Kleptomaniac at the Post Office

I would imagine that anytime a business has pens lying around for their customers to use, it would not be a rare occurance if a customer walked out with one. Unless there was a spoon, a flower, or some other massive object taped to the pen to help the customer remember that the pen is not theirs. I'd like to think that it was this sort of mix up that allowed some dude to take my pen at the post office yesterday, but I doubt it. Here's why:

I hate using the post office pens. All I can think about is how many other people have had their hands on those pens and it simply sickens me. Thus, I carry my own pen in my purse that I can use to fill out paperwork at the local businesses. So when I arrived to the post office yesterday and had to fill out the address on a Priority Envelope, I promptly pulled out my RSVP pen and went to work. Meanwhile, another man stepped up to the counter by me and filled out his own envelope. I finished before him and got in line, still holding my pen, and he ended up behind me.

Finally, it was my turn to be serviced by one of the five postal workers at the counter and I took a few packages to "Cheryl"'s section of the service counter to be mailed (Cheryl is one of the friendliest postal workers I have ever encountered). After she finishes weighing my packages, she tells me the total, and I put my pen down next to my purse on the counter so that I can get the coinage from my purse. At this point, the man who had filled out his envelope next to me was being serviced by the postal worker two stations down from me. This guy stepped around the customer that was between us, says "excuse me," and takes my pen. I was taken aback when he did this, so I quickly hand Cheryl my change, I turn to get my pen back. However, he's out the door! He didn't use it at his counter, or anything rational like that; the dude simply and consciously stole my pen! Can you tell I'm a little irritated? I guess he thought he needed it more than me.