A little girl in rags walks into an expensive toy store and everyone looks at her with suspicion, only the kind saleswoman understands her mission.
The minute George Tanakis saw that kid walk into the store, he knew she was trouble. First of all, she was alone, and kids did not come to the Toys Galorium Emporium alone, and second of all, she was poor.
It was a cold harsh day, but George could see the girl, who was around 7 or 8, was wearing a thin fall coat over two sweaters, a pair of jeans, and some summer-weight sneakers that looked worn out. She certainly couldn’t afford any of the store’s expensive toys. She was clearly here to steal.
The girl wandered among the store’s heaped shelves looking for that one special doll | Source: Shutterstock.com
George immediately stepped in behind the girl and started to follow her quietly. A little further along, Miss Neander, the store manager, came up to him. “George,” she hissed. “Did you notice that little thief?”
“I’m following her right now, Miss,” he told her. “She’s not stealing from us today!”
“Good!” said Miss Neander. “You have no idea how much we lose to shoplifters, and it’s going to come out of our bonuses!” Further encouraged by Miss Neander, George started to follow the child all over the store.
Everywhere she went, her unkempt, ragged appearance drew unfavorable notice. When she was standing next to another little girl admiring the same doll, the other child’s mother drew her daughter away.
The girl was on her own | Source: Unsplash
“Amy,” she said sharply. “Stay away from that child. You don’t want to get lice!” The little girl must have heard those unkind words because she lowered her head and tears filled her eyes.
She quickly turned away from the doll she’d been looking at and moved down another aisle. What was she looking for? George asked himself. The kid must have seen just about every single doll in the store, and she just kept shaking her head.
From dolls that cost hundreds of dollars to a doll from the $1 bin, nothing seemed to be what she wanted. George wished she’d just hurry up and make her move because he was tired, his feet hurt, and it was nearly his break-time.
Then finally, the kid cried: “It’s YOU!” and she ran across the aisle to a display of hundreds...
