Adding It All Up - Kindness of Strangers

The shop assistants took up where his parents left off

At the stationery store where I worked, I noticed a young boy of about ten shopping alone with his school list. He placed everything in his basket and proceeded to the checkout.

The young shop assistant told him the total price, $37.60. The boy was instantly downcast and said he had only been given $20. He took out one thing at a time until he got down to his $20. With eyes brimming with tears, he asked if he could ring his mum to pick him up. When he got through, it appeared that even this was inconvenient for his mother.

He bit hard on his lip to stop the tears and walked outside to wait on the bench in front of the shop. This was all too much for the young assistant who had served him. She kept popping outside to see that he was all right. Coming back into the shop, she said, "I wish I could afford to pay for the rest of his things." One of the other girls said she had a few dollars. Then two others said they could help as well.

These four young girls pooled their money and rang his extra purchases up on the register to find they had more than enough money. With great excitement they raced around and upgraded his felt pens and pencils to top-quality ones, then took the bag out to the boy on the seat. His young face changed from sadness to the most beautiful, humble smile. His mother arrived much later to pick him up, but he didn’t just run to the car, he ran back into the store and called out, "Thank you!"

I was so proud of my team that day. They did something wonderful for that lad and also found the pleasure of giving was as great as receiving.

Dianne Soutar, Mamaku, NZ

Courtesy Defines You

As a naturalist specialising in invertebrates, I am on intimate terms with spiders. But when after accidentally walking into a spider’s web I say, "Sorry, spider," my apology is not for the spider’s sake. Not being some sort of anthropomorphic idiot, I know very well that the spider has no idea of what I am, let alone what I am saying. I do it for myself, out of a habit that I believe to be good.

An act of courtesy has double benefits. It elevates both the giver and the recipient. There is a story of a gentleman walking through Victorian London with a companion, when a shabby old woman passes them. The gentleman bows and raises his hat to her. The companion asks, "Why did you raise your hat to that old woman? She was no lady." The reply? "I raised my hat not because she is a lady, but because I am a gentleman."

That says it all.

Densey Clyne, Wauchope, NSW

The Stars Rise Above It

It had been the month from hell. With my car deciding to stage a dramatic death, I had resorted to catching the morning bus into the suburbs to be able to get to work for the afternoon.

About 30 minutes into the ride, a woman boarded. Her nature was evident – she smiled at every person she passed until she reached a vacant seat. It was not until we arrived at the station, however, that she first spoke to me.

She was new to Perth, having arrived from Queensland only days before. After spending a hectic week working with her boyfriend in a live-in position at a pub, she was hoping to see a movie somewhere. When my directions resulted in a look of bewilderment, I threw aside my tentative plans for the morning and showed her the nearest cinema.

During the half hour’s journey, she spoke to me about religion, culture, history and philosophy. Her dream was to see Europe, especially Greece, where her parents were from.

She couldn’t believe how beautiful the bush around Perth was. Seeing the thousands of stars at night was a thrill to her. She remarked on her boyfriend’s inability to see the beauty of the night sky: he looked, but he couldn’t see the stars.

While listening, I felt a sudden pang. How often had I looked, but not seen?

We parted ways in the city. With a final smile, she disappeared. Yet today, three weeks afterwards, the lessons of this brief encounter still resound within me. Her words remind me to see the beauty of life, rather than just muddling through it. It’s amazing how my initial kindness has been so profoundly repaid.

Kezia Easton, Chidlow, WA