Bry and I are trying to get to China. Fair enough, you know that already. But you may or may not know that Bry and I have been rolling coins we find. We both work as cashiers and whenever someone chooses to leave behind their change, since January we have been taking those coins home and rolling them. I won't divulge how much we've managed to save up that way so far, but it has proved worthwhile. So, here's what happened tonight:
I had managed to find a whopping three pennies to tuck aside today, when I was put up front to cover my coworker's break. When you work in one place long enough, you notice the people who return frequently. We have a gentlemen that comes in every few weeks (perhaps more frequently, but during times I'm not working) who is homeless and usually comes in for our clearance candles. He's never anything but polite and I've always wished I had some way to help him out.
Tonight he came in as I was up front. He came up to the counter to purchase one singular spoon. The spoon cost $1.99, according to the sign. He handed me two dollars. I hit total and the register added 16 cents tax. I reluctantly tell him the total aloud and ask if he has fifteen cents. He said he doesn't think he does but quickly walks outside to check. As he's gone I recall that I have at least that much in my change purse and contemplate the morality of shorting my drawer and replacing the fifteen cents he didn't have with my own money when we close in an hour. By the time I made up my mind, he returned.
He had misheard me and stood before me offering me two quarters. I told him that I only needed fifteen cents and took one quarter from him. He takes his spoon and begins to walk away. I call after him, thinking he must need it, "Did you want your dime?" and he replied, "Keep it. Give it to somebody who needs it."
I was ready to give the man fifteen cents, and in exchange I received a dime to add to our China Fund.
Thank you, stranger.
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