A New Face
She had been behind the register for so many years that she remembered every face that came through the door. This face, however, was one that she didn't recognize.
As she got more familiar with him, she noticed that he would do the same thing each day at the same time. He'd buy a pack of diapers, but where was the mother?
She assumed the baby and mother were at home while he was running errands. But as she got nosier, she wondered more about what was going on.
Someone New
Jake Mitchell walked into the grocery store for the first time to buy diapers. It was a conveniently placed store that meant he'd come back each day for more diapers.
Sarah thought that nothing was out of the ordinary as the man checked out the diapers and hurried out of the store. But as he came back for more each day, she started to wonder what was going on.
She thought that he was new to the town. She would have seen him before if he had lived here before now. But she didn't know how right she was.
Looking For Something
The young man didn't look that old. He must be around eighteen. But if he was buying diapers, then where was the mother? Sarah wondered.
As she got more familiar with the man, she learned his name and his routine. Jake would arrive at the counter with the diapers, and they would have small chats.
"Same as usual," Sarah would quip while she rang up the diapers. Jake smiled sheepishly before saying goodbye and heading out of the store.
Why Diapers?
Other young adults Jake's age were buying sodas or snacks, but he was different. He only had one thing in mind as he entered the store - the baby aisle.
Sarah noticed the pattern. Jake would arrive at the same time each day and get nothing but the diapers. It was odd, to say the least.
She wanted to ask him more about the diapers, but she knew that she shouldn't snoop in a customer's business.
Small Talk
She finally couldn't wait anymore. She asked him if he wanted anything else. He smiled and said, "Nah, just the diapers. Thanks!" He never looked her in the eyes. She wondered why.
Sarah knew that something wasn't quite right. Jake was friendly enough, but the whole situation was quite peculiar. She was chatty, but he wouldn't be too talkative.
Sarah wondered why he needed so many diapers. A pack a day was more than any baby needed, and she had never seen his wife or child. It was strange.
Getting More Info
As Jake's routine stayed the same, Sarah started working up the courage to get more out of him. "How's the baby doing?" She asked with a smile.
Jake's smile suddenly turned to a frown. "I don't have a kid. These are for something else..." Sarah was taken aback, but she couldn't slip up.
She smiled back and rang it up as usual. When he left, she thought about why he needed diapers if he didn't have a kid?
Curious
Over the next few days, Sarah was only more curious about the young adult and his spending habits. That's when Jake finally broke the routine.
Jake finally stopped coming in alone. He walked in with a much older woman. They would have casual chats as they walked around, but they would stop as soon as someone was within earshot.
Sarah tried listening to what they were saying, but they were careful not to carry their voices across the store. She needed to know what was going on.
A Partner In Crime
One day, Sarah noticed Jake coming in with the woman again. She had a plan to stop them in their tracks.
She stood in front of them at the entrance with a grocery store pamphlet. She discovered that the woman was his mother. This made her curiosity heighten even more.
As they approached the checkout, Sarah couldn't resist her urge to satisfy her curiosity. "Excuse me, Mrs. Mitchell, but why does Jake buy diapers every day if you don't have a baby?"
She Knew Him
Mrs. Mitchell's expression faltered for a moment before she quickly recovered. "Oh, it's for our neighbor's baby. She looked for some food vouchers in her purse.
They're going through a rough patch, and we're just trying to help out." Sarah nodded, though her suspicion lingered. She didn’t really believe her story.
As they left the store separately, Sarah couldn't shake the feeling that there was more to the story. She swore that she would get to the bottom of it.
A Disappearance Act
The next day, Jake and his mother returned to the store. She watched them head about their usual business.
But today, Sarah was determined to get to the bottom of their shopping mystery. She decided to follow them through the store. Jake headed over to the baby aisle and picked up a cheap packet of diapers.
As Jake and his mother headed towards the bathroom, Sarah felt a sudden urge to investigate. She waited a few moments before following them discreetly.
In The Toilet
As Jake went into the men's restroom, Sarah watched as his mom wandered around the store. A hunch nagged at her, and she decided to investigate.
Quietly, she slipped into the women's restroom and was shocked by what she saw. Peeking through the cracked door, Sarah's breath caught in her throat.
Inside the bathroom, she saw a teenage girl cradling a baby. While Jake's mother went over to talk to her. Who was the other girl with her? She hadn’t noticed her before.
Right Behind Her
Sarah's curiosity got the better of her. She decided to take a quick peek into the store's bathroom. What she saw made her heart sink.
She followed another woman into the restroom to try and hear their conversation. They didn’t see her slipping in.
