‘How barbaric!’ said Grant, folding his most ancient tweed lovingly away in his case. And the natives had never heard of teacakes, and called scones “skons.”’

‘I don’t know anything about beauty,’ said Mrs Field, putting the sandwiches resolutely away in the rug-strap, ‘but I do know that a cousin of mine was in service there once – she went for the season with her people from London – and there wasn’t a house to be seen in the whole countryside but their own, and not a tree. Grant said that Scotland nowadays was very like the rest of Britain, only more beautiful. Goodness only knows what you’ll get to eat!’ They’re chicken, and you don’t know when you’ll have chicken again. You never know the minute you’ll waken up hungry and be glad of the sandwiches even if it’s only to pass the time. I was happy to note that in this callous world, there are still some people who think of others and lend a helping hand whenever they can.‘Yes,’ she said ‘that’s all very well, but look at the long night there’ll be. I told her about the incident at the payment counter and about the gentleman who went out of his way to help me. Payment completed, I now made my way back and joined my mother. I handed over the higher denomination note and thanked him profusely. Next, he took out a small bag and patiently counted the change and gave it to me which I accepted gratefully. He told me that he had some change and was willing to help me out so that I could settle the bill. As I sighed and decided to leave, someone tapped on my shoulder from behind. This would take a lot more time and we were already running late. Now slightly irritated, I thought mom might have some change but if I left the queue, I would have to wait my turn at the back of many more customers who stood behind me. He denied it, once again asking me to bring him the exact amount. Since it was getting late, I requested him to see if he could manage as I wasn’t carrying a card nor did I have any smaller denominations. He asked me to either clear my bill using a card or pay the exact amount.

To my surprise, he announced that he did not have the right amount of change to give back and settle my bill. I stood in line at the least crowded one, waiting for my turn patiently.Īt last, it was my turn and I hurriedly handed cash to the man at the counter. There was a long queue at all the cash counters. I asked mom to wait near the exit and made my way to the payment counter, which was quite a distance away, pushing the shopping trolley. We browsed through the attractive items on display, at last deciding on a few useful products for the home. It was a casual day out that soon turned into my real-life kindness story, thanks to one man’s act of kindness!

A few days back, I accompanied my mother to the newly opened store for household products and gift items, etc.

The man in the queue