So, there I was again. My daily trip to the local grocery store. Just like many other times, I was in a hurry and only needed one or two things, so I didn’t grab a cart. I flew down the aisles and found what I needed. Of course, I found about 6 or 7 other things I needed too. A 12 pack of soda, a gallon of milk, two bags of frozen vegetables, and a small turkey. Now my arms were loaded up and I balanced the items as I headed to the checkouts. I should be on my way in a matter of minutes.
Hmmm…..there seemed to be lines in all of the checkout lanes. I spotted the one marked EXPRESS LANE and got behind the person checking out. I did a double take as I looked at the full cart of groceries in front of me. I glanced at the sign that said 15 ITEMS OR LESS and started a mental inventory of the purchases in their cart. Just the items on the checkout stand alone totaled over 40 items, and the cart was still nearly full! I wondered how this person had missed this important bit of information on the sign. I also wondered how the clerk had not noticed the overloaded cart as it came into her lane. She must have noticed the extra people it took just to push the loaded down cart up to the front of the store. I looked at the other lanes and considered moving. I saw people leaving with their groceries but thought it best to stick it out here. After all, this was the EXPRESS lane.
As I watched the 23rd can of powdered baby formula get scanned, I started reading the covers of the magazines in the racks. My arm was starting to get numb from the frozen turkey cradled in my arm. While I waited I learned about Tom Cruise’s newest girlfriend, how much Oprah weighed this week, and even read a story about how terrorists are responsible for socks missing from dryers. I would have thumbed through the TV guide, but my arms were full, and I knew I would check out soon.
I saw several people come up behind me and stop for a second, then move onto another lane. Most of them were on their way home within minutes, while I stood there with a half thawed turkey in my arms.
It seemed that things were finally getting to an end on the order, when something wouldn’t scan. The clerk flipped a switch that made her lane number light blink. Everything came to a stop. Price check. Finally that was resolved and I imagined I would soon be driving home.
COUPONS! Handfuls of coupons appeared from the shopper in front of me. I could not believe it. I had to get going. I considered moving, but I was determined to stick it out.
It was a good thing the store is open 24 hours, or I would have had to come back the next day. Perhaps it was the next day. I saw the magazine vendor changing out the copies of TV guide to the newest issue and I panicked. I tried to glance at my watch to see what time, or what day it was, but it had stopped working after being soaked by the thawing vegetables and turkey I had been holding.
FINALLY it was my turn. The clerk gave me an icy glance, then opened her register and took out the cash drawer. She flicked on the flashing light again. I looked at her confused and she said, “Time for my break. Someone will be right up to help you.”
I threw my head down on the counter and wept softly.
Hmmm…..there seemed to be lines in all of the checkout lanes. I spotted the one marked EXPRESS LANE and got behind the person checking out. I did a double take as I looked at the full cart of groceries in front of me. I glanced at the sign that said 15 ITEMS OR LESS and started a mental inventory of the purchases in their cart. Just the items on the checkout stand alone totaled over 40 items, and the cart was still nearly full! I wondered how this person had missed this important bit of information on the sign. I also wondered how the clerk had not noticed the overloaded cart as it came into her lane. She must have noticed the extra people it took just to push the loaded down cart up to the front of the store. I looked at the other lanes and considered moving. I saw people leaving with their groceries but thought it best to stick it out here. After all, this was the EXPRESS lane.
As I watched the 23rd can of powdered baby formula get scanned, I started reading the covers of the magazines in the racks. My arm was starting to get numb from the frozen turkey cradled in my arm. While I waited I learned about Tom Cruise’s newest girlfriend, how much Oprah weighed this week, and even read a story about how terrorists are responsible for socks missing from dryers. I would have thumbed through the TV guide, but my arms were full, and I knew I would check out soon.
I saw several people come up behind me and stop for a second, then move onto another lane. Most of them were on their way home within minutes, while I stood there with a half thawed turkey in my arms.
It seemed that things were finally getting to an end on the order, when something wouldn’t scan. The clerk flipped a switch that made her lane number light blink. Everything came to a stop. Price check. Finally that was resolved and I imagined I would soon be driving home.
COUPONS! Handfuls of coupons appeared from the shopper in front of me. I could not believe it. I had to get going. I considered moving, but I was determined to stick it out.
It was a good thing the store is open 24 hours, or I would have had to come back the next day. Perhaps it was the next day. I saw the magazine vendor changing out the copies of TV guide to the newest issue and I panicked. I tried to glance at my watch to see what time, or what day it was, but it had stopped working after being soaked by the thawing vegetables and turkey I had been holding.
FINALLY it was my turn. The clerk gave me an icy glance, then opened her register and took out the cash drawer. She flicked on the flashing light again. I looked at her confused and she said, “Time for my break. Someone will be right up to help you.”
I threw my head down on the counter and wept softly.