As Jake was still in the men's restroom, Sarah's intuition kicked in. She decided to discreetly investigate. She went into the closest stall and shut the door. Would she finally get the answers she needed?
Baby In The Bathroom
The teenage girl was inside, cradling a baby in her arms. And standing nearby was Jake's mother, handing the girl a pack of diapers.
"Mom, please," the girl pleaded, her eyes brimming with tears. "I don't know how much longer I can do this."
Jake's mother placed a comforting hand on the girl's shoulder. "We'll figure something out, I promise." The girl took the diapers from her with a sigh and started to change the baby.
The Diaper Excuse
Sarah watched in stunned silence as the pieces of the puzzle fell into place. Jake wasn't buying diapers for himself — he was buying them for this girl and her baby.
There, holding a baby, was a teenage girl. Jake's mom was helping her change the diaper. Sarah's heart sank as she realized the truth.
Jake wasn't buying diapers for himself—he was buying them for someone else. But who was this girl with her mother? The neighbor? His sister? Or another family member?
Who Is She
Sarah's mind raced as she pieced together the puzzle. Jake was really buying diapers for the neighbor's baby.
He was buying them on his own, and they were struggling to make ends meet. Feeling a mix of shock and sympathy, Sarah quietly retreated from the bathroom.
She couldn't shake the image of the teenage girl, burdened with the responsibilities of motherhood at such a young age. They didn’t notice her leave and she was glad that she wasn’t spotted.
Did She Pay For It
Quietly, she made her way through the store, her heart pounding with anticipation. She didn’t think that she would be met with such an unexpected sight.
Just then she had a terrible thought. What if Jake and his mother were stealing? She wasn’t sure what to think.
She didn’t want to report them for nothing. Sarah's mind raced with questions, but she knew she couldn't linger for fear of being caught. She had to protect her job.
I Saw What You Did
When Jake and his mother returned to the counter, Sarah couldn't bring herself to meet their eyes. She scanned their items in silence, her mind racing with conflicting emotions.
As Jake paid for the diapers and headed for the door, Sarah finally spoke up. "Wait," she said, her voice barely above a whisper. "I... I'm sorry. I had no idea."
Jake paused; his expression unreadable. She pointed at the teenage girl leaving the store with the baby. "It's okay," he said softly. "You weren't supposed to."
The Cost Of Life
With a heavy heart, Sarah watched them leave, knowing that their struggle was far from over. But amidst the sadness, she felt a glimmer of admiration for their resilience and determination.
Sarah continued with her work. She noticed the family leaving the store separately once again, trying to maintain the facade of normalcy.
Quickly composing herself, Sarah ran to the door just in time to see Jake and his mom meet the girl outside. She couldn't shake the image from her mind as she rang up other customers.
A Caring Soul
Back at her register, Sarah thought about the family, how they behaved in public, each with their own agenda.
Unable to shake the guilt of knowing their secret, Sarah confided in her friend who worked alongside her. Together, they decided they had to do something to help.
Her friend Clara said that she had seen them there before. “Yeah, I saw him, he always eats all the cheese samples at the deli,” she said. She couldn't shake off the feeling that something was amiss.
A Suspicious Cashier
Turning to her friend, she recounted the bizarre encounter, seeking a second opinion. “Even that lady always pays with food vouchers, she never has cash.”
Sarah confided in her friend about what she had discovered. “I don’t think that there is a neighbor,” she told her.
They both agreed that the family must be in dire financial straits to resort to such measures. They had a plan to help the young man, whatever his situation was.
Seen Before
Determined to help, Sarah approached her manager and shared her discovery. He initially thought that they were stealing too. “I saw that strange young man a few times,” he said.
They spoke to their manager, explaining the situation. Without hesitation, the manager agreed to pitch in.
They pooled their money together and purchased a store voucher for baby diapers, enough to last the family for months. But would Jake return with his family after all the suspicion?
People Care
As Sarah waited for the family to return, she couldn't help but feel a glimmer of hope. Together the staff of twenty people had managed to raise $1000 towards helping Jake.
Their manager had given them complimentary store vouchers so that they didn’t have to keep paying with food vouchers there.
He wanted Sarah to gift it to Jake on his next visit. Maybe, just maybe, their act of kindness would make a difference in their lives.
Where Is He
As the days passed, Sarah found herself anxiously scanning the entrance of the store, hoping to catch a glimpse of Jake and his family. She longed to see them return, to know that they were doing okay.
And finally, one day, her patience paid off. Jake walked through the door, his mother and the teenage girl trailing a few steps behind him, the baby in her arms.
