I had finished up in the restroom and washed my hands. I looked at myself in the mirror. My hair was still in a bun. I still had the same red dress on. I washed me face, fixed myself up a bit. I didn't want to look dirty. I needed a makeover, get some new clothes, change my whole look.

I left the restroom, and shopping, I needed some food. I grabbed a shopping cart someone had abandoned in the aisle and got busy. I grabbed a pack of bottled water, a pack of protein bars, beef jerky, and a few snack items. While I was at it, I treated myself to some candy. I was hesitant at first though, I only had so much money on me.

I walked up to the register, the same kind cashier who had called me ma'am was still there. I had started unloading my cart.

"Wow, you were back there a while! You find everything you needed?" he had asked.

"Yes, I had some family matters to attend to and I had left my phone at home. That's what took me so long." I had replied with a smile on my face.

"Where are you from?"

"Estonia." I said without thinking.

"Estonia, where's that? That sounds foreign."

I was relieved, he was naïve. Being called ma'am lulled me into a false sense of security. I needed to be more careful.

"It in Eastern Europe, along the Baltic Sea."

"What's the Baltic Sea?" he asked me while laughing.

"Estonia borders Russia."

"Gotcha, I know where Russia is! Aye that's cool! You here for college?" He asks.

I was happy he thought I was a college student and not a little girl. It's a weird feeling for me, being called ma'am, and not being mistaken for a little girl. That really puts things into perspective, I really do look like an adult whose just short. For much of my life, I have been passing myself off as a little girl so people would take pity on me, give me food and money. I hardly ever broke character, this being treated like an adult feeling is a completely new feeling for me, and I love it.

"No, I am not. I am too old for college," I respond playfully.

"Oh really?"

"How old do you think I am?" I ask.

"Well, your small. You look young…"

"Like a little girl?" I interrupt.

"No, you may be a tiny little thing, but you do not look like a little kid."

He pauses. That last comment made me smile, as I await his guess.

"You're too old for college, but you look young, so my best guess is 24? Have you not said you were too old for college; I would have said 18."

I was touched.

"I am 33 years old" I tell him.

"Wow really?", he responds. "Well, you look great for 33, let me tell you."

"Thank you!" I said laughing.

"Your total is $145.86. But you know what, I like you, I'll take $100 off. $45.86." he says winking at me.

"Are you sure?" I ask.

"Yeah, don't worry about it!"

"Thank you so much" I tell him, "You're very kind!"

"You have a wonderful day ma'am!"

I leave the CVS elated! Hopefully this guy and the Whitney Inn clerk weren't a fluke. I unload my shopping cart into the passenger seat and get ready to go. I sit for about 5 – 10 minutes, eating some beef jerky and drinking some water.

I take off, taking Harrison Ave back to I-95, where my journey to Texas continues.