Breaking Off A Piece

Last Sunday afternoon, I walked up to the checkout aisle at Trader Joe’s with a handbasket full of sweets, cinnamon rolls and two boxes of cookies. The gal at the aisle smiled at me, then we had this exchange:

Me: “Oh hey der. Are you open?”

Checkout Gal: “Yup! Did you find everything you were looking for?”

Me: “I did. Mostly candy bars.”

Checkout Gal: (forced chuckles) “Well, we do have those.”

Me: “I know!”

(She picks up the box of cookies for scanning purposes, revealing the 15 or so candy bars at the bottom of the basket)

Checkout Gal: “OH SHIT you weren’t kidding.”

Me: “Uh, nope.”

(Checkout Gal looks at me inquisitively.)

Me: “I, um, have a bit of a sweet tooth. … And my New Year’s resolution is to eat a candy bar every day this year.”

Checkout Gal: “That’s a good resolution, I guess.”

(I smile.)

Me: “Better than most I’ve made, I must say.”

Checkout Gal: “That will be $35.[whatever the change was].”

Aaaaand scene. Continue reading →