Just in case

The other day while working at s pharmacy, a young black man of maybe 15-16 years of age, came to the counter and asked where he can find the athletic tape. I showed him where it was and he walked back to the pharmacy counter with me and paid for it there.

After he turned to leave and took a couple of steps, he stopped in his tracks and asked for the receipt. Realizing that it was still sitting by the cash register, I apologized then handed it to him. He smiled and said “just in case”

That “just in case” has been playing in mind since.

It could’ve been a “just in case I need to return it” but I read it completely differently.

I read it as “I’m a young black man you see, and that receipt is proof that I bought this box of athletic tape I’m walking out the store with”

Now I know, there is no way for me to know what he meant by “just in case” and so I’ve been wondering over the past few days as to why I thought of the second scenario?

And then it hit. I’ve seen, we’ve seen, many a time where someone’s blackness was enough of an indictment and that many of them have been taught to take the extra step “just in case”