…of sorts. It has been ‘sitting’ with me, the $40. swindle; so today was the day. I had to be near Canal Street, again, so decided to confront the perfume seller. I walked into his shop, it was easy to remember where it was, and handed him the perfume box with bottle inside and said “you sold me a fake, and I want my $50. back.” The following 39 minutes went like this: He pretended at first he didn’t know to what I was referring. I explained that the box had come out of a specific drawer. He said he owed me nothing, and didn’t I want another perfume of which he had a wall full, he would make an exchange. I explained in a somewhat raised voice that once a fool, I certainly wasn’t going to take a second bottle. He tried to ignore me. I told him, I would sit and wait for my $50. and if he didn’t return it, I would go to the police. It was a Pakistani stand off from there on. I told him that I would explain to each customer that entered his store, exactly why I was there. When two separate customers entered and began to talk perfume with him, I piped up: “Would you like to know why I am here?” and proceeded to educate them. After two of those, he gave me $20 and said ‘leave’. I said, ‘$50 is what is owed to me, but I would leave for $40’. The Asians with whom he shared the shop [four of them] where clearly not pleased with the energy I was bringing to the scene. Two more customers came in, looked around and when asked if they could be helped, replied ‘no’ and left. He gave me a $5 bill and said,”now get out, you are harming my business and I will call the police”. “Oh”. I said, “Please do call them, it saves me the trouble. I will wait here, as I am not leaving. You got $50. from me, sold me a fake, and I want my money back.” He tried all sorts of arguments: 1. I was in the wrong shop. I pointed to the drawer from where he had withdrawn the box. Challenged him to open it. He didn’t. 2. I didn’t have a receipt, he said. I said “I asked for one, and you wouldn’t give me one. 3. Pointed to sign posted high above door that reads: ‘no refunds, no exchange’. ‘Yes’, I said, ‘If the articles you are selling were real”. 4. Finally he says, “Everyone is selling fakes, I don’t know where you got it, and you come to me”. “Yes”, I said, We white folks all look alike and no one ever returns to confront you and so you think I’ll go away, but I don’t live in Ohio, I live in NY and I can wait it out and discuss my fake with your customers. 5. ‘You’re crazy!’ he says. ” No”, replied I, “Not crazy just determined to have my $50 back.” and I resumed my seat on the step stool in his shop. In the meantime, the Asians with whom his ‘wall’ is shared were talking among themselves and were agitated. Another two customers enter. The weather is dark and rainy outside. He goes to the door, he paces. I sit. I don’t look at him, I don’t speak with him, I don’t read a book or look at my smart phone. I sit determinedly. Waiting. I realize that I am willing to wait an indefinite amount of time. At that moment in time, when I had not been paying attention to him for at least 5 minutes, without warning he comes to where I am sitting, holds out $10. I take it. I now have a total of $35. I give him the perfume box. I leave. Since I had originally paid him $40. I am content to live with a $5 lesson.