They made their way to the aisles, and completed their shopping. There was a hesitant smile on Jake's face as he approached Sarah's register.
He Returns
She greeted him warmly. "Back for more diapers?" Sarah asked with a warm smile, relief flooding through her. Her friend listened intently, equally intrigued by the peculiar situation.
Together, they watched as Jake unloaded his baby items on the counter, his demeanor unchanged. He had a baby pacifier and a cute onesie this time.
Sarah couldn't ignore the sight of him purchasing baby food and cheaper diapers this time, accompanied by a crumpled $10 bill.
Not Enough Cash
Sarah watched him closely as he picked out his pocket for more money. He dropped a few quarters on the floor.
He blushed as his mother tried to pick them up from the floor. “Is that enough?” he said quietly and gave her the money.
When he handed her a crumpled $10 bill, Sarah smiled warmly at him. It actually wasn’t enough; he was still short of $3 but she had a surprise for him.
A Nice Surprise
With a sympathetic smile, Sarah packed his purchases and slipped him a note discreetly. She slid the piece of paper on the counter.
Jake's expression shifted from confusion to embarrassment as he read the contents. He fumbled with the paper nervously.
Sarah approached him gently, reassuring him that there was no need for embarrassment. “It’s okay Jake, it’s for you,” she said sweetly.
Humbly Declining
Jake tried to manage an awkward smile. “I can’t accept this,” he said slowly. He put the paper back down on the counter.
Sarah was hurt and tried to convince him that it was okay. "I couldn't help but notice your situation," Sarah said softly, her voice filled with empathy. "We want to help."
Just then his mother came towards the till to check what was going on. She stood at the counter innocently, “What's going on Jake?” she asked him. But something terrible was about to happen.
What Is Going On?
The young boy’s mother walked closer with a suspicious look on her face. She eyed Sarah up and down, noticing the shocked expression on her son’s face.
“What is going on here?” she asked. Jake turned toward his mother with tears in his eyes. He couldn’t believe what Sarah had done.
“Mom, look,” he said and showed his mother the note. But she did not react how he had expected her to.
A Strange Look
The older woman took the note from her son’s hands and quietly read what Sarah had written. But she did not so much as smile.
Instead, she turned to Sarah with a strange look on her face. She couldn’t tell if she was about to yell or cry.
But then, the woman said something truly bizarre. “Who on earth do you think you are?” she asked, tearing the note in half.
Going Home
Sarah’s eyes grew wide as the woman dropped the note on her register. “Jake, we are going home right now,” she told her son and headed for the door.
Jake tried to say something to Sarah, but before he could, his mother called his name. “Come on, Jake!”
Sarah could see that there was something the boy wanted to say. But instead, he turned around and slowly walked away. What on earth was going on?
She Was Confused
The young woman was left stunned as she watched Jake and his mother leave the store in a hurry. She was confused.
Sarah was under the impression that they would be happy to receive such a generous gift from the store.
But instead, Jake’s mother seemed offended and angered by what had happened. Was she offended?
She Wanted To Understand
Sarah felt terrible. All she wanted to do was help the struggling family, but instead, she pushed them further away.
She wanted nothing more than to sit down and have a conversation about what had happened. But she wondered if they would ever return to the store again.
That evening, she sat with what had happened for hours, trying to understand why the woman had responded so poorly.
Life-Changing
She thought about Jake and the tears she had spotted in his eyes. He knew that the money would be life-changing.
She wondered what he was going to say before he left. Something about their family intrigued her. Were they hiding something?
That night, as Sarah lay in bed, she wondered if she would see them the following day. She hoped she would get the chance to speak to them again.
Hash It Out
The following morning, Sarah awoke early. She was determined to get to work and hash things out with Jake and his mother.
Her shift started early that morning, and she planned on staying until Jake and his mother stopped by.
She wanted to apologize for offending the woman, but she always wanted to get some answers. If only she had known the truth.
She Waited For Hours
For hours, Sarah stood behind the register, waiting for Jake and his mother to show up for their daily shopping.
Each time the small bell above the door rang, she looked up, hoping to see their familiar faces. She wanted to make things right.
But every single time, it would be some random shopper. Eventually, she began wondering if they would show up at all.
Time To Go
Sarah waited for hours, but they never showed. Eventually, it was time to head home. She just hoped they would show up the following day.
But the same thing happened the following day. Sarah waited until the store closed, but the mother and son never showed up.
She was starting to wonder if she had scared them off for good. But how could her kind gesture have gone so terribly wrong?
That Friday
By the time that Friday rolled around, Sarah stopped expecting them to show up. She accepted that they had probably chosen a different grocery store.
