A Seedy, Moral Dilemma

I love Bagel Art. It’s a great, locally owned bagel shop at the corner of Dempster and Sherman, right across from the Dempster Purple Line El stop (where Café Express used to be).  The shop is surprisingly large, and the bagels, when they’re hot out of the oven, are fantastic.  The shop has a delicious menu and outdoor seating on lovely days.  The 7th and 8th graders at Chiaravalle Montessori School grow and provide the basil (see photo); Bagel Art is really a true, local taste of Evanston.

On Sunday morning, my husband picked up some fresh, warm bagels and a couple of tubs of cream cheese. 

When he arrived home, he said, “I’ve got a moral dilemma.  How would you have handled this: I waited in a long line at Bagel Art, and there was a still a long line behind me when I placed my order.  There were only three sesame bagels left, and I took them all.  Was that wrong?”  Apparently, after he handed over his money for the last three sesame bagels, he noticed one disappointed customer turn to another in the queue and say, “Aw. That guy just took the last sesame.” 

My husband’s a decent man.  He waited in line like everyone else. He knows our house is full of sesame bagel lovers and yet, he doesn’t want to be rude; Evanston’s a big town, but it becomes very small if you’re a jerk. 

I replied the way any die hard fan of Bagel Art sesame bagels would: “I don’t think you did anything wrong.  The other people in line could have gotten there earlier to get sesame, too.” 

That’s how the bagel rolls, right?  When you get to Dunkin’ Donuts and they’re out of the strawberry frosted doughnut you wanted so badly, do you get mad at the person who took the last one? No…you remind yourself it pays to get there earlier next time if you really want it, right? 

I realize the scenario is entirely different when our kids are at the Thanksgiving table (or any table, for that matter) and there’s only one roll left in the basket; we remind them never to take the last item.  Always offer it to others before taking it for yourself.  Therein lies the dilemma, and so Patch readers, I ask, should my husband have turned to the rest of the customers and asked if anyone else wanted sesame bagels before wiping out the supply?  Should he have asked the staff if more sesame bagels were coming?  In a capitalistic society, does this dilemma even matter?