Hard-To-Please-Her Scrooge
(It’s nearing Christmas time, and I am working at the till to cover a coworker’s break. I start to ring through a man’s groceries. Behind him is an old lady, whom I recognize as being a regular. She is always grumpy.)
Man: *quietly* “And I’d like to pay for her stuff, too.”
(I laugh.)
Man: “No, really.”
Me: “Oh! Okay.”
(This has never happened to me before. I look over at the lady’s packages and enter them manually, rather than scanning them, and tell the man his new total.)
Man: “Don’t tell her until after I’m gone.”
Me: “Okay.”
(I finish the transaction, hand him his receipt, and tell him to have a good day. Just as he is about to leave, he drops his wallet. All his cards spill out everywhere, and he has to stop and pick them all up. I put the old lady’s packages in bags and hand them to her.)
Me: “Here you go!”
Old Lady: “What do I owe you?”
Me: “It’s taken care of.”
Old Lady: “What?”
Me: “It’s paid for.”
Old Lady: *scowling* “Who did that?”
(The man is still trying to cram cards back into his wallet without dropping his groceries.)
Me: “Um… him.”
(The old lady starts scowling at him.)
Old Lady: “Why did you do that?”
Man: “Well, it’s Christmas. Merry Christmas.”
(He finally manages to tuck his wallet away and leaves.)
Old Lady: “I know I’ve seen that jerk around somewhere!”
