Stop & Shop Saga

 The store was crowded that day, every employee busy at a job as customers rolled their shopping carts in the time-honored pattern : fruits and veggies, pre-wrapped deli, fish, meats, etc.  I’d already had a disappointing day which included a broken tooth and the payment of taxes. I prowled the aisles with a frown and sunglasses, eager to be done and out of there. As my mother would say, I was in no mood. I finished up quickly and headed for the check-out lines, already preparing myself to wait at least 10 minutes.  To my amazement, the first register opened up just as I was going by and I dove in like Greg Louganis on speed. The check-out person, though new, seemed familiar with the process and I was soon ready to get on my way. I wheeled my cart out into the narrow aisle that led to the door and stopped. Two registers away, a woman was also just finishing, and had pushed her cart into the aisle, also stopping. I watched patiently while she put her cash away, then put her wallet away, and then, to my amazement, walked away, leaving the basket blocking my exit and the exit of the lady at the next register and anyone else who might want to pass. Both of us watched the woman take out her glasses and walk over to the window to begin perusing her receipt, which, I noted with dismay, was a long one. My fellow captive and I looked at each other in disbelief. All at once, it struck me funny, and I began to laugh. I mean, after the tooth and the taxes, what else could I do? As I began to giggle, one of the people bagging groceries noticed what had happened, glanced at the woman, the cart and me, in that order, and with one strong arm, sent the cart rolling out of the way and back into the store.  If it had been a movie, we would have all cheered. As it was I wiped the tears of mirth from my eyes and made for the door. I have no idea if the woman ever found her cart.  Summer is here.