He saw something strange as he proceeded down the aisles. It appeared that an old woman was pursuing him. She wasn’t hurrying or being too noticeable, yet she was there, staying out of sight but never trailing too far.
Initially, the young man believed it might be a coincidence. When he paused, she stopped too, and she would always halt when he grabbed for something. She continued to stare at him even though it seemed like she had no interest in his groceries. Though it made him uneasy, he pushed the idea aside and continued shopping.
The old lady didn’t come up to him until they got to the checkout counter. I hope I haven’t upset you, she murmured as she approached him gently. “It’s just that you look so much like my late son.”
In an attempt to calm things down, the young man said, “That’s okay,” with a friendly grin. Her sincerity and desire to avoid embarrassing her were evident to him.
Then the woman paused, then asked for something pretty out of the ordinary. As she left the store, she added, “I know it’s silly, but it would make me so happy if you called out, ‘Goodbye, Mom.'”
Initially surprised, the young man could sense the vulnerability in her eyes. She felt that her request was significant despite its oddness. “Obviously,” he said, grinning broadly.
When the old woman turned to leave the store, the young man, who now understood why she had asked, shouted, “Goodbye, Mom!” loudly and clearly. She turned, and he saw a kind, appreciative smile light up her face.
The woman gave him a wave before leaving the store with a happy and satisfied expression on her face. The young man was pleased to have been able to add a little more brightness to her day, and he felt a feeling of accomplishment. Feeling pleased about the thoughtful act he had just given, he turned back to the checkout counter.
The clerk greeted him and started ringing up his groceries as he walked up to the cashier. She stated, “That will be $121.85,” after adding up the sum.
Now taken aback, the young man looked over the things he had bought. Then he said, “Why so much?” “I only made five purchases.”
With a knowing smirk, the cashier responded, “Well, your mother said you’d be paying for her things too.”
The young man hesitated, perplexed. At that moment, he realized that the elderly woman’s seemingly innocuous plea was much more than a fleeting flash of nostalgia. He thought he was only helping her feel better, but he had unintentionally joined her scheme to pay for her food.
The young man laughed, a little uncomfortably, when he realized how funny the scenario was. He shook his head at the sudden development as he paid for the items. Nevertheless, he couldn’t help but feel a connection to the elderly woman, who had, in her own way, added some humor to his day.
As he left the store, the young guy thought about how small deeds of compassion can occasionally have the most surprising results. What had begun as a straightforward act of consolation for an unfamiliar person had become a source of both happiness and laughter for him.
And despite the fact that there had been some confusion, the young guy left smiling, recalling how the old woman’s face lit up as he said, “Goodbye, Mom.”
