Universal Homework...

Funny story about the Universe.

On Wednesday I made a Facebook post about your sphere of influence and would you be proud or embarrassed by what you put out there. Then I went to the grocery store and the Universe said, "Show your work."

I was unloading my groceries and there was a young man ahead of me. I started to catch the conversation he was having with the checker. 

"That's $42.16."

"I only have $30.00"

And so they started going through his things to see what he could take off. Off went the Dr. Pepper. But that wasn't enough. She suggested the Chinese noodles he had gotten from the deli. That would take the rest off he needed. He said, "That was going to be my lunch, but I guess."

So she took those off and his total was twenty nine dollars and some change. 

I got her attention and told her just to ring those up on my order. 

He first looked at me kind of horrified, like I was going to take his Dr. Pepper and noodles, then realized that I was paying for them and he could take them. He thanked me, I told him it was not a problem that we've all been there before and I was glad I could help him out. Then as he left he thanked me again and wished me a good day. 

Nice kid. Zero eye contact. Very uncomfortable speaking to me directly. But nice kid.  

What a good day at the grocery store, which I HATE going to the grocery store so anytime I can leave with a positive feeling that's...oh wait. I'm not done. 

The guy behind me in line had something to add. 

"You shouldn't have done that. Now he's just going to expect people to do that for him all the time. It's like feeding a stray dog."

Oh lord...now I'm not sure if all of you know my feeling on that particular analogy but for those of you that do know that Bad Denise stepped in without even a moment of hesitation from Good Denise getting out of the way. 

I smiled at him. "First off you did not just compare that young man to a stray dog because he didn't have the money to cover his groceries. And secondly, if there was a stray dog near me that was starving and I had the means to feed it I would. Because decent people don't let others starve."

"He wasn't going to starve. Those were luxury items he didn't even need."

So I looked at his groceries that were now on the belt. "Should I start labeling what you need and what you don't?"

He puffed out his chest. "I'm paying for this with my own money so it's nobody's business what I buy."

"And that was my money. It's none of your business what I buy with it."

"You could see how he kept looking back at us waiting for someone to pay for his things."

"What I saw was a kid who was clearly embarrassed to be short and was aware the line was backing up and that people were probably going to judge him. Which, clearly, they were."

"He conned you."

"Even if he did, what business is it of yours? Maybe pay attention to your own things and stop worrying about mine."

And then when he started to speak again I held up my hand in a stop motion. Man the huff he huffed at that. 

The checker finished checking me out smiled and said, "I won't ask you if you want to donate to the food drive since you already have." I smiled back and told her "We all need to help out when we are able. Sometimes it's just a lot more direct."

And as I was walking away he told the checker, "She was..." and the checker cut him off and said, "I think it was a nice thing to do."

So I left the store fairly ticked off. But also glad I could help out that young man. I've literally been the person taking things off my total to cover it. I've been the person at the gas pump putting in exactly $4.00 because I had exactly $4.00. I've been the person embarrassed to my core that I was broke. I'm glad he got to have his noodles, that I'm sure he had been looking forward to, and his Dr. Pepper. 

I'm glad the checker felt emboldened enough to shut that guy down again. Even though the vein in his forehead probably exploded over it. 

And I'm glad that I don't have a problem making my voice heard when I need to. Speaking up to cover the few dollars he needed. Speaking up to shut down the dude behind me. My sphere of influence on Wednesday was a different one than normal, but I hope I made a positive difference.

Even though when I got home and Brent looked at the grocery receipt he was bummed there wasn't actually Dr. Pepper and Chinese noodles for lunch. 

And when he heard the dude used the stray dog line on me and I didn't swear or punch him in the nose he gave me the appropriate virtual gold star. 

Overall it was a good trip to the grocery store. And the Universe was appeased.