The Importance of Kindness for Stressed Out Shoppers

Bozo was a man of routine, and every time he needed to do some shopping, he would make his way to Madharau Mini Supermarket. 

As Bozo walked down the street towards Madharau Mini Supermarket, he passed by a row of colorful TukTuks, their drivers calling out to potential passengers and haggling over fares.

The trees that lined the street rustled gently in the warm breeze, their leaves providing a welcome respite from the intense sun. 

Bozo walked on the side of the street where the long white wall rose up beside him, its surface gleaming in the sunlight. He glanced at his reflection in the polished surface, adjusting his cap as he walked.

As he made his way down the street, Bozo followed the yellow line that snaked down the middle of the road, his eyes trained on the path ahead. 

Finally, he caught sight of the "Madharau Mini Supermarket" sign up ahead, and he quickened his pace with a sense of purpose.

Bozo couldn't help but think about his past experiences. "Why do I keep doing this to myself?" he thought. "I know Nyambura is going to give me attitude, but here I am, coming back again."

The supermarket was not particularly impressive, and the customer service was awful, but he kept going back. Nyambura, the cashier, was the person he had the most confrontations with, but he never seemed to learn.

When he arrived at the supermarket, he picked up a basket and started shopping. 

He grabbed some biscuits, detergent, and a few other items he needed. As he made his way to the checkout, he braced himself for the inevitable confrontation.

"Hello, Nyambura," he said, trying to be friendly.

"What do you want?" Nyambura replied, with a scowl on her face.

Bozo sighed. "Just these items, please."

Nyambura scanned the items and tossed them into a bag without saying another word. Bozo paid for his purchases and left the supermarket, feeling frustrated and annoyed.

As he walked home, he started talking to himself. "Why do I keep coming back here? The service is terrible, and Nyambura is always so rude. But they always have what I need, and it's so convenient."

Suddenly, a flashback hit him. He remembered the first time he went to Madharau Mini Supermarket. He had just moved to the neighborhood, Peponi, and was still getting used to the area. 

He had gone to several other supermarkets but had not found what he was looking for. Then he stumbled upon Madharau Mini Supermarket, and they had everything he needed. 

The customer service was unpleasant, but he was just happy to find what he was looking for. From that day on, he kept going back, and it became a habit.

As he continued his journey home, he realized that he needed to break this habit. 

He needed to find a new supermarket with better customer service. But for now, he knew he would keep going back to Madharau Mini Supermarket, despite the awful customer service and Nyambura's bad attitude.

As soon as he entered his room, Bozo placed the shopping bag on the kitchen sink, took a pen, and wrote the following poem to remind himself that people can change if they want to.

***

There once was a man named Bozo,

Who shopped at Madharau, oh so,

A store run by a cashier named Nyambura,

Whose service was enough to make one hurl-a.

But Bozo, bless his patient soul,

Tolerated her with grace and control,

For he believed in second chances,

And the value of happy shopping dances.

Nyambura would often forget to greet,

Or mix up prices, causing Bozo defeat,

Yet he never lost his cool or his head,

Instead, he smiled and left nothing unsaid.

For he knew that a kind word or two,

Could make a difference, yes it's true,

And so he kept returning to the store,

Hoping Nyambura would improve more and more.

And gradually, she did just that,

With Bozo's encouragement, imagine that,

She greeted him with a smile and a nod,

And fixed the prices with a wave of her wand.

Bozo was glad he gave her a chance,

And kept his cool despite the circumstance,

For in doing so, he made a friend,

And found that patience has no end.

So if ever you find yourself in a spot,

With awful service that makes your heart knot,

Remember Bozo and Nyambura's tale,

And maybe, just maybe, kindness will prevail.