Conversation in a Grocery Store

September 5th, 2004 by owenam

“Hey man — is this, like, the deli?”

“I think this is the bakery.” I glance around quickly to confirm my suspicion — I see only bread.

“Oh.” A thoughful pause. “So, where do they keep the food and shit?”

Food and shit? Perhaps at the county feed store one could find both alfalfa and manure-based fertilizer, but I doubt either of these are on his list. Does he even have a list?

“What kind of food are you looking for?”

“You know, like chicken.”

Aha! Perhaps I can help him after all. “That’ll be a bit futher down.”

Several minutes later, as I heft my basket up onto the checkout conveyor, I see him amble out of the housewares aisle, empty-handed save for a half-eaten corn dog that he nibbles while cautiously eyeing a display of discounted paper towels.