It Costs Nothing To Be Kind… Well, Sometimes Pennies

An elderly woman came through my line with a few cans of cat food on a slow morning.

Me: “Okay, your total is [around $5].”

Customer: “Can I give you change, sweetie?”

Me: “Sure.”

Now, I thought she meant maybe she had a roll of quarters or a couple of dollars and the rest in change. No… she pulled out a bag that was mostly nickels and pennies. I cringed internally but smiled.

Customer: “Could you count it for me? My hands aren’t too steady.”

Me: “Of course.”

Next Customer: “Really?”

Customer: *Turns red.*

Me: “It’s no problem.”

Next Customer: *Loud sigh.*

I begin picking out the dimes and nickels first, but the man keeps making comments about how “old people need babysitters” and “be prepared if you’re going to buy something.” So I started counting the pennies instead; he almost blew a gasket. I took almost two dollars in pennies before he spoke up.

Next Customer: “Jesus Christ, I’ll buy it.”

Customer: “No, that’s not—”

Next Customer: “—I’d rather pay $5 than stand here watching her count f****** pennies.”

Me: “Okay. Can you step to the side, Ma’am?”

I scanned his purchases, he paid for everything, and left in a huff.

Customer: “He didn’t have to do that.”

Me: “He probably thinks it was a good deed. Can I trade you some of that smaller change?”

Customer: “Oh! That would be nice!”

We counted her whole bag and saw that she had about $13 in change. I took $10 in small coins and gave her a $10 bill instead. She took her cat food and much lighter bag of change and left. I apologized to my manager when I saw her next, knowing she would be the one to count my drawer. She was upset when she saw how much change I had but when I told her what had happened, she forgave me… a little.