Paying it Forward

In the checkout line, I overheard a little girl asking her mom for a chocolate bar. I turned around just as the mom was counting her money and, with a pained expression, said no. The girl asked, “But why not?” The mom said, “Sorry, baby, not today; we have just enough to cover the groceries.” The little girl said, “I understand,” as a tear ran down her cheek.

At that moment, a childhood memory came rushing back; it was me asking for the candy. My heart broke. I asked the cashier to add her groceries to my card — chocolate bar included.

©2025 by Gina M. Pérez all rights reserved.