Horror Stories - 6 True Dollar Store Horror Stories That Will Give You Chills!

Episode Date: May 26, 2025

6 True Dollar Store Horror Stories That Will Give You Chills!Step into the aisles of your local dollar store—where everything seems harmless… until it’s not. These terrifying true stories uncove...r real-life horror inside ordinary shops where things take a dark and disturbing turn. From eerie encounters to unsettling situations with strangers and unexplained events, these tales prove that fear can follow you anywhere—even to the bargain bin. Turn down the lights, press play, and listen closely... because these stories will stick with you. #DollarStoreHorrorStories#TrueScaryStories#CreepyEncounters#RetailHorror#RealLifeHorror#DisturbingTales#StorytimeHorror#EverydayFear#UnexplainedEvents#ScaryDollarStoreStoriesdollar store horror stories, true horror stories, creepy dollar store encounters, retail horror stories, true scary stories, bargain store nightmares, unexplained events in stores, real life creepy tales, horror narration, disturbing shopping experiences, scary dollar store finds, horror storytime, true creepy encounters, haunted store stories, chilling real stories, everyday horror stories, horror in public places, strange things in dollar stores, mystery stories from dollar store, unsettling events, real people real horror, storytime narration, scary retail experiences, creepy cashier encounters, terrifying shopping trips, supernatural dollar store stories, spooky retail stories, shopping horror tales, retail job horror stories, strange things customers did, real retail horror, unexpected horror stories, haunted retail locations, scary true events, eerie customer stories Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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Starting point is 00:01:28 Story 1. The event I'm about to tell you happened in 2017. At the time, I was seven months pregnant with my daughter. I was living with my aunt, who was the only person that supported. courted me during one of the hardest moments of my life. She helped me emotionally and financially throughout that time. She was truly like the mother I never had. Because I was so far along in my pregnancy, she rarely let me do anything. But one day she got sick with a fever, and since there was no one else, I was forced to go out to the store to get something to satisfy my cravings.
Starting point is 00:02:04 I don't like to feel like a damsel in distress, so I reassured her I'd be fine. She lying in her just asked me to be careful. I smiled at her before locking the door. I got into her car and drove about three blocks until I reached the Dollar Tree outlet. Once there, I grabbed a shopping cart that was in a corner of the parking lot and started walking through the aisles without paying much attention, just looking for something to calm my cravings. I was going aisle to while without much hurry, until I saw some bags of chips on the top shelf. No matter how hard I tried, I couldn't reach them. The extra weight from pregnancy didn't help at all. Just then I heard a voice behind me say, let me help you. I turned and saw an elderly woman with a kind expression on her face. I smiled
Starting point is 00:02:52 back and stepped aside so she could grab the bag for me. I thanked her with a smile as she handed it to me. Then she gently touched my cheek and with a somewhat distant look asked, Where is your husband, dear? I don't have a husband, I replied. And the baby's father? He's not in our lives. Upon hearing that, her face showed slight concern. She looked around again and said in a worried tone,
Starting point is 00:03:19 you shouldn't be walking around alone in your condition. My aunt takes care of me, I explained. But since she got sick, I had to come out today. How long have you been living with your aunt? A couple of months. and your parents. At that point, I started to feel a little uncomfortable with all the questions. I tried to walk away, but the woman stayed close, like a shadow.
Starting point is 00:03:44 She followed me down each aisle asking all sorts of questions. I told her about my parents and answered pretty much everything she asked. Now I realize it was a huge mistake to share so much, but at the time I thought she was just concerned about me. She kept talking to me, giving me advice on how to care for the baby and myself. But there was something deeply unsettling about her. The way she talked. She barely blinked, and her eyes kept scanning the store like she was watching every corner of the dollar tree.
Starting point is 00:04:14 There weren't many people inside the store. I grabbed a few juice boxes when, out of nowhere, she leaned toward me in a disturbing way and said, For your craving's right. If I were your aunt, I'd take care of you so much better. She takes care of me very well, I replied, trying not to sound annoyed. Well, you're here alone, and in this condition, that says a lot. I started to feel irritated. The old woman wouldn't stop criticizing my aunt, implying she was an unfit guardian.
