I never expected a trip to Walmart would turn into a showdown over my wheelchair, with a stranger demanding I give it up for his tired wife. As the situation spiraled out of control and a crowd gathered, I realized this ordinary shopping day was about to take an extraordinary turn.So there I was, cruising down the aisles of Walmart in my trusty wheelchair, feeling pretty good about life. I’d just scored some killer deals on snacks and was headed to check out when this guy — let’s call him Mr. Entitled — stepped right in front of me, blocking my path.”Hey, you,” he barked, his face all scrunched up like he’d smelled something bad. “My wife needs to sit down. Give her your wheelchair.” I blinked, thinking it was some weird joke. “Uh, sorry, what?” “
You heard me,” he snapped, gesturing to a tired-looking woman behind him. “She’s been on her feet all day. You’re young, you can walk.” I tried to keep my cool, plastering on a polite smile. “I get it, being on your feet sucks. But I actually can’t walk. That’s why I have the chair.”Mr. Entitled’s face turned an impressive shade of red. “Don’t lie to me! I’ve seen people like you, faking disabilities for attention. Now get up and let my wife sit down!” “Look, sir,” I said, my patience wearing thin, “I’m not faking anything. I need this chair to get around. There are benches near the front of the store if your wife needs to rest.”
