Understanding doesn't come with age

The cashier, 'Debbie' her name-badge read, waited. Sitting in the trolley my patient little boy, waited too. I fumbled with my purse, dropping my change on the counter.

Alex, just turned 5, sat staring straight into Debbie's eyes. "Are you happy?" he asked.

She looked as if she'd been knocked out of a long, heavy trance. As she considered her answer, her face blanched and her eyes became red.

Just as I was handing her my money she let out a huge wail.

The whole supermarket fell quiet.

Debbie got up from her seat, wrenched off her ill fitting uniform and stumbled clumsily to the exit. Nobody stopped her.

Now Claire, with a big smile and ruddy cheeks, sat in front of me. She held out her hand and I gave her the cash.

As if nothing had happened. But everything had.

On the way to the car Alex said, "She needed a hug.”