Starting point is 00:04:46 I tried to walk away again, completely ignoring her, but she didn't get the hint. So I turned around and walked the other way. She followed me again, but this time things got even weirder. Why don't you come with me? She suddenly said, smiling like it was the most natural. thing in the world. Excuse me? I asked confused. I could take very good care of you and your baby. I have a big house on the outskirts, a farm actually. Trust me, you'd live a wonderful life. I need to get home now, I said, turning to leave. But before I could walk away, she grabbed the
Starting point is 00:05:23 cart and stopped me. She gave me a wide smile and said, that's fine. We'll go to your house first to pick up your things. Then I'll take you with me. I couldn't hold back anymore. I forcefully pushed her hand off the cart, which seemed to surprise her. She stepped back a little. I'm not interested in going with you. I have my aunt and she takes care of me. Please leave me alone. Her face completely changed upon hearing my angry tone. She lowered her gaze for a few seconds, then looked me straight in the eyes. A sinister smile appeared on her face as she said in a chilling voice. What if something happens to you? Your aunt isn't with you right now. Life is very unpredictable, you know? What? What do you mean by that? You're insane. Stay away from me or I'll call the police. I didn't wait another second. I walked
Starting point is 00:06:18 away quickly while she remained still. Still, I couldn't help but look back to make sure she wasn't following me, but she was gone. I searched the store with my eyes while I stayed inside, but I didn't see her anywhere. After paying for my things, one of the Dollar Tree employees helped me carry the bags to the car. He wished me a good day and went back inside, leaving me alone in the parking lot, which was completely empty. All I wanted was to leave as soon as possible, but suddenly fear triggered a strong need to pee. Being pregnant, driving with a full bladder was nearly impossible for me at that moment. I had no choice. I had to make an emergency stop. I knew the Dollar Tree bathrooms were in the back of the store, but I didn't want to go back in, afraid I'd run into
Starting point is 00:07:05 that old woman again. So I decided to use a small restroom located right in the parking lot in a corner. I locked the car and headed to the far left corner of the lot, where the public restroom was. It was a simple place with three stalls. No one was inside when I entered. I went into the first stall and sat down. Everything was completely silent until I heard the bathroom door creak open, followed by slow footsteps approaching. At first I didn't think much of it. Anyone could come in.
Starting point is 00:07:37 But suddenly the footsteps stopped. That's when all my alarms went off. I froze trying to detect any sound. The silence was so deep I could hear my own breathing. I was drenched in sweat, staring at the stall door when I heard something that chilled me to the bone, heavy breathing right above me. With my heart pounding, I slowly looked up, following the sound of that breathing. My eyes went to the partition wall of the next stall, and then I saw her.
Starting point is 00:08:06 It was the same old woman from the Dollar Tree. She was standing on the toilet in the stall beside mine, leaning over to peek at me from above the divider. That image was burned into my memory forever. Her eyes wide open and unblinking stared straight. at me without saying a word. Her face showed no emotion. She just stared in silence. I wanted to scream, but fear left me voiceless. Then she broke the silence. You have to come with me. I'll take care of you. And your baby. Please leave us alone. Do you want money? I can give you some. Keep your damn money. What I want is your baby. With that, she reached her arms out toward me,
Starting point is 00:08:49 trying to grab me. I jumped up, screaming in panic. I flung the stall door open and ran out as best I could, completely terrified. The old woman jumped down from the toilet and ran after me, laughing maniacally and yelling, come here, I want your baby. I'll take care of you too. Come with me. It was one of the hardest runs of my life. I ran like never before while she laughed wickedly behind me. I barely made it to the car and got in quickly. I slammed the door shut just as she nearly grabbed me. Her hand got caught between the door and the frame, but without hesitation, I slammed it shut.
