When I was 8 my mom went away for the weekend on a business trip. That was the first time in my life I was away from her overnight. Plus this was both Friday night and Saturday. So I was really struggling with separation anxiety. I didn’t tell my dad this. I just kept it to myself. I never had a good relationship with my dad. He tried. It was me who didn’t. Anyways, that Saturday we went to Walmart. And the cashier in the line behind us dropped the cash drawer. Money spilled all over the place. She was on her hands and knees picking up coins. Another cashier laughed and said “what did you do?” Even at 8 years I felt awful for her. I asked my dad what happened and he said “she has butterfingers” I hope she didn’t hear that. Later that night I just sat in bed feeling physically sick to my stomach about that cashier and my separation anxiety towards my mom.

Years later I still wonder about her. As a working adult I wonder about a lot of other stuff. What if she didn’t pick up all the coins so her drawer was short? Also this was Walmart and they don’t treat their employees the best. I do wonder if she got fired over the incident.

This was a couple months after 9/11. It was a very confusing time for everyone. I have no idea what that cashier might have been going through. Does anyone else have an experience like this?