Walmart Cashier Helped Shaky Elderly Man Count Handfuls of Change: 'We Will Do This Together'
In a typical Walmart in a typical U.S. city, a kindhearted interaction between an anxious customer and a compassionate cashier has left a lasting impression on the hearts of Americans.
It was the fall of 2017 when customer Spring Bowlin walked inside her local Clarksdale, Mississippi, Walmart.
As she stood in the checkout line, Bowlin watched as an elderly man in front of her struggled to pay for his items.
“This gentleman’s items were scanned and he was given the total. He looks apologetically back at me and starts taking handfuls of change out of his pockets,” Bowlin wrote on Facebook.
“He miscounts and starts to get flustered. Gives me a muttered, ‘I’m so sorry.’ His hands and voice are shaking.”
Understandably so. Oftentimes, the checkout line is a stressful place to be, made worse by hurried and impatient shoppers who just want to grab their stuff and go.
But the cashier took control of the situation with incredible patience and kindness, a moment in time that Bowlin was delighted to witness.
“This beautiful cashier takes his hands and dumps all the change on the counter and says, ‘This is not a problem, honey. We will do this together,'” Bowlin wrote.
“He continues to apologize to both of us as we reassure him it’s ok. They get his transaction handled and he shuffles away.”
Bowlin was so moved by the cashier’s gentle response that she spoke up to thank her.
“I looked at this wonderful woman and said, ‘Thank-you for being so patient with him,’” Bowlin wrote.
The cashier’s response blew her away:
“She shakes her head and replies, ‘You shouldn’t have to thank me, baby. What’s wrong with our world is we’ve forgotten how to love one another.’”
The cashier was identified as Tracy Conner, who had worked at Walmart for 12 years.
Conner told WMC-TV that she was simply doing her job, and was floored to learn the interaction went viral.
“It’s nothing special, and why they’re making such a big issue out of it I can’t wrap my brain around it,” Conner said.
She said the man had forgotten his wallet and was somewhat flustered to come up with the correct amount of change for his small purchase.
“I think the total was like $2 and some change and that’s all he had,” Conner said. “I said just lay them on the belt and I’ll count them. No biggie, no rush.”
Conner saw no reason to add to the burden of a customer who was already visibly upset.
“When you see that someone is struggling with something, why rush them and make the situation worse?” Conner said. “Why not just make it easier for them and do what you can do?”
Conner’s gracious action not only made life a bit easier for her customer but also inspired those who heard her story to choose kindness, too.
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