Lesson - Inspiring Story
by John McCarthy
(Highland, Michigan, USA)
7:56 am - On my knees pulling eggs forward and as always, doing the work that was supposed to be done the night before. Cursing my night guy in my head, I was sure it was going to be a bad day from the start.
7:59 am - Could this day really start out this way? Why do they let the customers in so early! GOD I HATE THIS JOB! GOD I HATE THESE CUSTOMERS!
8:00 am - Still on my knees, I looked down at the end of the isle, there she was, the kind of customer I hated the most, the early bird that thinks she is going to get the freshest stuff, messing up my department already by pushing all the milk to one side so she can get that quart of skim milk she is so sure has an expiration date of 6 months away!
I couldn't see her as she pushed her cart right at me, I could only see her ugly ankles and old lady shoes because she was so short. I tried to come up with a name to describe the left wheel that was wobbling and squeaking. Le’ squabble? I chuckled to myself.
I decided not to move and stay focused on trying to look like I was doing something important with the egg. Not wanting to stand up, I looked forward, intently hoping not to be acknowledged. But that never happened; these old people just have to make a stupid remark. And sure enough, I heard, “Sir, can you hand me a container of Egg Beaters?”
Handing one backwards, without saying a word, I looked straight ahead as if a chicken was going to pop out of the eggs! Then... I heard those words I just loved so much, “These are $2.99 at Hillers Market and a $3.19 is too expensive for me on a fixed income”.
As she handed them back to me, I told her to go to Hillers! (In my head) “I’m sorry Ma’am I don’t make the prices”. Forced to turn around, I had to be polite and interact with her. Standing up, I towered over her, and looking down, I'm shocked at how damaged her face was! Her mouth was all twisted and gross. I couldn't get out of there fast enough! God was she messed up! I didn’t say anything as I walked to the back room.
After a few minutes, my thought went back to that ugly old lady. I came out of the back room and grabbed a container of Egg Beaters. She was checking out at the register as I put them in a bag and handed it to her. “Take this free of charge” I said. “We might be a bit more expensive on this, but they don’t have me working there and I’m worth the extra money!”
As she looked at me, she managed to force a smile. “Thank you” she said softly, “You’re a very kind man”.
Out of nowhere I responded with “Parakalo” which is Greek for “you're welcome”.
“How do you know I’m Greek?” she asked. “Do I know you?”
“No, you don’t know me” but I know you” I said.
Standing there looking down on her, I looked into her eyes, and as my own eyes filled with big puddles of tears, I hugged her and whispered to her “I think you’re a wonderful and beautiful person.”
Her eyes filled with tears as she hugged me with all she could. We didn’t say anything as I put her items in a bag and the cashier finished ringing her up.
As she was leaving we hugged again and I kissed her on her beautiful cheek. She said “I will never shop at Hillers no matter what the cost!”
I walked back to the cooler and hid in the corner so no one would see me cry. I felt so ashamed for hating that customer.
The cashier came looking for me, “John, that old lady told me to tell you that you are an angel and she will never forget your kindness. How do you know her?"
I didn't really know her, but I knew of her. About 3 months ago, she was on television and they were doing a special on her and her life.
She was a little girl about 12 when the Germans invaded her island. The Island of Crete. She was living in a rural village when a group of German solders came through and terrorized her family. Her mother and sister were raped and killed. Her father was killed also. She was raped and shot point blank with a shotgun in her face and kicked into a ditch to die. After 4 days of lying in the ditch, she was found still alive.
She lived with family members never dreaming any one would want to marry her with such a disfigured face. She was wrong. She married a wonderful man and raised several children.
As the cashier walked away, I thought to myself “God I love my job! God I love my customers!
