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Catherine Cunningham

Into every life, a few rain cheques must fall

Spaghetti For Breakfast

BY Catherine Cunningham, Humour Columnist February 02, 2010 16:02

I just got back from the grocery store. They had everything I needed and quite a few of the items were on sale.

I couldn't be more disappointed.

I didn't get to ask for a rain cheque.

And I wanted to. For despite my many years of adulthood, it was only two weeks ago that I received my very first one.

"Hi. I was wondering if you had any more of the boneless, skinless chicken breasts."

"Sorry, we're all out for the day. We'll probably be getting more tomorrow or you can get a rain cheque."

I could get a rain cheque? I could finally claim that small piece of paper authorizing me to purchase an item for the sale price after the sale was over if I came back to purchase the item within a month of the day the rain cheque was issued?

I felt a little giddy.

Normally if a grocery item I wanted was on sale but out stock, I would just come back later in the week. Or if I really needed the item I would buy the brand that wasn't on sale. I had never gone through the trouble of venturing over to the Customer Service/Undercover Cigarette Vendor desk to see what my other options were.

It was time.

The lady behind the counter asked how she could help me.

"I was looking for the boneless, skinless chicken breasts and the meat department said they were out of them for the day. I was wondering if I could get a rain cheque."

"Not a problem." said the cashier, as she picked up that week's flyer and began leafing through it. I assumed she needed to cheque the sale price of the chicken. Or she was worried that I was fabricating the whole chicken sale story.

Which I would never do.

If I were to hatch a rain cheque scam it would involve baked goods and double chocolate ice cream. "Trust me, the cinnamon buns are on sale for .10¢ a dozen. I'd like a rain cheque for ten dozen please. Do you know if they freeze well?"

I did not however want ten dozen packages of boneless, skinless chicken breasts. Although it hadn't occurred to me how many packages I did want until I was asked. This was an unplanned for pressure. I didn't want to push my luck.

"Two?"

I had my rain cheque.

Just a few days later I was back at the store and noticed that some of the cereal we regularly bought was also on sale. It was a very good sale. They were sold out. Again I headed for the Customer Service desk and received my rain cheque. This time I was a little more confident.

"Six?"

Yes.

The pay off came the following week. Along with my usual groceries, I stocked my cart with six boxes of cereal. Actually ten boxes, what with two other brands being on sale that week. (The kids like cereal. We have a pantry...) As I unloaded the boxes on to the conveyor belt I grouped the rain cheque cereal together.

The man standing behind me in line looked from the groceries to the cashier.

"Lots of cereal." I smiled at him. "Lots. Raaaain cheque. Stocking up the pantry..."

The man smiled hesitantly and leaned forward to ask the cashier if they had any spearmint gum.

I gave him a conspiratorial nod. "It's okay if they don't. Customer Service. Rain cheque."

"You can ask for six."

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