Starting point is 00:09:28 There was a horrible crunching sound, like bones breaking followed by a blood-curdling scream. I had broken her wrist, but I didn't care anymore. I started the car and sped away while she kept screaming. This isn't over. Remember that. I drove away as fast as I could, my hands trembling and tears running down my cheeks. When I finally got home, I parked the car without thinking and ran inside, looking for my aunt.
Starting point is 00:09:55 She became alarmed as soon as she saw the state I was in. I could barely speak through my sobs, but I managed to tell her everything that had happened at the dollar tree. The old woman, the questions, the pursuit, what happened in the bathroom, every detail. Without hesitation, my aunt grabbed the phone and called the police. We filed a formal report. We told them everything that woman had said in detail. done. The officers assured us they would patrol the area and check the store's security cameras. However, they were never able to find that woman. A week after the incident, something chilled me
Starting point is 00:10:31 even more. While flipping through the newspaper in the living room, I came across a report about a missing person. It was about a young public relations professional in her mid-20s, who had gone shopping one afternoon at the same dollar tree. Since then no one has seen her again, not her, nor her baby. To this day, no one knows what happened to her, but I'm absolutely convinced that the old woman who harassed me had something to do with her disappearance. Story two, the event I'm about to share happened when I was around 13 years old. At the time, my parents were going through a divorce, so the atmosphere at home wasn't exactly pleasant. We lived in a small neighborhood where it was hard for me to make friends. To pass the time, I spent my savings from small jobs on art supplies and crafts, and I would spend
Starting point is 00:11:26 hours drawing. Dollar Tree was my go-to place. Everything there was super affordable. The store was three blocks away, right next to the gas station on the highway. I used to ride my bike there two or three times a week. It was a large store with endless aisles filled with all kinds of household items and more. One day I arrived around 3 p.m., my favorite time, since there were barely any customers. I parked my bike in a corner and went inside. The tall packed shelves greeted me immediately. The cashier was dozing behind the counter, and there were only about two or three people inside, including me. I headed straight to the arts and crafts section, where there was a sale. I picked out a charcoal pencil set and some acrylic paints to decorate a flower pot.
Starting point is 00:12:15 I was totally absorbed in choosing my materials when suddenly I heard a hiccup-like sound right behind me. I turned around startled and came face to face with a man dressed like Jack Sparrow, the famous character played by Johnny Depp. The space was so tight the two of us could barely fit. I shivered and stepped aside a bit. Sorry I didn't see you, I mumbled. But I saw you, he replied in a raspy voice, followed by another hiccup. At first I thought he was just playing the role of a pirate,
Starting point is 00:12:48 but I quickly realized he was completely drunk, dilated pupils, and that strong whiskey stench on his clothes. It was unmistakable. Why are you dressed like that? I asked, trying to sound calm. What do you mean why? I'm Jack Sparrow, he replied, eyes wide, as if I'd said something insane. I gave a nervous laugh and his expression suddenly shifted. He frowned, clearly offended by my sarcasm.
Starting point is 00:13:16 Answer me, sailor, he barked. You're the worst Jack Sparrow I've ever seen in my life. I just frowned, turned around, and walked away. Fortunately, the man didn't follow me. When I got to the checkout to pay, I glanced around the store and didn't see him anywhere. Relieved, I walked out into the parking lot. And my heart stopped. my bike was no longer where I had left it.
Starting point is 00:13:40 Then I heard a bone-chilling laugh in the ringing of a bike bell. It came from the darker area of the lot a little farther away. There was no one nearby to ask for help, but my determination kicked in. I wasn't leaving without my bike. With shaky steps, I moved toward the sound. I saw a few parked cars and flickering lights. Soon I spotted Jack Sparrow sitting on my bike at the far end of the parking lot, wearing a sinister smile.
Starting point is 00:14:07 You need to get yourself a girlfriend, pal, he suddenly shouted, and then peddled toward me like a bullet. The scare made me scream and take off running like never before. He chased me on my own bike laughing like a lunatic. I'm going to catch you. I'm going to catch you. I ran toward the highway and just my lock. No cars were nearby.
