I took a day off from work to finish some DIY projects around the house and of course that means at least one trip to the big blue Home store for supplies, in this case, deck screws. I’m wearing jeans, work boots and a green T shirt.

I’m standing in the aisle surrounded by thousands of options for deck screws looking for the right one when I hear a demanding, screechy voice, “Excuse me, I need some help.” I look up to see a middle aged, soccer mom type holding a large ziplock bag with a water filter element in it.

“Ummm, I don’t work here.”

“I don’t have time for games, just tell me where these are.”

Now, I have no idea where the filters are or if the store even carries them, but I absolutely don’t want to get sucked into this lady’s reindeer games, so I just say,

“The filters are in aisle 19, halfway down, middle shelf on the left side, just match the numbers and you’ll be fine. “

“Can you show me?”

“No, my boss says if I leave here before I’m done, that’s it, I’ll be fired.”

“Oh, ok.”

“Really, just match the numbers on the filters and you’ll be fine.”

And off she goes. I get a box of the screws I need and head for the register. I make the transaction and I’m heading for the door when I hear, “That’s him! He’s the one that told me aisle 19!” I hear the manager reply, “Ma’am, that guy doesn’t work here.” I just keep going, get in my truck and head home to finish my deck.

Edit 1 Fixed a few stupid autocorrects because I posted from my phone.

Edit 2 Thanks for the gold kind stranger. May your day glow with the golden light of the sunrise on the dew or something like that.