The man’s wife finally spoke up, albeit timidly, “No, I’m just a bit tired, but it’s okay. I can manage.”

Mary turned her attention back to the man and said, “I’m sorry, but our policy is to ensure that our customers who need mobility assistance have access to it. There are benches near the entrance if your wife would like to take a seat for a moment.”

Still unwilling to back down, the man argued, “But she needs it more than he does!”

Mary shook her head gently, saying, “I understand your concern for your wife, but we must prioritize those who rely on wheelchairs to move around the store. If you need, I can see if we have any additional wheelchairs available for customer use today.”

The man seemed to deflate slightly, realizing he was not going to win this battle. His wife tugged at his arm, whispering something I couldn’t quite hear, and they started to walk away, albeit reluctantly.