In The Market For Some Christmas Cheer

(I’m a cashier in the food hall. We’ve been busy with older customers as it’s the last ‘pension day’ before Christmas. A husband and wife come and stand close to my till. The husband begins cherry picking older customers, those with ‘lonely’ looking trolleys, and directing them to my till.)

Wife: *to first customer* “Merry Christmas!”

Customer: *huge smile* “Merry Christmas!”

Wife: “I hope you won’t be offended, but my husband and I would like to pay for your shopping.”

(The customer is stunned and can only stammer a thank you. The wife helps pack the shopping and pays on her card. They stand in the store for almost two hours and must have paid for about thirty people’s shopping. They chat with everyone and even hug people who ask! Watching customers leave with big smiles on their faces made me tear up more than once. My manager came over before they left to thank them for their generosity.)

Manager: “I have to ask, why do you feel the need to do such a thing?”

Husband: “When you give money to charity, you never know where it’s going. This way we know we’re helping the people who need it most.”

(Before they left they bought a case of wine which they left behind for the employees. From everyone they helped, and from all my colleagues, I’d like to say a massive thank you!)