Saleslady Kicks Poor Old Woman Out of Luxury Store, Cop Brings Her Back Later – Story of the Day

Kerry didn’t have much money as she lived on her pension. But she wanted to buy a dress for her granddaughter Anne’s prom. At a luxury store, saleslady Sandra greeted her but couldn’t disguise her prejudices, as Kerry didn’t look like her regular customers. She drove Kerry away, but someone stepped up to help.

“Grandma, I don’t care about prom! Really. I just want to stay home and watch movies with Mom,” Kerry’s granddaughter, Anne, said through the phone.

Kerry had called her to talk about her graduation from Strawberry Crest High School in Tampa, Florida, was coming up, and prom was right around the corner. But the older woman was surprised when her granddaughter assured her that she didn’t want to go. She claimed to not care about the event, but Kerry knew the truth.

Kerry went to a luxury store to find a dress for Anne. | Source: Shutterstock

Kerry went to a luxury store to find a dress for Anne. | Source: Shutterstock

Her daughter, Lisa, worked minimum wage, and Kerry lived on her pension alone. None of them had enough money to buy Anne a proper dress for the prom. The 18-year-old felt embarrassed about it.

“Ma’am. Are you ok? Can I help you with anything?” a kind male voice asked.

“Are you sure you don’t want to go? You know I went to the prom with your grandfather. He asked me out of the blue, and we got married a few months later. We loved each other until the day he died, and I still miss him every day. The prom can change your life,” Kerry insisted, her voice cheerful as she tried to convince her to go.

“I know, Grandma. But still. I don’t want to go. Also, I don’t have a date either, so it doesn’t matter. Listen, I have to go study, I still have a few finals left. Talk to you later!” Anne said and hung up the phone too quickly for Kerry’s comfort.

Therefore, the older woman decided something. She was saving a bit of her pension every single month to cover her funeral costs so that Lisa would not have to worry about anything expensive. But there was something more pressing right now.

The saleswoman greeted her but her attitude changed for some reason. | Source: Pexels

The saleswoman greeted her but her attitude changed for some reason. | Source: Pexels

She wanted to buy a dress for her granddaughter. Anne deserved it. She was a brilliant kid who worked hard at school. It wasn’t her fault that they lived in poverty most of the time, and Kerry would convince her to go to the prom in a lovely dress.

The following day, she went to the mall and found a beautiful boutique full of amazing dresses. She entered, and her eyes widened at the sparkle. “What would Anne like?” she asked herself, touching one gown closest to her.

“Hello! My name is Sandra. How may I help you… ugh… today?” a saleslady approached Kerry, but she stumbled on her words for some reason. The woman looked up and down at Kerry and her mouth twisted strangely.

“Hi there! I’m looking for a dress for my granddaughter. Her prom is coming up,” Kerry explained, smiling at the woman despite her weird demeanor.

“I’m sorry. This is not a rental store. You have to buy these dresses in full,” Sandra said, linking her hands together.

But Kerry had no idea what she was talking about. “I know that. But can you show me some of the most popular models?”

Kerry realized what the saleslady was implying. | Source: Pexels

Kerry realized what the saleslady was implying. | Source: Pexels

“Well, the most popular are pretty pricey. In fact, the entire store might not be in your price range. Perhaps you could go to Target for it?” Sandra suggested, and Kerry finally realized the woman’s attitude. She didn’t think Kerry could afford anything and shouldn’t be shopping at that store.

She was offended immediately but didn’t want to say anything and cause a scene. She continued walking around the store, with Sandra following. “I’m just going to browse around, okay?” Kerry said, trying to get the woman off her back.

“Listen, you can really get nice things at Target in your price range. This is simply too much,” Sandra continued, crossing her arms. “Also, we have cameras everywhere. You won’t be able to stash anything in that ugly old bag of yours.”

Kerry finally turned around to face the rude saleslady, and her eyes widened. Sandra smirked cattily at her, daring her to do something. But she had never been a confrontational person, so she rushed out of the store, ashamed, and tears streamed down her face.

