It was Erev Shabbos, and I bravely pushed my stroller into
the Kosher market. I needed a couple of items for Shabbos and
I hoped to be in and out quickly. As I was reaching for some
salad, I saw my four-year-old was no longer holding on to the
stroller. I called out "Sara, Sara . . . " No response.
Well, she is probably in the next aisle, I"ll just get
this item, and I"ll see her.
At that moment, came an announcement, "Will the mother of a
little blond girl please come to the customer service area to
get her child?"
"That cannot be my dark-haired Sara, who was at my side less
than a minute ago," I thought, and ignored the announcement.
I put some beans in my stroller and kept an eye on my two
little ones, while I continued to listen for any signs of
Sara, and wend my way toward the cashier.
"Attention shoppers, there is a little girl here, come and
get her!"
I was just not paying attention, other than to hope that the
little blond girl got found, and I nervously continued on.
Another announcement. And another. Then, "Her name is Sara,
and she is crying. Can her mother or father please come?"
I sprinted over in shock; there was my Sara. To my great
relief. And embarrassment. The many shoppers on line looked
at me in disbelief.
"Didn"t you want your child?"
"She paged you six times!"
"Well, I almost took her home myself."
I smiled and quietly accepted all their comments, hugging my
Sara and calming her down. As I exited the store, I stopped
by the manager . "Thank you so much for rescuing my Sara, but
tell me — why did you describe her as blond?"
"Well," came the surprising explanation, "first a little
blond girl was at our desk, and her mom came for her right
away. Yours showed up right after. Sorry for the confusion .
. . "
Another lesson in judging favorably.
