Nice Pays Off

Today while Carter was taking her first exam I decided I would go to the mall and buy her a quilt and new cooling pillow that she wants for camp. You have no idea what a big sacrifice this is for me. I hate going to the mall. I think the last time I was there was before Christmas.
If there were stores that had different and unusual merchandise I might not mind fighting the groups of slow walkers walking abreast with no idea they are taking up the entire width of the walkway, or the circlers looking for the closest parking spot at 3 miles per hour, or the sales clerks who have their faces deep in their phone with no peripheral vision to see how desperately I need help. No, the regular old stores are just not worth putting up with these people and the many others who have all the time in the world to while away at the mall.  
Carter had pointed out the items she liked in a catalogue I had purchased from before. The shipping and handling charges were like $34 for a small box and the stuff was not cheep to begin with. You know what handling charges are, PROFIT. Since Macy’s had texted me they were having a big sale I decided in the name of cheapness I would go and actually shop. How Macy’s got my cell number I’ll never know, but the marketing worked. At least to get me into the store.
After perusing the quilt offerings at Macy’s I decided to sprint the length of the mall to see what Belk’s had to offer. Usually if Macy’s is having a sale so is Belk’s. After dodging the lotion squirters and massage givers I fast walked my way past the stroller brigades and AARP card holder mall walkers to Belk’s where I found the perfect quilt. It helped that looked so much like the $189 one in the catalogue, before tax, shipping and handling but was on sale for 50% off and when the young man rung it off he added an additional discount and it came in at $25.87 which included tax. Hooray for the mall!
Having been without iced tea for at least the last 45 minutes I decided to stop at Panera Bread on my dash back to the other end of the mall where my car was. Since I am on this crazy strict diet iced tea is the highlight of my day. There were quite a few of the mall walkers waiting in a very long line, but I spotted the hallway window was manned and no one was waiting. As I approached the young girl in the black Panera apron I noticed a very old man in the main line who looked like he could not stand another minute without sustenance. The approved one asked what I wanted, just as I was summoning the old man to come and order in my short line.  
I looked at the Panera girl and said, “I only want and iced tea, but why don’t you take this man’s order first, I think he has been waiting a long time.” He thanked me as I stepped back so he could order. Before he got a word out the young Panera girl handed me a clear plastic tea cup and said, “Tea’s on me since you are so nice!”
What? I am rarely called “Nice.” I stepped into the drink dispensing area and made myself a big cold free tea. It tasted better than any tea I had drunk in a while. I think I am going to have to try this being nice thing more often, but I hope it works at places other than the mall because I still don’t want to go there.