A police officer asked what was wrong. | Source: Unsplash

A police officer asked what was wrong. | Source: Unsplash

She was right outside the mall when she dropped her bag accidentally, and for some reason, that made her break down even more. After being humiliated by the woman, she cried heavily, but something touched her shoulder.

“Ma’am. Are you ok? Can I help you with anything?” a kind male voice asked, and Kerry lifted her head to stare at a young cop, who tried to get her to stand up straight. He leaned down to pick up her purse and gave her a dazzling smile.

“Oh, thank you, officer,” Kerry said, grabbing the bag and composing herself.

“Well, I’m still an apprentice. I’m only 20, but I’ll be an official officer soon enough,” the young man answered humorously. “Can you tell me what happened?”

“Well, it’s a bit silly…,” the older woman began. Something about his face made her want to talk about it. He was frowning heavily by the time she finished.

“That’s preposterous! How can a salesperson treat you like that?” he said.

“What’s your name, young man?”

He ushered her back to the store and talked to the manager. | Source: Pexels

He ushered her back to the store and talked to the manager. | Source: Pexels

“George Martins,” he answered and looked toward the mall doors. “Look, my mentor came here for coffee. But we have time to choose a dress. Let’s go!”

Kerry wanted to refuse, but George pulled her along towards the luxury boutique. Sandra spotted her immediately.

“I thought I told you to leave… oh, officer. What’s going on?” Sandra asked, changing her tune as soon as she saw the cop with Kerry.

“We came here for a dress, and we’re not leaving without one,” George stated, and he gestured for Kerry to continue shopping. He also complained to Sandra’s manager while the older woman looked for a dress.

After a few minutes, she finally chose something beautiful for prom, and George even paid for half of it despite Kerry’s objections. But it wasn’t that expensive because the store offered ended up offering them a discount due to the complaint George raised against them. They heard the manager scolding Sandra while leaving.

Anne looked beautiful in her dress but lamented not having a date. | Source: Unsplash

Anne looked beautiful in her dress but lamented not having a date. | Source: Unsplash

George accompanied Kerry out of the mall and bid her goodbye. But Kerry couldn’t let such a wonderful young man go just like that. “George, do you have any plans this weekend?” she asked, raising her eyebrows slyly, and George laughed.

***

On prom night, Kerry appeared at Lisa’s house to surprise her granddaughter with the dress in her hands. They told her how vital this rite of passage was for every young person, and they dressed her up.

In the end, Anne was happy and looked beautiful. But she shrugged as they took pictures of her. “It’s too bad I don’t have a date,” she said, arranging her dress shyly.

“Actually…,” Kerry stared, and the doorbell rang at that moment.

George was right outside wearing a beautiful tux, and he had a corsage in his hands. The older woman made introductions, explaining what happened at the mall and how kind George was. Anne was embarrassed, but she accepted the corsage and the date.

Years later, they got married. | Source: Unsplash

Years later, they got married. | Source: Unsplash

They had tons of fun at prom, and seven years later, she and George got married.

“I told you prom can change your life!” Kerry said while helping Anne with her wedding dress.

What can we learn from this story?

  • It’s not polite to treat anyone any less because of their looks. Sandra judged Kerry because she didn’t look like her regular customers, and she got scolded because of it.
  • Help out as much as you can. George saw a crying older woman and decided to help out. And in the end, he found his happiness thanks to that one moment of kindness.

Share this story with your friends. It might brighten their day and inspire them.

If you enjoyed this story, you might like this one about a waitress who mocked a poorly dressed man at a restaurant, and karma hit her back.

My Ex-husband Returned 10 Years After Leaving, but Not for the Reason I Expected

When my ex-husband, Josh, showed up on my doorstep after disappearing for 10 years, I had no idea why he’d returned. What could he possibly want now, after abandoning me and our daughter, Chloe?

