Four more customers to checkout and I’m ready for vacation! I’m on a roll today, nothing is better than having a good day of work before the start of vacation. I caught 3 shoplifters in one day! Two of them loaded up their shopping carts and tried to nonchalantly walk out the door. Hello! You have a cartful of groceries and nothing was bagged? Another guy tried to stuff a bottle of wine down his “skinny jeans.” Unless he was “gifted” under those jeans, he should have attempted at something a lot more expensive.
I felt like a loss prevention specialist. Pure talent, just off of experience and intuition. As I was about to clock out, a little old lady asked me for help because no one was at the customer service booth.
Lilac Lady: No one is at the floral department. Can You help me?
Sure, why not. I’m on vacation tomorrow!
Lily Lady: I called the florist earlier and she said she has bouquets of flowers for me.
Me: OK.
I check to see if there were any flowers that were left for her.
Me: I don’t see anything ma’am.
Lily Lady: I called. They should be there. The florist usually gives me flowers every month, so I can honor my late husband because he loves flowers.
Me: Oh… what kind of flowers?
She points to the fresh bouquet of roses and lilies.
“She gives you those?” I ask curiously.
Lily Lady: Yes for my late husband.
Me: We’ll ma’am I can’t do that. These look really new.
Lily Lady: [Sadly] But my husband… I visit him every month with flowers. He loves flowers.
Me: How about we pick some that don’t look as new but would be thrown away tomorrow?
Lily Lady: Yes! Great! Can we put ribbons around the flowers too?
Me: Of course! Matter fact I have $20 bucks. I’ll buy you some fresh flowers as well.
Lily Lady: Bless your heart!
I had a quick chat with my assistant manager before I left the store…
“What are you going to do without me? I caught 3 shoplifters today. Nothing gets passed me. I’m like RoboCop.” I said in a brash and cockiness tone.
As I’m driving down the street I yelled, What the Fu#%!
I see the same little old lady on the corner of the street… selling flowers!
