Friday, November 16, 2007

• Vignette #1654sa

  Currently Watching Braveheart By Alun Armstrong, Stephen Billington, Mhairi Calvey, James Cosmo, Brian Cox see related

  There was this guy leaning against the backing of the register station at work, playing lazily with the open blades of one of those micro-sized fans.  It was 5:35 PM, and on November 16th that means a moody autumn night.  A time for introspection and consideration, right?  The day had been pretty long; ten o'clock that morning seemed like a lifetime away.  The store was all but empty by then, but as he was staring off into space a customer slips up to the register and drops some things on a counter.  Not a whole lot; some pens, a flash drive - then, on second thought, a tin of Life Savers candy pieces.  Duty is called upon; the employee stirs himself.
  
  "Did you find everything all right?"
  
  "Yep.  How are you doing tonight?"
  
  Through mentally grit teeth - "Eh, pretty good.  You have a Staples rewards card?"
  
  "Ah, I sure don't."  A look of regret.
  
  "K.  That makes your total $21.08.  You want your receipt in the bag?"
  
  "That's fine."  She swipes the card; he clears the account and checks the signature.  The receipt rolls out and he tosses it in the bag.  He pulls it up and offers it to her over the counter with a look that indicates that half his mind is still occupied with a spinning fan.  Then she smiles, naturally, and wishes him a happy thanksgiving.
  
  He pauses, turns his head slightly, and appraises the once-faceless customer anew.  "Thanks."  Bitter smile.  "Guess it sort of snuck up on me."
  
  She rewards this little flash of humanity with a quick laugh.  "Yeah, Thanksgiving, then Christmas after that."  She takes the bag.  "Then a whole new beginning and a new year."
  
  His eyes narrow, and he nods.  A smile cracks one corner of his lips.  "Sure thing."
  
  "G'night."
  
  "Take care."
  
  She turns and breezes out the sliding doors.  The alarm goes off because he forgot to deactivate the strip in her flash drive; she starts to come back but he shakes his head and waves her on.  At last she's gone from sight, into the growing darkness.  The checker watches her go, laughing softly to himself.  "Yeah.  That's right."  His back straightens, he checks the time, and settles in.
  
  Sometimes the little interchanges you witness throughout life - even at work -  play out like a novel.  This one was so beautiful I had to share it.
  
  In other news, I didn't have to trudge to my car by my lonesome tonight!    Thanks for dropping in, ladies.
  

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