Looking at Josh, I didn’t recognize the man I’d once fallen in love with. Time had aged him, and guilt was written all over his face. At that point, I had every right to slam the door in his face, but I didn’t do it.

I didn’t do it for Chloe’s sake. I knew she needed her dad in her life.

A girl sitting on a couch | Source: Midjourney

A girl sitting on a couch | Source: Midjourney

Being a single mom isn’t easy, but raising my daughter, Chloe, has been the most rewarding challenge of my life.

For 10 years, it’s just been the two of us. There were moments I struggled, but every time Chloe smiled or reached a milestone, I knew it was all worth it.

She’s my pride, my strength, and my reason to keep going.

But things weren’t always this way.

Years ago, I was married to Josh, a man I once thought would be my forever.

A couple showing their rings | Source: Pexels

A couple showing their rings | Source: Pexels

We met through a mutual friend, and I was immediately drawn to his charm and wit. Our friendship turned into love almost effortlessly.

Back then, I noticed a few things about Josh that I chose to ignore.

For one, he was always cautious about money. I remember how he hesitated before agreeing to splurge on a nice dinner or how he’d suggest I not buy something because it seemed “too expensive,” even when it wasn’t. I brushed it off as him being practical.

In hindsight, those were red flags I should have paid attention to.

A close-up shot of a woman's eyes | Source: Midjourney

A close-up shot of a woman’s eyes | Source: Midjourney

When Josh proposed, I didn’t think twice. We were in love, and at that time, both of us were working stable jobs.

We got married in an intimate ceremony, and it was just perfect.

But a few months into our marriage, cracks began to show. Josh’s frugality became more pronounced.

He’d question every purchase, from groceries to basic household items.

A man holding money | Source: Pexels

A man holding money | Source: Pexels

“Do we really need this?” he’d ask, even when the answer was obvious.

It wasn’t long before I found myself managing most of our expenses, which led to tension. So, one evening, I decided to address it.

“Josh,” I said gently, “why am I covering most of the bills lately? We’re supposed to be a team.”

He sighed and apologized.

“I love you, Lauren, and I promise I’ll step up. I just want to make sure we’re being responsible.”

His words reassured me, but looking back, I realize they were just that. Words.

A woman standing near a window | Source: Midjourney

A woman standing near a window | Source: Midjourney

When I became pregnant, Josh surprised me. He seemed genuinely excited and eager to prepare for the baby’s arrival.

He bought furniture for the nursery, attended prenatal classes with me, and even treated me to a spa day. For a while, I believed this was the real Josh.

After Chloe was born, his enthusiasm continued. He doted on her, buying toys and clothes and making sure we had what we needed.

Back then, I felt super grateful. I thought we’d finally found our groove as a family.

A couple holding hands | Source: Midjourney

A couple holding hands | Source: Midjourney

But as time went on, the old Josh resurfaced. He began complaining about the cost of diapers and formula, grumbling that we were spending too much on Chloe.

When I mentioned we needed a new car seat because Chloe had outgrown hers, he snapped, “Do you know how much those things cost?”

Arguments about money became a regular occurrence. He was struggling at work, but he wouldn’t talk to me about it.

Instead, he bottled everything up, growing distant and irritable.

A stressed man | Source: Pexels

A stressed man | Source: Pexels

Then came the evening that changed everything.

I’d just returned from work when I found a note on the kitchen table.

I can’t do this anymore. I’m sorry.

Next to it were divorce papers, already signed. Josh had left without saying anything. No explanation. No goodbye.

I was left to pick up the pieces for myself and our two-year-old daughter, Chloe. At the time, I thought I’d never recover.

The early days after Josh left were full of tears.

A woman crying | Source: Pexels

A woman crying | Source: Pexels

I couldn’t understand how someone could walk away from their family, especially their own child. I tried calling him, but his number was disconnected. I even reached out to his friends, but none of them had heard from him.

For a long time, I questioned everything. Was he with someone else? Or was the pressure of being a father too much for him?

