The other night Lois needed some things from the Dollar Store. I agreed to drive and planned to sit in the car and make a phone call while she shopped. When we got there we realized that she had come away from home without her mask.
She dispatched me to do her shopping with a list and her debit card. After an heroic search I was able to find the things she wanted and made my way to the line.
A young man with a family was stocking up on snacks. He appeared to be planning to purchase one of everything. I chuckled and asked him. “Where’s the party? You have one of everything there.”
He laughed and said, “It’s movie night at our house. I’m hungry.”
We arrived at the checkout at the same time. “You go first, he said, “I have one of everything.”
I went first but when she totaled up my purchases I realized that I had left my phone and wallet in the car and I did not know the password for Lois’s card.
“O, no. I’m sorry,” I said to the guy in line behind me with one of everything. “I don’t have my password.”
“Hey, let me pay for that. Go ahead. You don’t have to pay me back. Just pay it forward. No, please. Go ahead. I got this. It’s no big deal. Pay it forward.”
He paid. I went to the car and grabbed my wallet and paid him back with cash. “Thanks,” He said. “Have a great evening.”
I hope he had a good night. I’m sure he did. It was movie night at his house and he was a good dude… and he had one of every kind of snack in the entire store.
You have to wear a mask everywhere these days, but you don’t have to be crabby. Pick out a good movie. Grab plenty of snacks. Help out your fellow man. We’re gunna’ be OK. Oh, and when somebody does something nice for you thank them warmly and remember to pay it forward.
Bittersweet Farm
October 2020