Unexpected Pumpkins

As I was checking out at the grocery store (there are no self checkouts at the store where I shop), a young mom with two kids pulled her cart in behind mine. One boy was about five and had blue framed glasses. The other boy was about three and wore similar glasses in green frames. They both had on skeleton jammies, which were black with white (obviously) bone print. Their mom was dressed up as well, but I wasn’t sure what she was supposed to be. Possibly a witch? They all looked festive and adorable. The older boy was quite chatty and pointed out there were three pumpkins in the cart – in fact, all they had in their cart was pumpkins. The older boy excitedly told me they were going to paint the pumpkins, and of course I responded with an emphatic, “Ooo, that will be nice!”

I paid for my order and vaguely heard the Mom of the boys ask the cashier if she needed to bring the pumpkins out of the cart to have them rung up. The cashier said no and I didn’t think anything of this interaction until I went to leave and everyone was looking at me. I asked what happened and the cashier grimaced and said, “I misunderstood. I need to give you a refund.”

“For what?” I asked, thoroughly confused.

“I charged you for the pumpkins. I thought you were all together.”

In a split second, I understood the assignment the universe had bestowed upon me after a frustrating and disappointing interaction earlier in the day. My inner imp activated. 

“Nope, you don’t,” I said with a smile. “Have a good Halloween and enjoy the pumpkins!” I said to the astonished and speechless mom as her two boys looked from me to her. Her mouth opened and closed a few times before she could form words. She thanked me and the boys squealed. It didn’t take the boys long to suss out that whatever happened, it was definitely a good thing because everyone was smiling.

In fact, I was still smiling and enjoying the scene of surprise joy as I remembered I had frozen food items and it was a warm October day, so I picked up my pace. As I wheeled my cart towards the door, I called over my shoulder, “Everything happens for a reason! Happy Halloween!”

And that, my friends, is how I made my own brand of benign mischief on the afternoon of Mischief Night.

Happy Halloween!