But Chloe didn’t leave me much time to dwell on my pain. She needed me, and I had to be strong for her.

A little girl | Source: Pexels

A little girl | Source: Pexels

I took on a second job to make ends meet, often skipping meals or wearing the same old clothes so I could provide everything she needed.

As the years passed, Chloe and I built a close bond. I was her everything. Her mom, her dad, her protector, and her biggest cheerleader.

But explaining Josh’s absence was never easy.

When Chloe was younger, I’d tell her, “Daddy had to leave because he was going through things I couldn’t understand.”

A woman braiding her daughter's hair | Source: Pexels

A woman braiding her daughter’s hair | Source: Pexels

As she got older, I explained more, though I never badmouthed him.

“It wasn’t your fault, and it wasn’t mine,” I told her. “Sometimes adults make choices they regret.”

However, when Chloe turned 12, she started asking harder questions.

“Do you think he regrets it, Mom?” she asked one evening as we sat together on the couch.

“I don’t know, sweetie,” I replied. “But I do know that his choices don’t define you or me.”

“I’m glad I have you,” she said quietly.

“And I’m glad I have you, too,” I said and smiled.

A woman looking straight ahead | Source: Midjourney

A woman looking straight ahead | Source: Midjourney

At that point, I thought we’d moved past the pain Josh had caused. I thought we were finally at peace, unaware that the past would literally come knocking at my door.

It happened on a quiet Saturday afternoon.

Chloe was at a friend’s house, and I was finally catching up on some much-needed cleaning when the doorbell rang.

I expected it to be a package or maybe a neighbor. But when I opened the door, I froze.

It was Josh.

A man standing outdoors | Source: Midjourney

A man standing outdoors | Source: Midjourney

He looked different.

He was thinner and older, and his once vibrant eyes looked so dull.

“Hi, Lauren,” he said in a trembling voice.

I stared at him in shock. I wanted to slam the door in his face, scream at him for what he’d done, and demand answers.

But instead, I asked, “What are you doing here?”

He exhaled deeply.

“I, uh… Can I come in? I need to talk to you.”

A man talking to a woman | Source: Midjourney

A man talking to a woman | Source: Midjourney

Against my better judgment, I stepped aside and let him in. Not because I wanted to, but because I couldn’t ignore the possibility that Chloe deserved answers, even if I didn’t want to hear them myself.

Chloe came home about an hour later.

She walked into the living room, spotted Josh, and froze mid-step. Then, her gaze shifted to me as she searched for an explanation.

“Is that… is that Dad?” she asked.

I’d shown Chloe photos of him, and he looked way older than the image of him she had built in her mind.

“Yes,” I nodded. “That’s your father.”

A woman standing in her house | Source: Midjourney

A woman standing in her house | Source: Midjourney

“Hi, Chloe,” Josh said as he stood up awkwardly.

For a long moment, there was silence. Then Chloe, always so composed, asked the most important question.

“Why are you here?”

Josh’s shoulders slumped, and he lowered himself into a chair.

“Because I made a mistake, Chloe,” he whispered. “I left when I shouldn’t have. And now I’m here to make things right.”

“And how do I know you won’t leave again?” Chloe asked.

Josh looked like he’d seen a ghost. He started coughing before he could answer.

“You don’t,” he finally replied. “But I’ll spend every moment I have proving to you that I won’t.”

A tired man | Source: Midjourney

A tired man | Source: Midjourney

I knew I couldn’t trust Josh, but I decided to give him a chance for my daughter’s sake.

“You can stay for dinner,” I said finally. “But this doesn’t mean anything. We’re taking this one step at a time.”

Josh nodded gratefully, clearing his throat. “Thank you, Lauren. I, uh, I promise, I just want to reconnect with Chloe.”

A man looking at his ex-wife | Source: Midjourney

A man looking at his ex-wife | Source: Midjourney

That night, I lay awake, grappling with the decision to let him back into our lives. I told myself I was doing it for Chloe, but a part of me knew I needed answers, too.

