$25.03
A woman crying.
A young daughter quietly consoling her mother, eyes darting around wildly. When our eyes locked I could see “help” flashing in them just for a nanosecond.
Let’s start from the beginning…
We have spent the last 3 months in a giving mode. We gave our kids their favorite Halloween costumes. We gave out candy. We gave our friends and family vast amounts of delicious cooked food on Thanksgiving. We gave cans and other goods to the food drives and dropped off toys for toys-for-tots. We spent hours picking out the perfect gifts for everyone in our lives. We gave ourselves the right to stress eat, indulge, and do as we please all season long. We gave and gave and gave.
January comes and we breathe a sigh of relief and begin to shift the focus back on ourselves. Now it’s time to take our bodies back and get things for ourselves back in order. It’s the only thing to do when the weather is bleak and there's little to look forward to until Spring.
While I was wandering the grocery store this morning, filling my cart with salads and healthy lunch snacks, I saw an Indian woman about my age, draped over the apples with her eyes closed. I wasn’t sure if she was crying or having a migraine.
My 4-year-old was prattling on about fruit roll-ups as I pushed the cart a little closer. I paused to look at some fruit I didn’t intend to buy watching the woman and her daughter, who was about 11-years-old. She was just as tall as the mother and had on a similar pink and yellow tunic. The daughter was holding a small basket of groceries and a gallon of milk. She set down the basket and started patting her mother on the back. “Are you okay?” She whispered. Her eyes were darting around the produce section. Was she embarrassed or was she looking for help?
“Mmm-hmm” I mumbled, as my son continued to talk about things that only 4-year-olds talk about.
I wanted to go ask if they needed help but I never want to pry, embarrass, or bother. The daughter was whispering things in an unfamiliar language as the mother stood perfectly still with her eyes still closed. Once again the daughter's beautiful eyes searched the area and when our eyes met I saw a flash of "help" looking back at me.
The woman finally started moving again, shoulders slumped, she was leaning against her daughter who was walking as focused as possible to the checkout.
I followed behind a distance, watching them. If they need help, please let me be of service, I thought.
There were 2 people between us with 1 item in their baskets each. A cashier came over and grabbed the next person in line. Less than a minute later another cashier came for the person in front of me. Now I was right behind them.
Ketcher was sitting in the front basket of the cart putting items he could reach on the belt. The mother was leaning against the wall of candy with her hand covering her eyes. Her daughter was fumbling with the credit card machine.
“Do I use it like this?” Her card was turned the wrong way. I knew there was no right way she could get that card to work. The mother moved next to her and shook her head. She tried again the right way; after a short pause, and another head shake from her mother, I moved in.
“Do you need some help?”
They didn’t answer. I looked at the daughter and said, “here let me help.” I slid my card in. The daughter was speaking to her mother again. I didn't recognize the words but the tone was urgent. As the machine took its time processing the transaction I wrapped my arm around the daughter's shoulders. She turned in and hugged me.
When I pulled my card out and stuffed it into my coat pocket the mother flung her arms around me. Her eyes wet with tears and cheeks shining from tears that had been falling for too long to tell.
“Thank you! God bless you!” was all she said. I didn’t know what to say but “It’s going to be okay.”
The daughter smiled at me one last time while they gathered their goods. I busied myself with organizing the groceries on the belt. They left and the cashier looked at me baffled. “That was such a nice thing you did.” I smiled and said, “I was just here at the right time.” She nodded.
It was $25.03 but it was so much more than that. This mother and daughter needed to know that there are people looking out for them. A stranger at the grocery store cares. I think people really need to know this right now. People care. I care. Hopefully, you care.
I am writing this, not for any praise or accolades. I am writing this to remind everyone during this dark time to remember there are still people that need to be helped. Keep an eye out and an opportunity will present itself. It may not feel natural to help a stranger, but it sure feels good.
Thanks for reading!
~Amanda
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