One day I decided to go to the supermarket after work. I had to buy something to eat my cat, and me such food to stretch for a week. My paycheck was late at work. They said that in a week it would be, but considering what country we live in, I was well aware that the week could drag on for longer. In short, I took the last money I had a couple of packages of cereal, chicken by-products, cat food and a couple of bones, and two loaves of bread.
That’s usually enough for me for a week. I live alone with a cat. In general, I was already standing at the checkout, waiting for my turn. There were four more people in front of me. A lady of very rich appearance, a typical man who likes to drink with his friends behind the garage, I was my mother, and at the beginning of the line a grandmother of about 70 years old. She had just waited her turn and began laying out her groceries for the cashier to pay. The cashier had already punched in all the products, which were quite scarce, and was waiting for the grandmother to pay. And then the grandmother said in a quiet, frightened voice.
-Oh, my God, I had money. And now it’s gone. Where could it have gone? -Tears began to well up in Granny’s eyes. She had the most basic groceries in her basket, but she had no money for them either. Everyone in the crowd became indignant. The first to start was a rich-looking lady.
-Hey, grandma, stop lying. No one will give you money for milk and bread for nothing. You should be ashamed to lie. You’ve come to beg, you beggar. Go away, if you don’t have any money. -The man joined the lady and started shouting like a madman at the whole supermarket.
-Hello, granny, what are you doing? Go away, if you don’t have any money. I won’t stand here for three hours. They’re waiting for me there, I just bought a bottle, we’ll hang out, and you’re ruining everything. Go on, go on, go away. -Grandma had already started crying openly and was just about to leave, leaving the groceries, but then I went up to her and gave her all my money, which I was going to spend on food for myself and the cat.
-Grandma, take this, don’t resist. You need the money more. Buy your own groceries. -She started to refuse, of course, wiping away her tears. But I convinced her. Told her to just mention my grandmother. From the crowd immediately decided to insert my own word I am a mother.
-Such old women. Know how to play the poor to get money for free. And you, it would be better to give me money for the child than this old woman, she soon has to get ready for the cemetery, and not food to be supplied. -There was laughter in the crowd. It had been a long time since I had heard such anger from young people. And they, too, will one day be old men. Would they want to be treated that way?
Meanwhile, Grandma and I had already left the supermarket. I looked into her clear green eyes and immediately remembered my grandmother. She had died five years ago, and I missed her very much. She wasn’t just my grandmother, she was my mother. She taught me a lot of things, and she loved me very much. I would have done anything for my grandmother. It’s a shame she was gone so young. Old people are very deserving of respect and their attitude shows just how civilized our society is.
