Helping a Sister

I won't lie. Sometimes I'm really annoyed waiting in a long line to purchase a single item at a store.


Today I was witness to this exact predicament playing out in the finest way possible. Enter "Woman A," we'll call her Sally. Sally is an older woman, next in the line at Costco with a shopping cart full of items to purchase. Enter April. April is behind Sally waiting to purchase two items. Enter "Woman B," we'll call her Peggy. Peggy is another older woman, has one item, and is behind April.


First, Sally doesn't empty her shopping cart. When the cashier asks April who the cart belongs to, April directs him to Sally. This is Sally's cart. Cashier looks at Sally, Cashier looks at April, and Cashier and April empty Sally's cart onto the belt.


Then Cashier asks Sally for her membership card. Sally can't find her membership card. She digs around her purse for a moment, looks up and sees Peggy. Sally says to Peggy, "You only have 1 item? Go ahead." Sally looks at Cashier and says, "Ring her up."


Cashier looks at April then looks at Sally and says, "She's next in line," pointing to April. April looks at Cashier and says, "Go ahead."


Cashier rings up Peggy. Peggy thanks Sally. Sally wishes Peggy a Happy Thanksgiving. Peggy leaves.


Sally finds her membership card. Cashier rings up Sally. Sally slowly pays her transaction, carefully counting out her bills, then after paying decides she doesn't want her chicken. Sally hands the chicken to Cashier. Cashier tells Sally that unfortunately her transaction is closed and she has to go to the customer service desk for help. Sally slightly bickers and walks away.


Cashier rings up April's two items. April pays. Cashier shakes April's hand and says, "Thank you for being patient. Happy Thanksgiving."


Sally had a sisterhood with Peggy. Peggy and her one item made it out in a flash. And, neither April nor Cashier, no matter what was said or done, could have interfered with this act of service from Sally.


Some battles just shouldn't be fought. And, if you're in the checkout line with a lot of items, think about the person behind you that might just have one.