Crumbs of comfort

by - 20:16 on 20 February 2007

Here’s an almost extra mile. It isn’t on the site because it happened some years ago but I thought I should share it with you as it illustrates the fact that the extra mile can take some unusual forms. Picture the scene: both my children were so small they fitted into a double buggy-thing. It’s raining and I’m pushing the wee ones down the main street of a certain little town in Scotland. (Oh, all right, it was Keith. It still has a proper ironmonger, and decent coffee can be found at Boogie Woogie Gift and Coffee Shop, but that’s just by the way.)

I remember we need some bread. I spy a baker shop and struggle in with the pram, single-handed. The shop is empty. I have never been in it before. There is an older lady behind the counter. I pause, scan the shelf behind her head and knowledgably point to a wholesome-looking loaf. The conversation runs as follows:

‘I’d like that loaf please.’

The woman purses her lips, looks from side to side, then says ‘No.’

‘Why not?’ (Actually, I might have said ‘Fit wye nae?’ but let’s keep things simple here.)

‘Because, it’s nae fresh,’ she replies.

I struggle out of the shop again and stop to contemplate the surreal moment. I wasn’t a regular. She could have wrapped it up and said nothing. Maybe she took pity on the way I was steering the pram. I have no explanation to offer. Was it an example of good service? On reflection, probably not – though still better than a stale loaf. I thought about the incident when I passed the baker’s premises only recently. Oddly enough, the shop’s gone now. Hmmm.

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