“Wait,” I said.
The girl turned around.
I smiled and handed the cashier the missing four dollars.
“It’s okay. I’ll cover the rest.”
Her eyes widened.
“You don’t have to do that,” she said.
“I know,” I replied. “But I want to.”
She looked at the cake again.
Then she looked back at me.
For a second, she seemed unsure what to do.
Then suddenly, she stepped forward and hugged me.
It was not a quick polite hug.
