People Mocked Me When My Card Got Declined While I Was Holding My Baby Granddaughter—Then a Voice Behind Me Said, ‘Ma’am. You With the Baby’

When I reached the register, I tried to smile at the young cashier. He looked exhausted, like he’d rather be absolutely anywhere else. I placed my items on the belt and slid my card through the reader.

Beep.

Declined.

My stomach did a flip because that had bever happened before.

Maybe the pension deposit hadn’t cleared yet, I thought.

Maybe I’d miscalculated after paying the electric bill last week.

I tried again, my hand shaking slightly.

The same result.

“Um, could you try one more time?” I asked the cashier.

Behind me, a man groaned loudly. “Oh, for God’s sake. What is this, a charity line?”

I mumbled an apology and fumbled with the card, my hands trembling now.

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