Unprecedented Endowment.

So, I was at the express checkout with all of two things: contact for my book so that it doesn't somehow rip to shreds whilst sliding and swaying around in my bulging bag, and another- this was last minute impulse buy of course- a packet of Oreos, on sale for 1$. It was the "sale" sign that really tipped me over into getting it, since I only had $5, I was quite satisfied how it all turned out. Anyway, I walked up to the counter (the lady was leaving, and I'd already been through once, and another check out lady I'd passed was at the express checkout now) and manoveured quickly towards the empty check out.

A checkout boy, probably no more than 3 years older than I was, was scanning my 2 items. His loosely cropped, curly blonde hair framed his face, and his glasses were carefully balanced on the bridge of his nose, as he was looking down and they had threatened to fall. About 3 inches taller than me, his lanky, skinny arms nimbly and quickly scanned the two items. I dazed at his tag, where small red print was underlined by larger, capitalised letters spelling out "MICHAEL". Absent-mindedly, I held out the 5 dollars I had so that he could take it, quickly and promptly, so I could be on my way.

"Uh, did you want a bag with that?" His clean voice suddenly broke into my daydream like a little pebble smashing a small window in my view. I snapped back to see him pointing at the two products I was about to pay for as they rolled lifelessly, limply across the counter. His eyes were hidden by the frames of his glasses, and his expression was somewhat dull - perhaps dying of utter boredom of his primitive job.

"Ah, no thanks", my voice almost wobbled, but I was sure I was sincere at it, and he took my money almost instantly.

"I just love -" Michael had began to talk whilst fiddling with the register, getting the receipt and my change at the same time (good at multitasking I suppose) "how you said - no - and made it sound like - I was really - stupid." A smile flickered across his face, but he remained looking down, focused on his present task. I tried to get a glimpse of his eyes, but they remained conveniently hidden behind the rims of his glasses.

"Oh!" I gasped, although I could not help having to stifle a chuckle "I didn't mean it in that way!"

"No no", I swear he almost laughed back, "that was really - good" He was finishing off his duty with the register again, and whispered, almost nonchalantly to himself "I hate asking that question", and passed me back my change and my receipt.

I glanced back up at him, but I still could not see his entire face; no matter, it was time to go anyway.

"Well, sorry anyway!" I managed to blurt out between a short laugh "ho-have a nice day then!" And I managed to capture one last smile of his before I walked out of the store, with a smile on my face, and more than what I'd bargained for.

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I love it when we have random encounters with random people. It's just like an unexpected nugget of goodness - unpredictable and possibly will never happen again. But perhaps it's those little moments that can bright up an entire day. Tiny amounts of blessings in the most unexpected of ways... how good God is.

It did mine, thanks Michael. (:

LOL, Sarah.