Slice of Life: It Really Is All Too Much #SOL20 #TWTBlog

The store is nearly empty.  I only see two or three others.  All of us quickly grabbing the few things we need. The silence is almost deafening.  People choosing to wait until the aisle is clear of others.  No laughing, no smiling or no greetings of good morning.  I put the last item in my cart and make my way over to the register, careful to stay at least six feet behind the woman in front of me.

I am distracted by the tabloids. Are Jen and Brad really back together? Will the Queen never see Archie again? Does Tom Hanks have Covid-19?  My attention is drawn back to reality as I hear shouting in front of me.  I tune in to figure out what is going on.

The woman in front of me is yelling and pointing.  The store manager who is bagging is trying to explain something to her.  Whatever it is, she is refusing to listen and the clerk is refusing to scan her items.  It appears we are at a standstill.

There is not much to do but watch when you are six feet or more away. The store manager makes eye contact with me.  We go way back.  I shop here a lot. I can tell he is looking for a lifeline.  At this moment I am kind of thankful for social distancing, but I also want to get on with my day.

Everything ok? I venture realizing this is a stupid question since clearly there is a problem.

She turns, They don’t know what they are talking about.  They won’t use my bags.  I don’t want their bags.  Those bags might be infected.  I want to use my bags. I always use my own bags.

I am guessing she missed the announcement yesterday that we can no longer use our own bags because our bags pose a greater risk than the paper bags that are fresh out of a box at the store.

Actually they are not wrong.  This new rule was announced yesterday.  They have to use store bags.

I don’t want to use their bags.  I want my bags.  I washed them last night.

I know, but they are only doing their job.

At this point, she crumples into a ball and begins to cry, softly at first and then with increasing volume.  I look at the clerk and the manager who are working way too many hours and dealing with so much stress and confusion.

Hey, why don’t you take your bags out to your car?  I’ll be here while they ring up and bag your groceries.  By the time you get back, you can pay and go on with the rest of your day. 

It takes a minute or two, but she slowly gets up and heads outside.

The clerk and the manager quickly get her groceries set and breathe a sigh of relief.  As she makes her way back into line, she turns to me, Thank you.  I’m sorry. This is just all too much.

I nod, I know it is, but I am not the one you need to apologize to.  They are serving us.  They are risking their health so we can eat.  They are doing this all day long. 

She finds the strength to apologize and they accept with grace.

This really is all too much.

Thank you, Stacey, Beth, Betsy, Kathleen, Melanie, Lanny, Kelsey, Marina, Amy, and Therapi for hosting this weekly forum and the March Challenge. Check out the writers, readers, and teachers here.