It is unfortunate, but my city has a huge shoplifting/theft/petty crime issue. Mostly in part to the lovely government not wanting to punish repeat offenders, which leaves local businesses to suffer, despite years of complaints. Police are tired of them, too; it’s that bad. Relevant context for what I am about to share.

It’s early in the morning, I’ve just gotten my breakfast, and the store has barely been open. A man comes in; I give him a chipper as I can muster a greeting while he goes to the candy. After making a selection with a flourish or five, he walks up to the counter.

Customer: *Smiling.* “I’m taking this.”

Me: *Thinking I have a jokester on my hands.* “Okay, you’ll have to pay for it!”

Customer: *Shaking his head smugly.* “No.”

He was serious.

Now, we are a private, independent local business. We have given out freebies before to people in need, and who ask us nicely and with honesty. Neither of which just happened.

I’m tired, sick of all the theft, and recovering from bad congestion, so my patience meter is as short as an overly burned candle wick.

Me: “Then you don’t get it.”

The man turns to leave. I walk around the counter with all of the fury of a disappointed mother. I take the candy from him and put it back. He’s shocked that I defied him, mumbling something about me thinking he is a creep and other commentary. Hard to hear when your sinuses are committing to a strike blockade and blocking off part of your hearing.

What the man apparently doesn’t expect is for me to call out the door after him with an angrier yet disappointed mom tone.

Me: “There is a difference between asking for something nicely and saying you’re gonna take it!”

Customer: *Suddenly VERY meek.* “I’m sorry, I’m sorry!”

I return inside and resume my day. As I always say: kindness begets kindness, rudeness begets you the f*** out of my store.

(It’s in the middle of December, in the Yukon, which is famous for its minus-forty-degree winters. Our store’s heaters have failed. My coworker is under-dressed in a thin long-sleeve shirt. I’m wearing a heavy sweater, but I still feel the cold. Despite the weather, we actually have a customer come inside. We temporarily ignore our shivering state to help her out.)

Customer: “Hello, I’ll just take these for today.”

Me: “Alright, did you need a bag for anything?”

Customer: “Oh, no, I’m fine. You two look awfully cold.”

Me: “We kind of are.”

Coworker: “Our heaters aren’t working like they should be, so we’re kind of stuck.”

Customer: “Oh, well just a second…”

(We both wait as she rummages around in her purse. After a moment, she pulls out a packaged gel pack of some kind, and rips open the product right before us.)

Customer: “Here, try this!”

(Inside the gel pack is a metal button. She snaps it, and the gel pack hardens. To our surprise, it starts giving off a tremendous amount of heat.)

Customer: “This is one of those reusable hand warmers; they’re perfect for pockets!”

(My coworker and I both take a turn examining the item, appreciating the amount of heat it’s giving off.)

Me: “Wow, this thing is great!”

Coworker: “This has got to be one of the best things I’ve ever had the pleasure of coming across!”

Customer: “Well, you two have a good day now!”

Me: “We will!”

(The customer leaves without another word. We share the tiny heater until it runs out of heat. The customer even leaves the instructions, so we can reuse it again and again. We both appreciated her kindness, as it literally warmed our hearts that day. Thank you!)

(I work in a tourist souvenir shop. On this day, we receive much-needed maple products, including maple candy, syrup and the like. I am busy labelling the new stock as my coworker receives the stock.)

Me: “Well, I know there will be Japanese tourists in today.”

Coworker: “…Huh?”

Me: “Last time we got our maple shipment in, we sold half of it before it was all completely in the system. They just seem to know when we have it. The Japanese tourists just have a sense for it. We’ll be busy tonight.”

Coworker: “Oh, really?”

Me: “Yep, just you wait…”

(An hour later, two Japanese tourists come into the store and take a look around as we are busy working. When they are finished, both come up to the counter with baskets of maple syrup bottles. Once I’m finished helping both of them, I turn to my coworker.)

Me: “Well what have you got to say to that?”

Coworker: *not believing me* “No comment.”

(About twenty minutes later, I hear the door open, but it doesn’t shut immediately. Curious, I look up in the direction of the door.)

Me: “Oh, look, they brought friends!”

Coworker: *looks up and at the front* “Holy crap!”

(A group of about nine Japanese tourists walk in, all immediately heading for our ‘maple’ section of the store. Due to the small size of the store, it is a lot of people to have in at once. We help them as best we can. Despite there being a huge language barrier, I recognize some words and we are able to help each one of them as they patiently wait their turn in line. Once they are all finished and things are once again quiet, I turn once again to my coworker.)

Me: “So, you believe me now?”