I often tout being extra nice to the sales help during the Holidays. Often these sales clerks are under trained, under paid, working a second job and dealing with demanding hard headed irritable customers. A little extra nice-ness sent their way can really ease difficult situations.

Last weekend after what I would describe as an extremely stressful 24 hour period, I decided to get out and take our daughter shopping for her Christmas list late on Sunday afternoon. Of course she wanted a very specific item for one friend that was only available at Barnes and Noble. So off we went, maneuvering around the badly designed mall parking lot, struggling through the crowds and eventually making it into the enormous 2-story book store.

It is simply too big. You need a map to navigate it. Not one to be deterred, we trudged up escalators, through displays, by the kids reading area to the section we wanted.

Shopping with a ten year old is never an easy prospect and this was no exception. Patience, patience, patience and more patience....Okay, I am done with the patience part. We pick out a gift and head down to the discounted book section so I can quickly hunt for a gift book. Whining, whining and more whining....Okay, I am done with that part too. I grabbed a book and head to the check out counter.

Finally after we stood in line for a long while, we get to pay. After I write my check, the cash register breaks. Really!

The cool punky guy behind the register with jet black hair and pierced tongue, suddenly went from being a cool dude to a nervous high school kid, mumbling out all sorts of fevered apologies and expletives.

Seriously, had he not been soo pathetic I would have not been so nice. But his fear at having to call the manager down from the offices was evidently huge. I tried reassuring him that these things happen and it really was not his fault. This didn't seem to calm his fears.

But managers hate to be called out of their throne rooms, and this one took his time. As the minutes went by I could see sweat breaking out on this guys forehead. As he mumbles more apologies and more time goes by I decide to make a joke out of it and apologize to him. “ It’s cause I’m here that it broke.” I went on with it was just my bad luck that day that had brought this on. At this he lightened up some.

When the manager finally decided to grace us with his presence, I was in full swing. I launched into the manager with jokes about making me wait by the Godiva chocolate bar display. My daughter joined in adding what cruel and unusual punishment is was. How could they possibly make us wait so long with such delicious enticements nearby. At some point the during our foolishness, the sales clerk caught on that we were in fact nicely teasing the manager for being such a slow moving stern overlord.

Register fixed, the transaction finished and the manager was back up in his domain. The sales guy was back to his original coolness and was very grateful that I hadn’t flown off the handle....grateful enough to toss a couple of Godiva bars in my bag.

Merry Christmas's were exchanged and all ended happily. Keeping it nice, even when I was being unnecessarily put out was the better choice.

The Godiva chocolate bars didn’t make it home.

Suzanne O'Connor