Starting point is 00:14:30 I kept going in the opposite direction from the store, not realizing I was getting farther away. way. The man peddled faster, clearly enjoying my fear. The scorching sun drained me and my legs barely responded. Just when I felt like I was about to collapse, I saw a truck approaching on the road. Instinctively, I raised my arms and shouted, Please stop, help. The driver honked and stopped. My pursuer also came to a sudden halt, glared at me furiously, and without saying a word, kicked my bike to the ground until the bell snapped off. Then he disappeared into the bushes.
Starting point is 00:15:07 The truck driver got out, helped me into the truck with my bike, and took me home. I was exhausted, drenched in sweat, and my heart was racing. I barely managed to whisper my address. When we arrived, I thanked him between gasps and locked myself in my room. I didn't leave the house for almost a week. Every time I heard a bike bell ring, I got chills. I never told this story because no one would have taken me seriously. Who would believe a man dressed as Jack Sparrow chased me through a parking lot?
Starting point is 00:15:40 Even now, I still wake up in the middle of the night with nightmares about that terrifying pirate riding my bike. Story 3. I worked at Dollar Tree, a well-known discount store for about six months several years ago. My position was as a cashier, and after a few months on the job, I would sometimes have to work alone. We were always looking to hire more staff, but fortunately, whenever I had to work solo, things never got too complicated. My shift was usually the night shift up until closing. The store closed at 10 p.m. and was located in a fairly quiet area. One night, while working alone, it was drizzling lightly.
Starting point is 00:16:22 The rain fell off and on, and I could clearly see it from the front of the store, as the windows by the register faced the parking lot. After 8 p.m., hardly any customers came in, probably because of the weather. To keep myself busy, I did little tasks, organize things, and checked my phone. The last hour always felt eternal, though I was glad to know my shift would soon be over. That night after 9 p.m., we hadn't had a single customer. That was perfectly fine with me, since I always felt a bit anxious being alone when someone entered close to closing time. Around 9.15 I noticed a car pulling into the wet parking lot. Up until that point my car had been the only one there. The vehicle that arrived was a dark blue sedan, a bit old, with four doors. It parked in the spot closest to the store. A stocky man got out of the car. He was wearing a blue raincoat and a gray and red baseball cap. He walked into the store and headed down one of the aisles. I stayed at the register checking my phone.
Starting point is 00:17:27 A few minutes later I saw him walking between the aisles again, making his way toward the front of the store. He seemed to just be browsing. He wasn't carrying any items. Then he vanished from my view, only to slowly approach the exit. Our eyes met briefly. Trying to be polite, I smiled and said, Hi.
Starting point is 00:17:47 The man didn't respond. He just looked away and walked out the door. I watched him return to his car, get in, and drive off. I was alone again. It was around 9.30 p.m. I walked through the store to make sure everything was in order. Then I decided to clean the floors before closing so I could leave right at 10 o'clock. Luckily, no one else came in during that time.
