Christmas 2006

(I thought with the holiday coming up it might be fun to write a couple blogs about real life Christmas stories I've known in my life, or the lives around me. I have decided to start with one of my own....)

It was a cold winter’s night, only a few short days before the Christmas holiday. Laura bundled up in her warmest jacket and mittens to go to ShopKo to pick up a prescription and some Children’s Motrin for her daughter who was just over 18 months old. The drive was bitterly cold, and Laura wished she could have stayed home. She knew her husband, Shayne, would go instead but she also wanted to get some last minute stocking stuffer surprises for him to find on Christmas morning.

Before entering the store, Laura called the automatic teller number to find out the amount of funds available for her to spend. She knew that there wouldn’t be much, but there would be plenty for her purchases. $46.00. Laura was happy to find that more money was in their account than she had realized. Pay day was coming close however, and with Christmas ready to go, Laura was reassured that there would be plenty to go around after the holiday.

Laura headed straight to the candy section for her stocking stuffers. Finding large candy bars on sale for only a dollar a piece, Laura grabbed them for the stocking stuffers. She also saw some Reese’s peanut butter cups that were shaped like bells. They were her husband’s favorite; he would certainly love them in his sock. Laura noticed a stack of Stephen’s Hot Cocoa nearby, and remembered the name she had drawn for her the secret Santa at Arby’s where she worked most weeknights. Put a bow on top, and this cocoa would be a nice surprise for the name she had drawn.

Laura then made her way to the baby aisle. She was shocked to find out that Pedia-sure was ten dollars for only six small meal replacement drinks for kids. She remembered her daughter feeling much too ill to eat and worried about her nourishment. Taking it in her hands, she headed towards the Pharmacy where she found the much needed Motrin to lower her young one’s fever.

Laura approached the counter. “Hi my name is Laura Munn, our doctor called in a prescription for my daughter, Danelle Munn,” I said as I handed them our insurance cards.

“Yes, I have it right here. That is $7 with your co pay. Would you like me to ring up your other purchases here?” the Pharmacy tech said as he motioned towards her handfuls of purchases.

Laura turned to look behind her and noticed a line quickly forming and felt badly for making the people wait longer for her purchases to be made, but handed over her things anyway. “That’s $34.52, how would you like to pay for that?”

Laura reached in her purse and pulled out her debit card. As she swiped it Laura remembered that her pin number didn't work, “will you please run that as credit?”

“Your card has been declined,” the pharmacy tech said a little louder than comfort.

“That can’t be right, can I try it again?” Laura felt her face getting hot, and the crowd starting to get anxious from waiting behind her.

“I’m sorry, your card isn’t working. Is there any other way you can pay?” The once nice pharmacy tech seemed to have changed before her very eyes.

“Uhhhh…..” Laura rummaged through her purse already knowing that there was NOTHING that she could give them.

Laura looked up, “I don’t really need these,” she said as she took back the Reese’s bells, and Stephen’s Hot Cocoa. This took her total down to $25.11. “Can I try it now?”

The pharmacy tech allowed Laura to swipe the card a third time. “It’s still not working.”

“My daughter really needs these things…. She’s so sick.” Laura felt tears now starting to form in her eyes. “I’m sorry, if I can just make a phone call, I will be right back.”

As Laura was about to leave the pharmacy, she felt a gentle tap on her shoulder. It was a woman with shoulder length blond hair behind her, probably in her forties. The woman softly asked, “How much do you need?”

Laura replied, “a lot actually. I’m sorry about all this.” If it were only the difference of a few cents, Laura might have taken some change. However, her total was just over $25. “I’ll be right back,” Laura told the pharmacy worker as she left the counter and walked swiftly out of the store.

Crying out in her car, Laura called the automatic teller number one more time to listen closer. The auto teller said slowly and clearly, “your checking account balance is $46.00. Your total available balance is $46.00.” Something had to be wrong. It said $46 was available and her card wasn’t working. About to call her mother who she knew would come and help, Laura decided to try her card a final time in the store. Maybe her pin number to her debit card would work; she had to try.

Walking into the store, Laura was red and hoping no one would remember her that stood behind her in the line. She also hoped it would not be obvious to anyone that she had been crying. Laura approached the Pharmacy, “can I try my card again? It should be working; I don’t know why it’s not working….”

The pharmacy tech spoke loudly, “the lady behind you already paid for your stuff. She said to tell you MERRY CHRISTMAS.”

In tears, Laura reached for the bag, and said “that was really nice of her,” and blushing left the counter. Scanning the store, Laura tried to find the lady who had helped her. THERE SHE WAS. Laura barely saw her. She was just leaving the store.

Laura had an idea. She thought she could try to buy a gift card for $25 and run it out to her and thank her for her kindness. Laura didn’t know if her card would work, but she waited in line with the gift card in hand. The debit card was accepted, and as soon as her receipt was printed, Laura ran out of the store hoping that the woman hadn’t driven away yet.

There she was again; the kind blond woman and her pre-teen son. “Excuse me…. Excuse me? Do you remember me from the Pharmacy? I just wanted to say thank you and give you this. It’s a gift card for twenty five dollars….. I was so embarrassed in there, I’m so sorry you had to do that. Here,” Laura handed her the gift card, “thank you so much. You have no idea what that meant to me.” Laura felt tears forming in her eyes again.

“No, you keep it. Have a Merry Christmas!” The blond was getting in her truck too fast for Laura to argue.

“Thank you! Merry Christmas to you too!!!” Laura was crying again at the thought of this woman’s selfless act.

The drive home seemed a little warmer than it had only an hour earlier. The blond didn’t know Laura. It didn’t matter. She saw someone who needed a little help this Christmas, and selflessly stepped in. She could have walked away with her own prescription saving her $25.00. For that matter, she could have taken the gift card as well. Laura was filled with the Christmas spirit and was touched by the generosity of others, even a stranger who knew nothing about her.

Humbled, Laura went home smiling and grateful to know that there are still people out there who care. To some, it might have seemed like a small thing, but to Laura it meant the world. It was one of their best Christmas’ ever and Laura has never forgotten it.