Who was this man now, and why had he really come back? He looked so different. So weak. So fragile.

A few weeks after his return, things were still tense. He visited daily and bonded with Chloe while helping her with homework. They even cooked dinner together sometimes.

I noticed she was beginning to warm up to him, though her guard was still up.

A girl looking away from her father | Source: Midjourney

A girl looking away from her father | Source: Midjourney

One evening, after they had finished a school project, Chloe turned to me with a question. “Mom, do you think Dad will disappear again?”

Honestly, I didn’t have an answer.

“I don’t know, sweetheart. But I promise, no matter what happens, I’ll be here.”

That’s when my gaze landed on Josh who’d overheard the conversation. He looked devastated but didn’t say anything.

Later that night, I confronted him before he left.

“What are you really doing here, Josh?” I asked. “Why now, after all this time?”

A woman talking to her ex-husband | Source: Midjourney

A woman talking to her ex-husband | Source: Midjourney

His face clouded with guilt, but he deflected.

“I just… I saw her picture in the paper when she won the Academic Excellence Award. It hit me how much I’ve missed, Lauren.”

“I don’t believe it. You’re not telling me everything,” I pressed. “There’s more, isn’t there?”

Josh didn’t answer, but his health was already raising more questions than he could dodge.

I’d noticed him cough several times ever since he’d returned to our lives, and it hadn’t gotten any better. He also had this fatigue that didn’t seem to improve.

A worried man | Source: Midjourney

A worried man | Source: Midjourney

Whenever I asked him about it, he just said he was “exhausted from traveling,” but I wasn’t convinced.

And then came the evening his secret came to light.

Josh was helping Chloe with her homework in the living room when I heard a loud thud. I rushed in to find him collapsed on the floor.

“What happened to him, Mom?” Chloe asked, crying.

“Josh?” I shouted, trying to shake him awake. “Josh? What happened?”

He didn’t respond and was trying hard to catch his breath. I knew we needed help, so I immediately called an ambulance and rushed him to the hospital.

I didn’t even have time to process what was happening before a doctor approached me.

A doctor | Source: Pexels

A doctor | Source: Pexels

“We’ve stabilized him,” he said. “But he needs to stay overnight for observation.”

My knees wobbled as I nodded.

I was led into the room where Josh lay, pale and fragile, hooked up to machines that beeped softly in the background.

When he saw me, he weakly motioned for me to come closer.

“I have to tell you something,” he whispered.

“What is it, Josh?” I asked as I sat beside him. I gripped the chair so tightly my knuckles turned white.

“I have cancer, Lauren. Late-stage. The doctors say I don’t have much time.”

I was unable to comprehend his words.

“Cancer?” I repeated. “Why didn’t you tell us?”

A woman talking to her ex-husband | Source: Midjourney

A woman talking to her ex-husband | Source: Midjourney

“I didn’t want you and Chloe to think I came back because I needed something,” he said. “I didn’t want to burden you more than I already have.”

“You… you left us, Josh,” I managed to speak, staring into his eyes. “You left me to raise Chloe alone, and now you’re back because you’re dying? Do you have any idea what we’ve been through?”

He winced at my words but didn’t look away.

A man in a hospital bed | Source: Midjourney

A man in a hospital bed | Source: Midjourney

“I know I hurt you, Lauren,” he whispered. “But back then, I thought leaving was the right thing to do. I felt like a failure. As a husband. As a father… I couldn’t provide for you the way you deserved. My anxiety convinced me that you were better off without me. After all, our arguments never seemed to end.”

An angry man | Source: Pexels

An angry man | Source: Pexels

“Better off?” I snapped as tears streamed down my cheeks. “Chloe grew up wondering why her dad didn’t want her. She deserved so much better than this, Josh! We could’ve worked everything out. We could’ve found a solution.”

