Helping Someone in Their Time of Need

Photo by Brett Jordan on Unsplash

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A few weeks ago when I left work, I had no idea I would be helping someone.

It was the usual drive from work. Taking the roundabout in Burrows West. Coming down the main road behind the high school with the park off to the left. I hit the usual stoplights. Only on a few occasions have I not had to stop at those lights. The odds are always against me.

I pulled into the parking lot and immediately went to the gas station. It was time to top it off. Actually I didn’t top it off. I got $20 worth of gas. With gas prices so high, I usually only get $10 or $20 worth. The clerk always asks me for my phone number for the rewards. I don’t have it and tell them. I thank them and wish them a good day. I receive the same back.

Next it’s time to find a spot to park. There are two rows where I normally park. This time I went down the first row and couldn’t find any spot up close. So I drove down the second row and there weren’t any spots up front. I parked a little farther out but it’s no problem. I parked right next to the cart take back area.

As I entered Walmart, I didn’t know what awaited me.

I whipped out my list and secured a cart. As I walked through the store, I looked at the list to determine where my first stop was. For those of you that are new subscribers, the list is assembled by my Mom. She lives with me as she has medical issues and I take care of her. I used to make the list myself but then I ran out of time. She writes the list out and has it ready for me. She gives it to me the night before. I review it and decide if we need anything else and it gets added. Once I leave for work, I put the list in the car in an area where I can see it. If I don’t and leave it in my pocket, it can get misplaced or I won’t remember to go. One time, it slipped out of my pocket at work when I was getting my cell phone out. I didn’t notice it until I got to the store. The next day, the list was in our break room on the table. Obviously someone thought it was important, which surprises me because some people throw out things that shouldn’t be thrown out.

As I look at the list this time, I notice that I don’t need to go to the area where the pharmacy is. Sometimes I go there for soap, toothpaste, and floss or to pick up a prescription. But not this time.

As I work my way down towards the electronics department, I pass several people darting across the aisles with their carts. There are times when I almost run into them. I’m moving at a good clip as I want to get out of there as quickly as possible. It’s not my most favorite thing to do. Usually, there aren’t many people when I go at a particular time.

At the electronics department, I turn to the right and head down to the grocery area. As I approach the area, there are all these people with carts moving through the main section. I stop the cart and let them pass before proceeding to the aisles I need.

On occasion, I forget something on the list and have to go back. When I was doing the list myself, I always remembered everything and didn’t have to refer to it much.

I was picking all the items and placing them in the cart.

One of the items I needed was ketchup. It had been ages since I bought ketchup. I wasn’t sure where it was. I decided it was probably on the last aisle where the mayo is. There were a lot of people on that aisle. The other side of the aisle holds some frozen foods. There were at least 5 carts on that aisle. I looked along there but I couldn’t find it. I saw a large sign down at the end of the aisle that stated “Ketchup & Mustard”. But there was nothing like that there. I went back the direction I had come and I still couldn’t see it. I decided I would go down some of the other aisles but then I told myself I knew what was on the other aisles and there was no way that ketchup was on any of them. It had to be on this aisle.

I went down the aisle next to it and came back around. As I entered the aisle again, I saw one woman with a cart. As I looked at the contents on the aisle (on the left this time) and approached the woman looking, she asked me something.

She asked me if I could reach some pickles for her. They were on the top shelf. I told her, sure I could get them for her. I had to step up on the bottom shelf to get the second one. It was way back there. I had to stretch to get it. She apologized twice. She didn’t need to apologize. I told her, “you’re welcome.” She said she was getting them to give them for a gift. They must be special pickles.

After I helped her, I found the ketchup! It was only a few steps away from where she had been. Call it fate.

Conclusion

Things happen for a reason. If I hadn’t come back around, she would have asked someone else eventually. Why I couldn’t find the ketchup the first time around, I don’t know.

I was meant to be there to help her. I always get a good feeling when I can help someone.

Until next time, happy reading!

-Matt