Yesterday I was at our local Goodwill Store buying books for the business. I grabbed mostly larger, thicker ones and a few small ones. My last grab was a book that was a little smaller, but perfect for stacking & varying sizes, and had a pretty cover of blue and yellow, called "Mary's Message to the World". After I loaded up as many as I could carry I went to the check out counter.
There was an elderly woman checking people out, and as soon as I put my stack of books down in front of her she gasped! She grabbed the last book I had put on my pile, "Mary's Message to the World" and cried, "I have been looking for this book for 5 years!" She was in complete shock - could not believe I had found the book right there and put it in front of her. She was completely flustered and couldn't say much other than "I can't believe it!"
I told her she could definitely keep the book, it did not have a significant meaning to me - it was purely for aesthetics. Then, she looked at me and kind of stuttered that she couldn't exactly purchase it, and "could I", "would I consider..." Then it dawned on me - she couldn't afford to buy the book - she was probably on a fixed income at her age and even what may seem like the smallest amount added up.
I respond that I would gladly purchase the book and donate it her (it was $1.49).
She just could not believe it! She hugged that book and just kept saying how she had looked so hard for it everywhere, had others looking for her, and it was nowhere - not even the internet! (Although I looked and it is on Amazon!)
She checked me out and kept getting flustered over the amount of books, then handed me the wrong receipt - it was very sweet. She apologized saying she was just excited about the book and was having trouble concentrating now. I paid for the books, wrote a little note stating that First Impressions had donated the book to her, so no one would think she was stealing.
When I left the store, I heard her talking to the next person in line, "Can you believe that? Oh my goodness, that made my day!"
It was an awesome experience!
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