“I know,” he said, his voice breaking. “I wanted to come back so many times, but I was ashamed. Every time I thought about returning, I’d convince myself it was too late. And then… this illness forced me to confront the truth. I couldn’t leave this world without making things right with Chloe.”

A man lying in a hospital bed | Source: Midjourney

A man lying in a hospital bed | Source: Midjourney

I didn’t know what to say after that. We stayed silent for a few minutes as I processed my feelings. I wanted to scream at him, but I also felt like crying for him.

“What am I supposed to tell Chloe now?” I finally asked. “How am I supposed to help her through this?”

“Tell her I came back because I love her,” he cried. “Tell her I want to be here for her, for however much time I have left.”

That evening, I sat down with Chloe and gently explained what was happening.

A woman talking to her daughter | Source: Midjourney

A woman talking to her daughter | Source: Midjourney

“So, he’s going to leave us again?” she asked, looking at me with wide eyes.

“No, honey. Not like before,” I said, pulling her into a hug. “This time, he’s here to stay for as long as he can.”

Chloe was hurt, confused, and angry all at once.

“Why did he have to wait until now? Why couldn’t he come back when I was little?”

“I don’t know, sweetie. But I think… I think he was scared. People don’t always make the right choices, even when they mean well.”

A woman looking straight ahead | Source: Midjourney

A woman looking straight ahead | Source: Midjourney

My little girl was angry, but she didn’t let it control her decision. She understood her father was in a difficult position, so she agreed to forgive him.

She told me she wanted to spend what time they had left together.

In the weeks following his diagnosis, Josh made every effort to bond with Chloe. He played board games with her, cheered her on at her soccer matches, and even helped her bake cookies for a school fundraiser.

One Saturday afternoon, Chloe found Josh writing at the dining table.

“What are you doing, Dad?” she asked curiously.

A man writing a letter | Source: Pexels

A man writing a letter | Source: Pexels

“I’m writing letters for you,” he smiled. “For all the big moments in your life. Your graduation, your wedding, or just a day when you need a reminder of how much I love you.”

“But you don’t need to leave me notes,” Chloe said as she sat beside him. “I just want you to stay.”

Those words broke my heart.

A close-up shot of a woman crying | Source: Pexels

A close-up shot of a woman crying | Source: Pexels

Unfortunately, Josh passed away a few months later.

He was happy knowing he was surrounded by the two most important people in his life during the last moments of his life.

“I love you more than you’ll ever know,” he’d said a few minutes before he left us.

A close-up shot of a coffin | Source: Pexels

A close-up shot of a coffin | Source: Pexels

After his death, Chloe clung to the letters he left behind, often reading them aloud.

One evening, she turned to me and said, “I know he wasn’t perfect, but he loved me in the end. That’s what I’ll hold on to.”

I smiled through my tears and pulled her into a hug.

I felt incredibly proud of the compassion and resilience Chloe had inherited. Moreover, I was amazed at how she’d forgiven her father and only wanted to remember how kind and caring he was.

A woman standing in her house | Source: Midjourney

A woman standing in her house | Source: Midjourney

As for me, I’ve also forgiven my ex-husband, and it has given me the peace to move forward in my life. I’m grateful fate gave me a chance to answer the questions that had been worrying me for ten years.

I don’t know what the future holds for us, but I’m relieved knowing my past will never haunt me again.

If you enjoyed reading this story, here’s another one you might like: My husband always left for work in his shiny SUV, but then I saw him switching to a rusty old car halfway through the day. I couldn’t shake the feeling something was off, so I followed him. But I wasn’t prepared for where he went.

This work is inspired by real events and people, but it has been fictionalized for creative purposes. Names, characters, and details have been changed to protect privacy and enhance the narrative. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, or actual events is purely coincidental and not intended by the author.

The author and publisher make no claims to the accuracy of events or the portrayal of characters and are not liable for any misinterpretation. This story is provided “as is,” and any opinions expressed are those of the characters and do not reflect the views of the author or publisher.

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