As a young man strolled through the supermarket aisles, gathering the essentials on his list, he couldn’t shake off the peculiar sensation of being followed. Glancing over his shoulder, he noticed an elderly lady trailing behind him. Deciding to brush it off, he continued navigating the shelves, paying little heed to her presence.

Upon reaching the checkout counter, he found the elderly lady standing just ahead of him in line. She turned to him with a gentle smile, breaking the silence she had maintained throughout the store.

“Excuse me,” she began, her voice carrying a tone of apology, “I hope my gaze hasn’t unsettled you. You bear a striking resemblance to my son, whom I haven’t seen in years.“

The young man, touched by her words, offered his assistance. “Is there anything I can do for you?” he inquired.

The old woman’s eyes brightened with gratitude. “Actually, yes,” she replied. “As I leave, could you bid me farewell with a simple ‘Goodbye, mother’? It would mean the world to me.“

Without hesitation, the young man nodded. “Of course,” he assured her.

As she made her way towards the exit, he called out, “Goodbye, mother!“

Turning his attention back to the cashier, the young man was taken aback when he was presented with a hefty total of $187.50.

“How can that be?” he questioned, bewildered. “I only picked up a few items.“

The cashier simply smiled and explained, “Your mother mentioned that you’d take care of the bill, sir.“