Starting point is 00:18:12 I finished cleaning around 9.50 and went back to the register, spending the last 10 minutes checking my phone. Every so often I checked the time to make sure I would close right on time. At 9.58 p.m. I saw a car pull into the bus. parking lot again. Something felt off. And I quickly realized why. It was the same car that had been there earlier. There was no mistaking it. It was old and had a distinctive look. The man who had come in about 30 minutes earlier was back, but this time he didn't park near the store entrance. Instead, he parked right next to my car, which was further away next to the curb. He parked on the side closest to me, completely blocking my vehicle from view. I found it very strange. I tried to rationalize
Starting point is 00:19:00 it, thinking maybe he had lost something and was coming back to look for it. But what was disturbing was that the man didn't get out of the car. He stayed inside with the engine running. At exactly 10 p.m., it was time to close. I walked to the front entrance, keeping my eyes fixed on the car. I wondered if he would get out once he saw me closing. But he did he. didn't. I locked the doors and went to the back of the store to clock out. Then I returned to the front, hoping he had left. But no, the car was still there, and the man was still inside. At that moment the bad feeling in my gut intensified. Why did he park right next to my car? Why had he come back if he didn't buy anything earlier? I considered walking out and getting in my car,
Starting point is 00:19:48 but something told me not to. What if he was waiting for me? I decided to stay inside. I sat at the register, phone in hand, watching the parking lot every minute. But the man didn't leave. Thirty minutes passed. It was now 10.30 p.m., and the car was still parked motionless next to mine. At that point, I texted my best friend, Brina, who lived nearby. I told her everything that was happening, and without hesitation, she offered to come pick me up. I agreed immediately and asked her to pull up right in front of her. of the main entrance. My car and the strangers were at the back of the lot so I didn't want to go near that area. She said she was on her way. Five minutes later, I saw her car pull into the parking lot. I walked toward the front of the store and stepped outside just as she stopped. I quickly got
Starting point is 00:20:40 into the passenger seat and she drove off without delay. Fortunately, the man didn't follow us. We went to her house and a while later we returned together to Dollar Tree. This time the car was gone. Breena dropped me off next to my car. I was able to get in and drive home without any trouble. After that experience, I can't stop wondering what that man's intentions were. Was he really waiting for me? Did he have something planned? I never wanted to find out, and I'm glad I didn't. Story 4. When I was 16, I got a job at the local supermarket. It was a pretty decent job and the tasks weren't too demanding. I lived in a nice part of the city so most of the customers were older people or wealthy families. Occasionally there would be a small incident, but nothing out of the
Starting point is 00:21:34 ordinary, just upset customers or minor thefts. I worked there for nearly three years until I turned 18, more precisely until June 24th, 2008. That night I had an eight-hour shift that ended at 11. The first few hours went by normally, but around 6 p.m. it started to rain. And it wasn't just a drizzle. It was a full-on storm with heavy rain. When it was time for my meal break, I realized I had left my wallet in the car. Instead of grabbing one of the umbrellas from the lost and found bin, I decided to run out unprotected. Big mistake. The walk to the entrance took less than 10 seconds, but when I came back in, I was already completely soaked.
Starting point is 00:22:20 I bought something quick to eat and went upstairs to try and dry off. About 30 minutes later, I came back down, still a little damp. As I passed through the break room door, I noticed the store was nearly empty. I walked toward the customer service counter. There were only one or two people shopping. I was surprised to see so few people at 7.30, but I figured most didn't want to go out in such heavy rain. I returned to my register and started chatting with my co-worker, Maria.
Starting point is 00:22:48 We talked about her kids while ringing up the few customers who came in completely drenched. Most just realized they needed something essential like milk or toilet paper. Every now and then, the lights would flicker a bit, but we blamed it on the storm. Thunder could be heard in the distance, though it didn't sound too close. I'll restock the shelves tomorrow, I said as I walked over to the displays. I looked outside. In the distance I saw two dogs eating from a knocked over trash bin. behind them there was a shrub-filled area and something was moving among the bushes it wasn't a random movement it was slow and awkward like something trying not to be seen suddenly the dogs turned and started growling in the direction of the bushes just then maria shouted joanna come help me what the hell i muttered confused i walked over to her not really understanding what was going on when i looked back out the window the dogs were
Starting point is 00:23:47 were gone, as if they'd vanished. I swear I saw something come out of the bushes, but it happened so fast I couldn't identify it. After tidying up the aisles, we returned to our stations. It was already 15 minutes past closing time. We called Victor, the guy in charge of overnight cleaning. He lived in a small garage behind the supermarket, so he also handled minor repairs. He came over with his mop to clean near where I was standing. You seem worried, he said when he was. He said when saw me. It's nothing, I replied. I'm just tired. All right, I'll clean up quickly then, he said. Thanks, and I answered as I started putting my things away. Victor had always been kind to me. We even dated for a while. I went outside and stood near the exit to smoke a cigarette.
