The price of prejudice

 It was a sunny afternoon when I went to buy a few stuffs from the market, but especially it was a big day for me because I had finally saved up for the mannequin I always wanted to buy: a male mannequin for my work. This was a big day especially because it's not easy to buy a mannequin and I've been saving to get a male one and finally I got the amount I estimated would be enough. So I walked into the market and found a shop that displayed mannequins of different kinds and I was really impressed so I walked in with confidence and with hope that I would get a good price. The shopkeeper was a man, he had a heavy voice and shap eyes, he glanced at me, gave me no greeting and didn't even bother to ask what I wanted as he continued munching his food and tapping his phone, it was as if my presence was a small inconvenience for him. So that got me a bit nervous but I still decided to speak up. Hu, good afternoon Sir" I began politely, "How much is this please?" He barely raised his head up, I didn't know if he even saw what I was showing him. But he voiced out a very high price that was way above my budget. I tried to negotiate the price but the man barely gave me any hearing. "If you no you can't afford something, why come to buy it, I know you won't be able to pay for any of these stuffs here" Those words stung, though it might have seemed like a casual joke to him, but to me there were not, I think he looked over my simple clothes, cheap shoes and the youthfulness still written on my face and he decided who I was: someone who isn't worth his time. I was about to ask him for the price if another mannequin when a man came in with sleek trousers and polished shoes. And immediately the storekeeper's posture changed, he smile at the man and immediately began to show him the goods that were available for sale. "Welcome, sir! You'll like this one, it's of very fine quality," He said eagerly while showing the man the same mannequins I was asking about. I was standing there, invisible, the questions I had dissolved into silence. I waited a bit to see if he'll change his mind and attend to me, but it was obvious, the shopkeeper had made his choice of who mattered in his business. I was disappointed, I didn't expect anything like that, but I wasn't defeated, I left the shop and crossed to the next one opposite. I got to the shop a bit nervous and afraid to experience what happened in the ithee shop, but thankfully I was greeted by a lady whose smile immediately softened the frustration I was feeling. With genuine curiosity, she asked what I wanted. I explained to her that I needed a male mannequin, she didn't think I couldn't afford it, but she patiently walked me through the options they had, and telling me how some are more fragile than the others and which explains why sone are expensive than the others. She showed genuine kindness in her details, even when I explained my budget to her, she listened and instead of dismissing me she offered me a fair price that was way much better than what I was told at the first shop. This was a big relief for me. We kept talking, and our conversation went deeper, we spoke about business, she was impressed with the work I'm doing and all. And we finalized the purchase I was so happy to have gotten the mannequin and also that I found an example of dignity in trade unlike in the first shop. So before leaving I assured her that I'll send a friend or two her way to also buy from her and she was happy to hear that and she thanked me for coming. Carrying the mannequin home was a task in itself, it was taller than me, awkward to balance but I made my way through the market and couldn't resist glancing back at the first shop. I saw the mad who had dismissed me, he stood at the doorway watching silently as I walked pass with my newly purchased item. His face revealed nothing but I could feel a sense of surprise or maybe a touch of regret. He made assumptions too quickly, judged too harshly and lost a customer because of it, even if I'm not really worth the high class customers he sells to, but I think in business every customer should matter. So I walked home that day, not in anger but quiet satisfaction, respect is free but when it is withheld it can cost a person everything. So I learnt an important lesson even for me business: Treat everyone with kindness, it is worth more than any polished words or overpriced goods. _{Image generated using my prompt on Meta AI}