Tic-Tac-Too Late

(It’s early Thanksgiving morning, and the rush of people who have forgotten something is beginning. I’m checking out a customer when a young mother and her one-year-old daughter come into my lane. The child is being very fussy. I smile at the mother.)

Mother: “I know. Here.” *grabs some Tic-Tacs and gives them to her daughter* “Instant toy.”

(Another lane opened up and the cashier took the mother and child. The girl had fun shaking her Tic-Tacs while her mom checked out. She started chewing on the box as they left, and I noticed that they were not charged for the mints.)