Starting point is 00:24:37 The road was completely empty, surrounded by forest. The light from the street lamps gave the area an eerie vibe. I lit my cigarette and out of the corner of my eye saw something that froze me in place. Two giant yellow eyes were staring at me from the bushes. The eyelids slowly closed and for a moment I felt like my heart had stopped. You forgot your phone on the desk, Joanna, Victor shouted from inside. Something kicked in. I bolted toward the store. As soon as I shut the door, a massive bolt of lightning lit up the whole place and the lights went out. Damn night. Maria exclaimed as she lit some candles and placed them in holders around the store. Victor sat near a window and lit a cigarette too.
Starting point is 00:25:22 There's something out there, I blurted suddenly, breaking the silence. What did you say? Maria asked. I said there's something outside. I think it ate the dogs or, I don't know. What are you talking about, Joanna? What dogs? I'm telling you there's something out there, something evil. It's a creature.
Starting point is 00:25:44 Its eyes were like a cat's, but huge. It was probably just a cat. You freaked yourself out, Victor said. No, Victor, I know what I saw. Okay, I'll go check it out. No, Victor, don't go. Victor grabbed his mop in one hand and a flashlight in the other. Maria followed him, and I had no choice but to go with them.
Starting point is 00:26:07 We stepped outside and I pointed toward the bush. Victor tapped it with the end of the mop and then aimed his flashlight. In that instant, a chill ran through my body. Peaking out from the bush was part of a feline-like head. Its eyes stared directly at us, and its long-pointed ears stuck up like horns. What the hell is that, Victor Susserow. Hey there, Kitty, are you hungry?
Starting point is 00:26:32 Maria said walking closer. Maria, no, don't go near it. But she didn't listen. Just then the electricity came back, and the street lamp above the bush turned on suddenly. We were paralyzed in terror. In front of us was a massive creature, the size of a lion, but with an extremely thin, hairless body, like a sphinx cat. It had some fur on its face and a thin layer of fuzz around its neck.
Starting point is 00:26:59 Its jaw enormous and drooling open to reveal terrifying fangs. It was quadrupedal, but stood upright on two legs, like a werewolf. Victor completely panicked through his mop and ran. I did the same. But Maria wasn't so lucky. The beast lunged at her, dug its claws into her flesh, and in one swift motion, ripped her in half. It was the most horrifying thing I've ever witnessed.
Starting point is 00:27:26 But there was nothing I could do. If I had stayed, I would have ended up the same way. We rushed inside and locked the glass door, though we knew it wouldn't be enough to stop that creature. From inside, we watched as it devoured our co-worker, then wiped the blood from its face with one of its paws before disavisement. peering into the darkness of the forest. The authorities classified Maria's death as a missing person case. Her body was never found, and it never will be. I just hope none of you ever come
Starting point is 00:27:56 face to face with that creature in your life. Story 5. A couple of months ago, I was doing some shopping at the local dollar store in my neighborhood. I go there pretty frequently and find all kinds of things, basically whatever I need. I don't mind that the quality isn't always the best. because I save a lot of money shopping there. I'm also selective with what I buy, and the items I choose work perfectly for me. Plus, my apartment is just a few minutes away on foot, so it's very convenient.
Starting point is 00:28:30 One Saturday afternoon, a bit late in the day, I decided to head to the store to pick up a few things. It was a quick 10-minute walk from my apartment. That particular dollar store is smaller than others, and it's usually not very crowded. When I walked in that day, noticed there were only a few people scattered around the store. I grabbed a basket and started walking through the aisles, but I hadn't gone far when something strange happened. When I reached
Starting point is 00:28:58 the back corner of the store, I saw a man standing there openly drinking a beer. He was dressed kind of oddly, wearing a green sweater and dress pants. He didn't look homeless, but he didn't seem particularly clean or put together either. It was a pretty strange, and even funny sight, seeing this guy just standing there drinking from a beer bottle like it was nothing. He wasn't shopping. He was just standing there. I even noticed another beer bottle sticking out of his pocket. I chuckled a little to myself, though he didn't even look at me.
