Pumping Out One Last Christmas Miracle

(It’s right at closing two days before Christmas. We’ve already stayed open two hours later than usual and the staff are exhausted. A frantic lady slips in right as my manager is locking the doors.)

Me: “Hi, I’m so sorry. We’re closing—”

Customer: “I know you’re nearly closed, but it’s an emergency!”

Me: *realizing she’s about to cry* “Are you okay, ma’am?”

Customer: “My dog chewed up my breast pump and my baby won’t nurse!”

Me: “What brand is it?” *I’ve spent the last three hours working in the baby department*

Customer: “I need a spare valve and tubing from [Brand].”

Manager: *just about dead on his feet* “Do you know where it is?”

Me: “Keep the last register open a minute longer. We’ve got it in stock, and I know exactly where it is.”

(I run and get it; it only takes me a minute to find it and return.)

Customer: “My god, you’re an angel. An absolute angel. My daughter’s three weeks old, and she won’t breastfeed, so I need the pump, and this is a Christmas miracle! I’m so sorry I made you stay later than you had to.”

Me: “Don’t worry about it; it was an emergency. Merry Christmas!”

(She even came back the next day with cookies!)