You stood in front of me in line at the cash register in the supermarket this evening. You had a basket full of groceries and two beautiful kids with you. They were toddlers, just a little older than my own daughter, a boy and a girl. They looked like twins. As you were checking out, your daughter wanted to swipe the credit card for you. This feels all too familiar, as Amelie always wants to play with the touch pad when I check out. Patiently, and not caring what the other people in line behind you would think, you gave her your card and watched her try to get it in the right angle to fit the thin slot. When she couldn't get it, you didn't just take the card out of her hands, but guided her little hands until she she finally heard that "beep" of the credit card machine. I loved you for not rushing her, although it was almost 7 pm and you were probably tired and wanted to get dinner ready and the kids to bed. Your daughter had the biggest smile on her face and looked to so proud. I loved you for letting her have that moment.
Then the cashier looked at you and asked you to try again as there seemed to be an error with the credit card machine. You swiped your credit card again and I heard the cashier say: "It was not approved." Those dreaded words nobody wants to hear, especially a mom with her two toddlers after having done a week's worth of grocery shopping, late in the evening. You stated, that the amount was approved when you (your daughter) swiped it the first time and that you just used the credit card at another place and it worked fine.
The manager was called. I smiled at you, trying to ease the pressure of the situation and signalizing, I am on your side. I was in no rush. And even if I were, I would have felt for you. I prayed that nobody behind me in line would say something confrontational. Not for your sake, but for theirs. I felt like your bodyguard, wanting you to shield you from any added stress.
The manager came and explained that your credit card was charged a random amount and that it does not seem to be working anymore. You asked to try again. "Not approved". The manager suggested, you should call your bank. You let out a big sigh and said: "Today of all days, I leave my phone in the car." You didn't get upset and blame the cashier or the credit card machine. You didn't argue with the manager. I am not sure that was because you are a really nice and patient person or because you simply didn't have the energy left.
I felt so bad for you. I offered to watch your kids, while you run to the car to grab your phone. Just like I would, you declined politely. I get it. I would not let a stranger watch my kids, even if it is just for a few minutes. But I wanted to help you out so badly. If I could have afforded it, I would have paid for your groceries, right then and there. I thought about it. You probably would not have let me. So I watched you push your shopping basket to the side of the aisle, take out your two kids and leave the store.
The cashier looked at me, shrugged her shoulders and started to ring up my ingredients for the vegetable pizza I was planning on making. Could she empathize with you? I couldn't tell.
When I left the store, I saw you in the parking lot on the way to my car. You were on the phone, visibly upset. I don't know what you were saying, but I didn't need to. I saw your kids, agitated in the back of your car and how you were trying to calm them, while talking on the phone. I wanted to go to you and say how sorry I felt and ask you if there was anything I could do to help. I didn't. For some reason, I felt like it would have embarrassed you. I did not want to cause you further stress.
When I was driving out the parking lot, I saw you buckling your kids into their car seats. There couldn't have been enough time for you to go into the store, pay and load the shopping bags into the car. You left without the groceries, you probably spent at least an hour to shop for and for which you had already partially paid. I don't know the reason. But my heart went out for you today.
Wherever you are now, I am still thinking of you. I hope, that tomorrow you will have a wonderful day with your children and that you are able to quickly forget about this unfortunate situation at the store. Right now, I am quietly saluting you from behind my computer keyboard for handling the situation like you did. Tonight, you are my hero.
Then the cashier looked at you and asked you to try again as there seemed to be an error with the credit card machine. You swiped your credit card again and I heard the cashier say: "It was not approved." Those dreaded words nobody wants to hear, especially a mom with her two toddlers after having done a week's worth of grocery shopping, late in the evening. You stated, that the amount was approved when you (your daughter) swiped it the first time and that you just used the credit card at another place and it worked fine.
The manager was called. I smiled at you, trying to ease the pressure of the situation and signalizing, I am on your side. I was in no rush. And even if I were, I would have felt for you. I prayed that nobody behind me in line would say something confrontational. Not for your sake, but for theirs. I felt like your bodyguard, wanting you to shield you from any added stress.
The manager came and explained that your credit card was charged a random amount and that it does not seem to be working anymore. You asked to try again. "Not approved". The manager suggested, you should call your bank. You let out a big sigh and said: "Today of all days, I leave my phone in the car." You didn't get upset and blame the cashier or the credit card machine. You didn't argue with the manager. I am not sure that was because you are a really nice and patient person or because you simply didn't have the energy left.
I felt so bad for you. I offered to watch your kids, while you run to the car to grab your phone. Just like I would, you declined politely. I get it. I would not let a stranger watch my kids, even if it is just for a few minutes. But I wanted to help you out so badly. If I could have afforded it, I would have paid for your groceries, right then and there. I thought about it. You probably would not have let me. So I watched you push your shopping basket to the side of the aisle, take out your two kids and leave the store.
The cashier looked at me, shrugged her shoulders and started to ring up my ingredients for the vegetable pizza I was planning on making. Could she empathize with you? I couldn't tell.
When I left the store, I saw you in the parking lot on the way to my car. You were on the phone, visibly upset. I don't know what you were saying, but I didn't need to. I saw your kids, agitated in the back of your car and how you were trying to calm them, while talking on the phone. I wanted to go to you and say how sorry I felt and ask you if there was anything I could do to help. I didn't. For some reason, I felt like it would have embarrassed you. I did not want to cause you further stress.
When I was driving out the parking lot, I saw you buckling your kids into their car seats. There couldn't have been enough time for you to go into the store, pay and load the shopping bags into the car. You left without the groceries, you probably spent at least an hour to shop for and for which you had already partially paid. I don't know the reason. But my heart went out for you today.
Wherever you are now, I am still thinking of you. I hope, that tomorrow you will have a wonderful day with your children and that you are able to quickly forget about this unfortunate situation at the store. Right now, I am quietly saluting you from behind my computer keyboard for handling the situation like you did. Tonight, you are my hero.