I Was No Saint

Walking into a grocery store you expect to see one thing, food. Now, one thing I wasn’t expecting at all to see was a very distressed child and a drained-out mother holding the child’s hand. It seemed as if they were about to leave, because I saw the mother holding a single grocery bag ready to go. But the child, who I quickly learned was named Elena, was holding them back by pointing at an item on the shelf.

Her mother was pulling on the dainty hand lightly, trying to persuade Elena that they were better off going back home and that they didn’t need the cereal. The scene in front of me was heartbreaking, and I couldn’t help but stand there and watch, amazed by how determined the little girl was to get the cereal.

Wondering if anyone else was seeing the scene that was taking place right in front of me, I began to look around. Some people had walked past them as if they weren’t there, while others stole secret glances at the two, judging them with their eyes.

The child kept persuading her mother for the next ten minutes till her mom had had enough and harshly yanked her arm, alarming the little one. “Elena Ruiz, I have had enough! We are leaving now, so put the damn cereal back!” her mother shouted and began walking out of the grocery with her whining daughter right behind her.

I looked around at the people again, seeing what they would do, but nobody did anything. They minded their business and kept walking. I was no saint; I lowered my head and continued walking around the store as if I had seen nothing.