Starting point is 00:29:31 Another person passed by and gave him a weird look. I kept browsing nearby, but I couldn't help glancing over from time to time to see if he was still there. Since the store doesn't sell alcohol, I figured he must have brought the beers in from outside. After a while an employee approached him. They told him he had to leave and that he couldn't be drinking inside the store. The man didn't take it well. There was a short argument, and then he left the store angrily. He didn't seem completely drunk, but his behavior was odd.
Starting point is 00:30:02 Maybe he was just messing around. Who knows? I finished shopping and went to pay. I'd picked up about five items which the cashier put together in one bag. I paid, left the store, and started walking back home. I was about halfway there when I saw him again, the same man who had been drinking in the store. Now he was standing by a mailbox drinking another beer.
Starting point is 00:30:26 He looked even angrier. I noticed he was staring straight at me as I approached. When I was about ten feet away, his eyes were still locked on mine. I tried to be polite. I smiled and asked how he was doing. But he didn't change his expression and answered, me with a rude comment. I was pretty shocked. I decided to keep walking without saying anything else, but a few steps later I heard him yell. Where do you think you're going? I told him I was just
Starting point is 00:30:56 heading home, but as soon as I said that, I heard his footsteps coming closer. I turned to face him, and his face looked even more furious. I told him I didn't want any trouble and just wanted to get home peacefully. The man insulted me again. At that, At that point I figured he must have been drunk. He wasn't slurring, but his behavior didn't make sense otherwise. I turned to walk away again, and that's when he grabbed my shoulder and yanked me backward. That's when I snapped into action. I shook his hand off and ran as fast as I could.
Starting point is 00:31:30 He tried to chase me, but he wasn't very fast. I ran all the way back to my building and made it inside before he could catch me. Luckily, he stopped following me just before I got to the entrance. I had never felt that unsafe in my own neighborhood before, but after that encounter, I realized I need to be a little more cautious. I don't know what was wrong with that man or why he acted that way, but honestly, I hope I never see him again. Story 6. A couple of months ago, I went shopping at the dollar tree in my neighborhood. I come from a low-income family, and this store is one of the few places where we can all go together, buy a few things and have a good time without feeling the pressure to spend too much money.
Starting point is 00:32:17 Even if we don't buy anything, it's still a family outing we enjoy. The kids love it and we feel relaxed. That day, Thomas, my husband, had just gotten a job and invited all of us to pick out something we wanted. The kids were thrilled. What none of us knew was that sometimes cheap things come at a high cost. As soon as we entered the store, our two children got so excited that they ran straight to the toy section before we had a chance to ask them to stay with us. Martine, our oldest, picked a helicopter, while Gwen our youngest grabbed a warplane. It was clear they had planned to buy similar toys ahead of
Starting point is 00:32:53 time. It made me smile, and I was happy for them. Thomas picked out a screwdriver, and I was excited because I was finally going to buy a picture frame I had seen a few weeks earlier. It might seem like a small thing, but when you're struggling to put food on the table, every dollar counts. I went to grab it at the end of our shopping trip, and there it was, the last one left in the store. I was thrilled thinking about placing it by my bedside with a family photo I could look at every night before going to sleep. I walked over excitedly like a little girl, and just as I grabbed it, a woman shoved me and ripped it from my hands. Hey, I saw it first. Get your filthy poor hands off that, she yelled. The woman was heavyset and athletic looking.
Starting point is 00:33:39 She wore clearly branded sportswear and obviously came from money. What the hell? I grabbed it first. How dare you push me like that? Yeah, you grabbed it first, but I saw it before you. I'm not going to argue with a low-class cockroach like you. Go cook for your husband. Look, first of all, I demand respect.