Although she felt awful about what had happened, she tried not to think about it too much. She continued to handle the register that day.
But when the door’s bell rang around 3 p.m., she didn’t even look up from what she was doing. She had no idea that they had returned.
They Showed Up
As soon as Jake stepped into the grocery store, he began looking around, trying to find Sarah’s familiar face.
But before long, he glanced toward the register where she stood, helping a customer scan their items.
“Come on, Mom,” he said and quickly walked toward Sarah. His mother followed close behind. But what was their plan?
Waiting
Jake and his mother stood to the side, waiting for Sarah to finish with the customer before her. As soon as the customer walked away, they stepped up to her.
Sarah was taken aback when she saw the teenager and his mother in front of her. His mother stared at the floor quietly.
“Hey, Jake,” Sarah greeted, trying to hide the uncertainty in her voice. She wondered why they had headed straight for her.
He Was Nervous
Jake seemed nervous as he cleared his throat and straightened his posture. “My mom and I wanted to see you,” he said.
That statement made Sarah nervous. Was his mother still angry about what she had done? She glanced at the woman, and that was when she noticed it.
Tears were falling from the older woman’s eyes and painting her cheeks. Why on earth was she crying? Sarah was about to find out.
Taken Aback
“My mom was really taken aback when you offered us all of that money the other day. She thought she didn’t deserve your generosity,” He said.
“My mom didn’t mean to come across as rude. She was just overwhelmed,” He tried to explain, but Sarah understood where he was coming from.
“Well, Jake and ma’am. Everyone at the store chipped in. We just want to do something nice for you,” She said, reaching for the voucher.
An Apology
The older woman finally looked up with a regretful smile on her face. “I am so sorry for the way I acted,” She said.
But she didn’t need to apologize. Sarah understood that the gesture was unexpected and that the woman was shocked by it.
She was just glad they had come back to grab the vouchers from her. Her only intention was to help them from the start.
A Thank You
Sarah picked up the voucher and showed it to his mother. “Oh, my that’s awfully nice of you all,” she said smiling.
Jake's eyes widened in surprise, his cheeks flushing with gratitude. “Is it okay mom?” he asked her. His mother nodded in agreement as she read the voucher.
Sarah and her manager pooled their resources to provide the family with a store voucher for baby supplies, Jake's burden seemed to lift, if only for a moment.
Take It
Sarah started chatting to his mother about them and asked her where they lived. She told them that they were in between jobs.
Sarah told her that she should come back if she ever needed more help. “Don’t worry about it, we value your patronage,” she said to her.
"Here you go, Jake," she said, packing his goods. Then, slipping him the note again, she added, "No need to be embarrassed. We're here to help." But would Jake accept the voucher?
What's The Worst
Jake looked confused as he unfolded the note, his cheeks turning red with embarrassment as he read it.
Sarah approached him gently, offering a sympathetic smile. “Everybody goes through hard times, don’t stress,” she tried to motivate him.
Just then, the worst thing happened. Sarah didn’t expect it and she was shocked at his sudden outburst. Jake started crying inconsolably in the store. Sarah was taken aback that she had upset him and didn’t know what to do.
The Man Cries
A few customers stopped to watch the unfolding drama. Sarah tried to calm the situation and Jake, but he wouldn’t stop crying.
"Hey, Jake," she said softly. "I know things might be tough right now, but we're here to support you. If you ever need anything, just let us know."
She put her arms around him, and tried to comfort him. “It’s not that, you don’t know,” the young man whimpered. He wiped his face and looked at his mother with puppy dog eyes.
Their Story
His mother came forward and held his hand. “I think it’s time they know the truth, mom,” he said quietly. His mother shook her head in agreement.
Jake's eyes filled with gratitude as he nodded silently, unable to find the words to express his thanks. “I’m thankful for your help, but I haven't been honest with you,” he started.
He looked at Sarah and said, “There's something you should know about me Sarah,” he looked down at the floor embarrassed.
New In Town
Sarah was caring and told Jake that they could go sit outside if he wanted. But he said no. “I think it’s time that everybody knows the truth,” he said.
Just then the manager came through, he saw the group of customers standing around Sarahs till. His brows raised in curiosity.
Usually, he would have dispersed the crowd, but today, he was overcome with a sense of humanity and he couldn’t help but marvel at the act of kindness that was taking place in his store.
A Grateful Lad
Sarah introduced the manager to Jake and his mother and he greeted them with a smile. “Thank you for the generosity, sir, you have a great store,” he said.
The manager responded with “Thank you for visiting us, and always let us know if there is anything you need,” he patted him on the back.
