The Day I Felt Reluctant to Leave the Supermarket

Yesterday, I went to my usual supermarket to do some shopping.

The clerk at the register was a young man in his early twenties with blonde hair whom I had never seen before.
When I got in line, there was an elderly man in front of me who was looking into his basket and talking to the clerk about something.
Then, the two of them started counting the money the old man was holding in his hand.
It seemed like he didn't have enough money.

When the clerk noticed me, he called for backup on the intercom. Perhaps because he realized it was going to take some time.
The veteran-looking part-time worker who arrived had a surprised look on her face. I think it was because I was the only one in line.
But the young clerk efficiently told her, 'Please take the customer over there,' and immediately went back to helping the old man.
He's so reliable.

Even after I finished paying at the next register, the two of them were still interacting.
The other customers around were looking on with puzzled expressions, but the clerk was smiling gently, and it looked just like a grandson interacting with his grandfather.

As I left the supermarket, I wondered if this is what it feels like to be reluctant to leave a place.
For some reason, my eyes started to well up.

When I got home, I told my husband about it.
My husband seemed more concerned about the old man than the clerk.
He said, 'He probably wanted to buy as much as he could to take home. I wonder if he's okay with his money being so tight.'
The two of us ended up worrying about a complete stranger. In reality, it might not have been a situation to worry about at all. Maybe it just happened to be that way yesterday.
But still, I can't help but think about it.

Even so, that young man was truly reliable.
I think it's amazing that he could stay so calm and smile like that in that situation.

The chikuwa tempura that was half-sticking out of a torn plastic bag.
I wonder what happened to that after I left...
I even found myself worrying about such small things.

Come to think of it...
I suddenly realized that the cheerful voice I had heard faintly while shopping was his voice.
His smile and his laughter were truly wonderful.