Starting point is 00:34:01 I'm a human being just like you, and nothing gives you the right to push me. Second, who I cook for is my business. You should be thankful it was someone like me and not someone who would have rearranged your face. It's a miracle, your kids aren't in a zoo and your husband's not the one mopping the floors in the store, she said with a nasty smile. My patience has limits.
Starting point is 00:34:26 I consider myself a calm woman. I always try to resolve things peacefully. But when someone insults my family, I snap. Without thinking, I slapped her, snatched the frame from her hands, and walked away with purpose. Before leaving, I turned back and said one last thing in front of Thomas and the kids who were looking on, not fully understanding what had happened.
Starting point is 00:34:50 And by the way, if you're so rich, what the hell are you doing shopping at Dollar Tree? The woman froze. Her face turned bright red, and she started breathing heavily, her rage growing by the second. The veins in her face bulged like she was about to explode. She had gone from your typical Karen to a raging gorilla ready to attack us. I ignored her tantrum and rejoined my family. Wow, nice to meet you, Angela, Thomas said sarcastically. Shut up, I'd never let some bitter witch insult my beautiful family.
Starting point is 00:35:25 Apparently, the witch took it too personally. She abandoned her cart and stormed off. When I turned around, I confirmed what Thomas had said. She had vanished in seconds. She had been buying a lot of stuff, but left it all behind. Your slap must have hit her soul, Thomas commented. Good, I replied. She was probably one of those rich girls no one ever stood up to.
Starting point is 00:35:49 It was about time she got a dose of reality. While we were paying for our items, I saw her. She was outside, watching us with rage. Still red, still panting. At that moment, I felt something was wrong. I told Thomas to prepare for the worst. but when he looked up, she was gone. We hurried to the car.
Starting point is 00:36:12 We didn't run into anyone and got inside, ready to leave, but something was off. The car started, but wouldn't move. No, this can't be, Thomas said. What's wrong? I think someone slashed the tires. Outside the same woman was furious. She was violently hitting our car full of hate.
Starting point is 00:36:34 She wasn't trying to break in. she was trying to destroy it with us inside. How dare you put your filthy, disgusting hands on me, you bitch. I'm going to kill you and your cockroach family. Leave us alone. My kids didn't do anything to you. No, I'm done. I don't care if you're a woman.
Starting point is 00:36:53 I'm going to stop this. Thomas shouted, getting out of the car. As soon as he started talking to her, the woman tased him with a stun gun and then hit his knee with a metal rod. When he fell, she stomped on his arm. face like she was trying to crush a bug. Her eyes were completely deranged. I rushed out to stop her, but she had insane reflexes. She intercepted me and hit me in the stomach with the same rod. I collapsed and she hit my knee too, laughing. Both of us were on the ground in pain. We couldn't see her anymore,
Starting point is 00:37:26 but in that moment she wasn't close. We tried to get up slowly, and then I saw her again. I screamed as loud as I could. She was back with a bucket of gasoline. She was pouring it over our car, with the kids inside. No, stop. I never wanted that damn picture frame, but I hate families like yours, especially the kids. I tried to crawl as fast as I could to stop her. Thomas did too, but he was farther behind. When she pulled out a lighter, I knew we wouldn't make it in time. It was over. Suddenly a man appeared and tackled her. Another woman ran to the car and pulled the kids out just in time. Before we knew it, the place was surrounded by people. Even though there hadn't been many around Dollar Tree that day, the chaos had drawn attention. The police arrived seconds later and arrested
Starting point is 00:38:21 the woman who was thrashing around like a wild animal. Not long after, the woman's family offered us a large sum of money to avoid charges, but we refused. Our story was a story. We became known and many people started making donations since neither of us could work that support helped us get back on our feet we weren't going to live a life of luxury but thanks to the generosity of strangers we were far more comfortable as for the woman not only did she lose her trial she was disowned by her own family who wanted nothing to do with her she had never worked a day in her life but when she gets out of prison she'll have no choice but to get a job if she doesn't want to starve.

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