Jake nodded, “This voucher is going to help me more than you know sir,” he said. “But first, there is somebody that I want you to meet,” he said, “Lisa, can you come here?”
The Girl Comes In
Just then the young teenager with the baby came through, she stood next to Jake. The baby girl cooed happily when she saw him.
Jake stood up and held the girl around the waist. “Everybody, I would like for you to meet Lisa and Dottie, my girlfriend and my baby,” he said with a smile.
Sarah almost jumped out of her skin. All along the girl wasn’t his neighbor, it was his girlfriend. And that was his own child.
He Made A Mistake
Jake went on to explain the financial predicament they were in. He was just eighteen years old, and Sarah was fifteen.
They were reckless and Sarah fell pregnant. Her parents disowned her and told Jake to take care of her and the baby.
Jake had no choice but to drop out of school and find a job, which he did, but then he lost his job and couldn’t find any other work for some time.
Being Honest In Public
There wasn’t a dry eye in the store as Jake iterated his sad story. A few customers sniffled and continued their shopping.
Sarah tried to talk some sense into Jake about not giving up. “You have to keep trying, you have a baby to take care of,” she convinced him.
Jake nodded in agreement, “It’s just a new town, a new place, we don’t know anybody here,” he said, “I moved here for work and now I lost my job,” he held his head in his hands.
A Caring Crowd
The manager stepped up and tried to control the situation. As much as he felt sorry for the young man, it was now becoming too emotional and people were starting to get annoyed.
He picked Jake up and handed him his groceries, “Things will get better son, don’t worry,” he said and tapped him on the back.
Jake gathered his senses and thanked the manager for helping him and his little family. “May God bless you and this store,” he said.
How Can We Help
The manager gave the mother a free dish washing soap voucher valued at $5 and told them to come back at any time.
With a reassuring pat on the shoulder, Sarah watched as Jake left the store, feeling a sense of fulfillment knowing that they had made a difference in his life.
Clara and Sarah hugged each other, their plan had gone off well and Jake had accepted the voucher. They had helped someone truly in need.
Helping Them Out
Although Jake and his family were gone, Sarah couldn’t help but feel involved in their life. She felt that there was a reason she had met them.
She spoke to her manager again and got permission to have a collection drive for the needy. Christmas was coming up and there were many people in need.
The manager agreed and the kindness didn’t end there. Sarah told other customers about their plight and they donated second hand items for the needy couple.
The Extra Mile
Sarah held the collection drive over the weekend. She put up flyers inviting customers to donate their unwanted baby items for those in need.
In a few hours, the storefront was bustling with do-gooders. People brought old clothes, toys, games and books for their baby girl.
Sarah busied herself with sorting and packing up the items for the family. She was waiting for them to return to the store. But they were quite embarrassed the last time. She didn’t know if they would return.
Where Did They Go
The weekend passed by and still Jake and their family didn’t come back. “Maybe they're ashamed,” Clara said. They didn’t leave a contact number so they didn’t know how to get ahold of them
Sarah was personally taken aback, she thought that Jake would continue to come back to the store, but it looked like he had moved on.
The whole week passed and Jake and his family still didn’t return. Sarah told her manager that she was worried that something had happened to them. But she had no idea what was about to happen the next day.
A Tough Encounter
On Wednesday Morning, Sarah saw a familiar face enter the store, it was Jake. He smiled when he saw her.
Sarah noticed that his face was tired and weathered. “What happened?“ she asked him. Jake told her that the baby got sick, and he also started a new job but got fired the same day because he had to take the baby to the hospital.
Sarah was sorry that they had such bad luck. “I have something to cheer you up,” she said. She took Jake to the store room, when she opened the door, his eyes widened in surprise.
All For You
Jake couldn’t believe his eyes. There were boxes of baby clothes, food and toys. “This should keep you guys going for a while,” she said warmly.
The teenage dad was beside himself, “You did all this for us?” Sarah told him about the donation drive she had for him, “We kept some things for some other families,” she said so as not to make him feel guilty.
Jake didn’t know what to say. He thanked her and made arrangements to transport the goods home. He didn’t know then that there was another surprise waiting for him.
An Earthly Angel
Just then the manager walked past them, he stopped at the storeroom and looked at Jake. “Just the man I wanted to see,” he said and tapped Jake on the back.
Jake was startled as the manager explained that they needed a new staff member to handle deliveries at the back, “Would you like the job? It's $30 an hour,” he said with a smile.
The young man couldn’t believe his luck. He thanked the manager and accepted the job with open arms. He had gone from a diaper boy to a working man in a few weeks, all thanks to a little help from a stranger.