The Extra Dime
The corner store was quiet, filled with the faint hum of a refrigerator in the back. The cashier I’d just left stood at the counter, now serving two customers who hadn’t been there earlier. The sunlight outside filtered through the glass door, catching on the racks of snacks and drinks.
I walked back in, the bell above the door jingling softly. The young cashier looked up, surprised to see me again. His casual demeanor wavered for a moment as he paused mid-sentence with the customer in front of him.
I stepped forward, holding out the dime.
Me:
“You gave me an extra ten cents.”
The cashier stared at the coin for a moment before laughing — a soft, almost incredulous sound. The two customers turned to see what was happening, catching his laughter like it was contagious.
Cashier (still smiling):
“You came back… for that?”
I set the dime on the counter, my tone light but certain.
Me:
“I did.”
The customers chuckled, shaking their heads slightly. I smiled at them all, then turned to leave. But just as I reached the door, I stopped and glanced back at the young cashier, who was still watching me with a mix of amusement and curiosity.
Me (calmly, but with purpose):
“Do you know mathematics?”
His brow furrowed slightly, caught off guard.
“Yeah, I guess so?”
I nodded, but there was weight in my next words.
Me:
“Not the math of mistakes, but the math of everything. Look around you. Look at your hand, the length of your fingers, the way gravity holds us here without pressing us too hard. The sun rises at just the right moment, the clouds hold their rain until the earth is ready, and the sky stays above us without falling. Everything is measured. Everything is exact. Nothing is random.”
The laughter faded from the room. The cashier tilted his head slightly, as if trying to keep up. The two customers exchanged glances, no longer amused but quietly intrigued.
Me (continuing):
“And if everything is measured, then so are we. Every one of our actions. Every decision. Even this dime. How can I say it doesn’t matter, when the rest of the universe is in perfect harmony? That’s why I’m giving it back.”
I didn’t wait for a response. I smiled at them all again — calm, steady, certain — and turned, walking out into the sunlight.
Behind me, the bell jingled softly, and I could feel their lingering stares, left with something much weightier than they’d expected from an extra dime.
