: “Even if you're caught in a bear trap, smile!”In other words, shut up and take it. In other words, show no teeth.I guess I'll just have to see what happens. Time was, I let people walk all over me but lately something is changing. It's like I can feel these little fangs emerging; must be all those "True Blood" promos on HBO.