I actually thought it was me. I had nipped into the supermarket to buy a couple of things. When I got to the till, with it coming to less than R100, and needing change, I paid using a R200 bill. As the cashier banked the money, she started collecting R14-70 to give me as change. I waited a moment, expected her to add R100 to it, but she didn’t. When I realised she wasn’t going to, I said, “didn’t I give you a R200 note?” She looked down at the change that was now on the counter and into the till where the note I had paid with was already safely stored. She looked at the till slip and she had rung up R100. She didn’t have an answer for me.
I began to question myself. Maybe I hadn’t given her R200. But I was pretty sure I had. I needed the change. By now there was no proof. It was her word against mine.
I accepted that possibly I had made a mistake and still needing R100, I asked her to give me two R100s for a R200. This she did. I walked away politely, but still uncertainly about whether I was losing my marbles.
As I got to my car, I retraced my steps as to what I had done over the last hour. I had spent R100 at the hairdresser, R40 at Postnet, R15 at the stationers and at PnP about R85, a total of R240. Then I tried to remember how much I’d had in my purse to start with….I was sure there was R800 there. I should have R540 left. As I stopped at the first red traffic light, I whipped open my purse. There was R440, exactly R100 short. Now I was certain I’d handed over R200 and not R100.
As soon as I got home, I called the store. I explained to the person who answered what had happened and she took down my number. Minutes later, someone phoned back and asked me if I had the till slip and if so, could I please give him a number on it. I did as I was told. He said he would call me back shortly. I settled down to enjoy the sushi!
No sooner had I eaten it, he phoned back. “Mrs. van Niekerk”, he said, “When are you coming here again? You were right. I have your R100!”
So I’m not losing my marbles!
I felt sorry for the cashier. I said a couple of times to the man who phoned “I don’t want her to get into trouble.” He replied, “it doesn’t work like that!” I don’t know what that means. I’ve made enough mistakes in my life to feel embarrassed and regretful.
I don’t know what happens to cashiers who make mistakes. It was not intentional. It was a mistake. I hope she didn’t get into trouble.
Psalm 145:9
The Lord is good to all; He has compassion on all He has made.
It certainly has made me think more about how I hand over cash. Next time, I’m going to be more intentional about saying, ‘here is R200!’ Just draw the cashier’s attention to it. It’s an easy mistake to make.
Just a note to myself – today were the ADEC interviews at the Westin Hotel in Cape Town. I was up at 4-45am and came home at 3pm. They went well. I met two lovely recruitment ladies from other teacher recruitment agencies, as well as a couple of CCFm listeners who recognised my voice! That was a laugh! 🙂
Keep the smile going!
God bless you!
In His Grip,
Helga xx 🙂