Pay the Difference

By Jill Orikasa, 365 Days of Service, Pukalani Chapter

Recently, I have started working with a girl from Kansas, Rachel.  Since she is far from home and on a budget, we went shopping for gifts at the swap meet.  While there we came up with a plan to make Hawaiian print pillow cases and other gifts for her nieces and nephews.  We head to Fabric Mart.

We walked through the door and saw a group of women at the front of the line and 2 or 3 additional customers waiting in line.  At that point my daughter ran off...so I go to chase her.  There are a couple of woman at the checkout.  The cashier is explaining to them that they still needed $3.64.  The cashier also told them that since she had already cut the material she couldn't put it back out on the shelf.  As I catch Aliya, the cashier asks the other women with her if they have the money to help their friend.  Hearing that, Rachel walked right up to the cashier and gave them some money.  The cashier asked Rachel if she was sure and Rachel said that it wasn't a problem.

The cashier explained to this group of women that Rachel had offered to pay the difference for their things.  I didn't see the expression on their faces, but you could tell that they were happy.
After Rachel and I had made our own purchases, the cashier had thanked her again.  She explained to us that even if Rachel hadn't stepped in, it wouldn't have been a problem.  These women come in all the time and purchase material.  Sometimes they have the money and other times they don't.  This store will hold on to their things and let them come back at a later time with the money they owe.

I got to witness two acts of kindness today the first from Rachel helping these woman and the second from the workers at the store.  What a way to spread some holiday cheer!