The first thing I noticed was that her red fleece holiday pants were missing a few jingle bells. The second thing I noticed was the frown she wore just below her nearly ragged, bright purple Santa hat. She leaned at a 45-degree angle against her shopping cart; which I might add was overflowing with electronic devices. Two or three slow cookers, a small Shark floor cleaner, a food dehydrator, two electric mixers, and a battery-operated, fur-covered neck massager.
She let out a very audible sigh, and dropped her head down upon the shopping cart handle. The large fluffy snowball attached to the tip of the hat swung freely back and forth; brushing her flushed cheeks. She turned and looked at me, her face now empty of emotion.
“I have just about had it,” she said. “And now, to top it all off, here I am waiting in this line. God knows how long we will be here.”
I smiled at her and nodded my head. “No kidding,” I said. “No kidding.”
She sighed once again, straightening up and adjusting her hat. “I love Christmas,” she said. “But I never know what to get or where to get it. It is expensive and draining and, all in all, a real pain in the …” She didn’t finish her sentence, but rather broke out into laughter. “Sorry, miss,” she said.
I waved my hand toward her. “No problem,” I said. “I completely understand. I’m the same way.”
That was not exactly the truth, however. I now did a lot of my shopping online and if I couldn’t come up with an idea for a gift, I opted for cash. I would always love shopping; just not under such pressure.
“I always go for practical,” she said. “You know, things that are useful.” She reached out and rearranged her purchases.
“You are a far better woman than I am,” I said. “I go for sparkly and totally useless most of the time.”
“The world is a mess right now, isn’t it? Times are hard,” she said. We were quiet for a moment as I nodded in agreement.
“Do you have kids?” she asked. I shook my head no. “Well, I do,” she said. “I have kids and my kids have kids! And, I am not a Black Friday girl! I am a wait until it is too late kind of gal. Actually, I am just getting started.”
We both laughed at that, and she pushed ahead and began to put her items up on the counter. She had nearly emptied her cart when I noticed the new red fleece pants and hot pink Santa hat she had in the bottom of the cart. With her eye on the cash register screen, she leaned forward and spoke softly to the associate waiting on her. I stepped closer, hoping I could hear.
The lady brushed her hand over the plush hat just before handing the Santa accessories to the associate. As the lady carefully counted out her cash to pay for her items, it became obvious to me that she did not buy the new Santa accessories because she did not have enough money.
She turned to me one last time. “Merry Christmas, sweet lady. Have a good one.” I returned the well wishes and watched as she walked slowly to the exit, pushing the cart carefully before her.
It was my turn to cash out now. “What will you do with the merchandise she gave you?” I asked the associate.
“Put them back on the rack,” she said.
“May I buy them?” I asked.
The associate smiled at me and brought them back on the counter, ringing them up with my own purchases.
“Can you please put them in a separate bag?” I asked. She obliged, and I gathered up my merchandise and headed for the exit door. Once outside, my eyes scanned the crowded parking lot.
“She shouldn’t be too hard to find,” I whispered. With her bright crimson, jingle bell pants and vivid purple Santa hat, I knew I would find her. And I did.
Merry Christmas everyone! May good health and happiness be with you always.
Belinda Wilcox Ouellette lives in Connor with her husband, Dale, and their Goldendoodle, Barney Rubble. You may contact Belinda online at dbwouellette@maine.rr.com.
