Of bread and creatures

I was returning home around midday and I remembered that I had to buy bread. I stopped at a well known village bakery shop and proceeded to the shelf where the Maltese loaves were stacked.

As usual there was another customer carefully picking up loaves and inspecting them in order to choose the one which most suited her. She must have handled at least six or seven loaves before she was content in the preferred choice. I had no doubt that she had spotlessly clean hands but I decided to pick a loaf from the back of the shelf.

I spotted a loaf with a slightly burnt crust and I picked it up. However, on closer inspection, I saw that a brown five-centimetre long beetle was nonchalantly emerging from the crust.

I must admit that I am of a very calm disposition and these brown pests disgust me but I am not afraid of them; so I just put the loaf back on the shelf.

I then discreetly drew the attention of one of the shop assistants to the matter. She was visibly terrified and must have had a phobia for the beasts, so she called another shop assistant, who came with a plastic bag in hand, to try and capture the beetle. I watched as she tried to corner the beast but to no avail. I decided to offer my services and I managed to scoop the beetle up into the bag. The assistants were visibly relieved and with not even a "thank you" proceeded with their duties.

The other customers in the shop did not even notice what was happening and carried on shopping as if nothing had happened. I waited around for a few minutes in the shop to see if they would at least clear the shelf and dispose of the bread. Good sense dictates that beetles are not solitary insects but tend to hang around in groups. Business proceeded as usual and I waited around till the lucky owner of the loaf with the slightly burnt crust turned up.

He was not the finicky type who would inspect six or seven loaves before making a purchase but, on second thoughts, I do not think that this is such a bad idea after all. Needless to say I did not purchase any bread from this particular outlet and I doubt if I will ever step foot again in there.