Jaden Goes Shopping

By Ruth Kathryn Day

Based on a true story

And be ye kind one to another (Eph. 4:32).

Jaden was hungry. “Mama, may I have a candy bar?”

“No, dear. As soon as we get home, I’m going to make dinner.”

Reluctantly Jaden put back the candy bar. As he walked beside the shopping cart Mama was pushing, he looked in and saw spaghetti, peanut butter, cereal, oranges, and lots of other good things. His mouth watered, just thinking about the tomato sauce and cheese that would cover the spaghetti.

His little sister, Anna, was sitting in the cart. She laughed and pulled several packages of spaghetti noodles off the shelf. Mama sighed as she put back all but one package, then returned to reading the label on a can.

Jaden peered at the can. It had a picture of soup on the label. His stomach growled. Mama smiled. She put the soup into the cart and moved on.

At last they finished shopping and headed for the checkout line. The store was crowded with shoppers. Mother glanced at the lines and chose the shortest one. Even so, there were two carts full of food in front of them. Jaden felt hungrier than ever.

He watched impatiently as the clerk scanned boxes and cans from the cart in front of them. Then he got bored and turned to look behind him. An old man carrying a carton of milk and a package of lightbulbs was walking slowly up and down the checkout lines, looking for a short one. He finally got in line behind Jaden.

Jaden smiled at him, and he smiled back. He looked tired. He shifted from one foot to the other, swaying gently back and forth.

Jaden looked at the cart they had filled with food. He was sure it would take a long time to scan it all. He tugged Mama’s sleeve. “Mama, I think that man should go first.”

Mama turned to the old man. “You have only two items. Why don’t you go ahead of us?” The man smiled gratefully, nodded, and went to the front of the line.

While the clerk scanned his milk and lightbulbs, the old man turned to Jaden. “Thank you very much, young man. I heard you tell your mother to let me go first. You are a very kind boy.” Jaden waved and smiled as the man walked out the door. The spaghetti would taste good, but this tasted even better.