Can I Costco-Size That, Please?

What you're about to read is true. The names have been slightly changed to make you laugh.

Once upon a time, in a Costco located conveniently close, two girls and a two year old were doing some bulk shopping. Kimber Lee and her daughter Eye Anna had been graciously escorted by the lovely Sasha--the girlfriend of Kimber Lee's brother and the keeper of the Costco membership.

On the whole, it was an uneventful trip. Sasha and Kimber Lee caught up on the day's happening while Eye Anna played with her dinosaurs and attempted to finagle her way out of the cart. Eventually, she did it--claiming her "bunny" hurt. Mamas can't abide by grumbly bunnies, so Kimber Lee freed Eye Anna from the cart, giving her bunny kisses as she situated her on her hip.

But Eye Anna wasn't being entirely truthful. Although a later diaper would indicate that her stomach was indeed unhappy, what Eye Anna really wanted was to run the oversized aisles of Costco, getting hopelessly lost if at all possible. 

Have I set the tone? Do you feel like you're in the story now? I hope so, because I really want you to be invested in these characters--especially Kimber Lee, because she's about to encounter a situation that will make you totally wish you had a friend like hers.

So there they were, Kimber Lee and Sasha, realizing that Eye Anna would have to get back into the cart if any shopping was going to get done. Knowing the consequences would be swift and loud, Kimber Lee swept Eye Anna up and stuffed her into the cart.

Oh boy. Eye Anna was not impressed. She howled her loudest howls, prompting her mother to scold, beg, threaten, and even cover her mouth--all in vain. Just as Kimber Lee realized the only way out of the mess was a shameless bribe in the form of a tootsie roll, a woman turned down the previously empty aisle.

Without stopping to look or pick up a single oversized item, this woman walked by Kimber Lee, Eye Anna, and Sasha, then turned back to say: "My kids never did that."

Whooo. Ouch. Where do you fall, readers? Do you think that woman made a good call, going out of her way to shame the already embarrassed Kimber Lee? Was she a little (whole lot) harsh? One thing's for sure--she's a liar. If you have a two year old who hasn't thrown a tantrum in a store, it's a two year old Cabbage Patch Kid, not a human. 

Well, after seeing the crushed/angry/confused look on Kimber Lee's face, Sasha decided that woman made a very, very bad call. Sasha had seen a few two year olds in her day, most of them throwing similar tantrums in similar stores. And she didn't see any reason a woman with a bad memory of her own run as a mother of toddlers should ruin everyone's day.

So she did something Kimber Lee could never imagine having the guts to do. She went after the woman. She walked right up to her as she checked out and said: "I just wanted to let you know that was really inappropriate."

The woman tried to cover it up--said she was just joking and apologized. But Sasha knew the woman hadn't been joking at all. She walked away, nearly in tears from the adrenaline of scolding a woman three times her age.

Wouldn't you be? How many times have I had the opportunity to stick up for a friend, but didn't because I was afraid? If I had been Sasha, I'd have spent the rest of the evening telling Kimber Lee all the things I would have/should have/could have said. But to actually say them? Nope. Not me. I'm no Sasha.

I know it seems like the story's over. And in a typical Costco on a typical day, it probably would be. But these were extraordinary circumstances.

Kimber Lee and Sasha continued their shoppings. Eye Anna sat politely in the cart, sucking on her tootsie roll, while Kimber Lee and Sasha talked about how awesome Sasha was. They didn't have to wait at all to check out, which isn't the miracle of this story, but deserves to be noted.  

Then, as they turned to leave, the woman materialized out of thin air. That's a little dramatic. In reality, she had just been waiting there for like 15, maybe 20 minutes. Without asking permission, she pulled Kimber Lee into a hug and said, "I just wanted to tell you I'm sorry."

Whaaaaaa?

Kimber Lee waited for the excuses she knew the woman had tried on Sasha, but they didn't come. The woman just hugged her again, apologized a second time, and took her leave.

And all the while, Eye Anna--the perpetrator of this whole mess--sucked on the tootsie roll. Why oh why hadn't Kimber Lee thought to bribe her with the tootsie roll before the tantrum?! We'll never know. And I--I mean Kimber Lee--will never make that mistake again.

Moral of the story?

Sticking up for someone doesn't just make them feel better, it gives the person who behaved badly an opportunity to redeem herself.

Since bringing Ayana home, I've struggled with how to deal with the rude comments and questions and looks. And to be honest, I'm mostly useless and afraid. I don't say anything because I'm loathe to offend. 

But as I watched Sarah call that woman out, I realized something--she invited Sarah's comments when she made her own. If she could say something we didn't want to hear, so could we! Sarah was polite in her censure, but she was firm. As a result, the woman realized she'd been unfair, and she went well out of her way to make it right. Wow.

When I went into Costco tonight, I was a pretty small person--a person too small to stand up for myself or my child to an unnecessarily rude person. But thanks to Sarah, that Grinchy lady and I had the opportunity to have our hearts grow three sizes today--three COSTCO sizes.