Dear cashier at the small grocery store we’ll call “Food Plaza,”

Don’t take this the wrong way…but I knew you were new. It wasn’t because I shop at your establishment frequently and recognize most of the cashiers. It wasn’t because you scanned my first package of chicken twice thinking it would be faster, even though the second one weighed slightly less and was cheaper. It wasn’t because you forgot to ask me the usual questions like if I wanted my milk in a bag, or if I had my club card, or if I was interested in donating today.

No, I knew you were a new employee as I was setting my items on the conveyor belt because you were so kind to me and asked me brightly how I was doing today as if we were old friends. Throughout the entire transaction, you kept your smile on your face as you worked through the small problems you were faced with, like my first item not scanning for some reason, or being unsure if one item was “buy one, get one half off” when I asked about it. When the computer started making strange beeping sounds at you and showing an error, you tried your best to stay calm and you worked through the problem. You repeatedly apologized for those small things, and I told you it was alright. At the end of the transaction you apologized again, saying it was your first week, and I told you that I understood completely.

You see, it was just a few years ago in high school I had started my first job as a cashier. Believe me, I still remember when similar problems would arise. When an item didn’t scan, or a screen popped up I had no idea how to deal with, the panic would start. By then, the rest of the transaction would turn into a series of fumbling over words and forgetting things. That one little mishap would completely throw me off my rhythm and I would forget to put bags in carts, or give the customer their receipt. In my mind, it was a disaster. But in reality, the customer was usually kind and considerate.

So, when I somehow ended up paying an extra 20 cents after the transaction was over because the screen was telling you strange things, and you said another apology, I wasn’t at all upset. I found the exact change and told you not to worry about it. I waited as you determined whether or not I needed to sign for the transaction, and which receipt was for me and which one you were supposed to keep.

I don’t know why I felt moved to write this letter to you; nothing disastrous happened during the transaction. There were a few fumbles and it went slightly slower than the usual transaction, but I wasn’t at all bothered by this. In reality, we only interacted for a few minutes before I was on my way out with my bags and you were onto your next customer with a smile. I guess I decided to write this because I really appreciated your kindness and the light in your eyes. Most of the cashiers who ring me up are tired and exhausted, and the light is stolen from their eyes from working long hours in a potentially mundane job. I guess it’s because you turned something as mundane as cashing out at a grocery store, or cashing someone out at a grocery store, an enjoyable interaction. You were like a breath of fresh air in the small and sometimes dreary grocery store.

After paying my extra 20 cents, I didn’t think to check your name tag for your name. But it was on my receipt. So thank you, Navia. Thanks for being so bright and cheerful. You were so kind and friendly. And don’t worry about how you’re doing during your first week at “Food Plaza.” You’re doing great!

From,

A thankful customer