Pay It Forward

The Cashier looked at me and said, “That’ll be $8.16.”


I blinked.


Realizing her error she said, “Oh! I’m sorry.” That was the price of the groceries of The Customer in front of me.


I laughed and said, “Oh. I thought we were trying something new today. I pay for her groceries; she pay for mine.” The Young Woman in front of me started laughing and said, “Yeah. I’d love somebody to pay for my groceries.”


I said, “Yeah, wouldn’t that be nice.”


And then I thought “ Yeah, that would be nice.” So then I paid for her groceries.


She turned to me and said, “Are you for real?”


I said, “Yes. $8.16 ain’t gonna break me.” At least not today.


The Young Lady thanked me, we hugged, and she damn near skipped out of the store saying she couldn’t wait to tell her mom.


Even The Cashier was grinning at me for all she was worth; putting a lil’ extra in her wish for me to have a good day.


(The only one not in on the smile fest was the person on line behind me who would be buying their own groceries.)


Back in the day, before EZ-Pass, I used to sometimes pay the toll for the person behind me. As I’m able, it might be time to find ways to start doing this type of thing more often. The butterfly effect of good will is worth it, don’t you think?