Dear Bodega

Dear Corner Bodega,

While I appreciate your convenience and your willingness to serve my needs, I feel like I must be honest: You just don't do it for me anymore. You have been a saving grace many times, allowing me to purchase things like condoms and olives on the fly. However, I cannot take anymore of your bad habits.

Why must you make everything so expensive? Do you honestly think that I wouldn't notice? Like the time that you took a price tag and made the $1 cookies $2.50. At first, I thought it was just a mistake. Oh no. You just enjoy overcharging me, milking me for all I'm worth. How about the time you charged me for a spoon to eat my yogurt with? I hardly think that was necessary. $6.75 for a container of hummus? Please. Shit's not even that expensive at Whole Foods.

I also think that it is time you consider updating your inventory. I'm pretty sure your meat section expired last August. I cannot speak for everyone, but I know that I sure dislike E. Coli. Also, don't you think it's time to throw out that dusty jar of God-knows-what next to the salsas? It may be a kind of seafood, but it looks more like foreskin. If I wasn't so afraid to touch the jar, I would look at the ingredients. But alas, the layer of dust is a total turn-off.

So, while I thank you for the nights when you have provided me with coffee when no one else was open (albeit awful, expensive coffee), I think it's time I start visiting other markets. You don't seem to care about what I think, and I need a bodega more in tune with my needs. Sorry.

Love,
Ariella