Friday, May 16, 2008

Angel Sighting at Toys R Us

I've been wanting to get Madeline some play equipment for the back yard for a month or so now. With the amazing weather we were having (that has now ended, of course), my motivation was increased. I mentioned this to Bill last week Tuesday, saying that I'd like to get her something within the next week or so, and he said "How about tonight? Toys R Us is open until 8." It was probably about 6:30 at that point, but we'd already been there to see what they had, and discussed generally what we were going to get, so we didn't think it would take all that long to pick something out.

We got to the store about 7, and had made our decisions by the time they announced they were about to close the store. We checked out, and waited for them to bring out our purchases. Evidently the stock people had already left, so a bunch of other employees went back to get our things, since they wanted to leave to!

I'd already asked Bill how we were going to fit our choices (a play house and a slide) into the car, and he said we'd manage. The moment I saw the size of the first box, I knew we were in trouble. The second box was even bigger.

As four or five employees carried our two purchases out to our car for us, even Bill realized we weren't going to be able to manage. Nostalgia for his truck back home in the US was mentioned...

That's when the amazing thing happened. One of the employees, a woman named Danni (if I remember her name badge correctly), asked where we lived. I, assuming she was going to tell us if we could get our stuff delivered, told her, and her reply was: "If you don't mind waiting a few minutes while we close the store, I'll follow you home with your stuff in my car." She had a mini van, or at least what passes for one here. We were floored that she would actually volunteer to do this, but didn't have much choice but to take her up (very gratefully) on her offer! We ended up having to put BOTH boxes in her car--we couldn't get either one of them in ours, let alone both of them.

Evidently she's done this several times before--poor naive first-time parents like us get to the store, pick things out with which to spoil their kids, then realize they haven't a clue how they're going to get them home.

We tried to pay her for her time and fuel (which is insanely expensive here) and she flat-out refused. In fact, it turned into a "who's more stubborn" match. Those of you who know me will be surprised, but I actually lost. I tried sneaking the money into her car through the open window. She found it, ran and put it in our house (the door was open), then locked her car so I couldn't get back in. Yes, grown women can act a little silly some times...!

To sum up the story in two points: Madeline is very happy with her new toys, and evidently Toys R Us hires angels. I sure hope they pay them well!!!



2 comments:

Cathren12 (mom) said...

How fabulous! Sometimes big things like that happen that let you know there still are some good people left in the world :-) (even here in the UK...). Maddie looks fabulous in her new house, now you just have to get the matching kitchen set :-)
PS - don't forget you can almost always give us a call. We have a minivan, don't live too far away, and are usually home :-)

lizS said...

that's so great! there ARE good people in the world after all! we just moved yesterday, and our neighbors ran over, with no prompting, and helped the men move our piano. (it's an old player piano, which means it's way heavier than it looks) just wanted to throw my two angels into the mix!