She counted again.
Then her face changed.
She was short.
Only four dollars.
The cashier quietly told her the total.
The girl looked down at the cake.
For a moment, she stood there silently.
Then she slowly pushed the cake back toward the cashier.
āIām sorry,ā she whispered.
āI guess I donāt have enough.ā
She turned as if she was about to leave.
Something about that moment stopped me.
A Small Gesture
I looked at the girl.
There was disappointment on her face, but she was trying hard not to show it.
She wasnāt crying.
She wasnāt complaining.
She wasnāt asking anyone for help.
She was simply accepting that she couldnāt afford the cake and preparing to walk away.
I stepped forward.
āWait,ā I said.
The girl turned around.
I smiled and handed the cashier the missing four dollars.
āItās okay. Iāll cover the rest.ā
Her eyes widened.
