A & P

I found this story very humorous, probably because it is so relatable. I've been working at a small grocery store for the past year and a half, and I get the same kind of customers. There are always old ladies waiting for you to mess up, and the second you do she calls you out on your mistake. There are always people who mosey around and stop to watch when something out of the ordinary happens. And, there are always people that catch your eye and you can't wait for them to be done shopping so that maybe, just maybe, they will choose your register.

While I'm at work, I notice the smallest things about my customers - the chipped nail polish on their nails, the slight stain on their collar, the grimace they always wear... I take all of those details I see along with the amount and type of food they are buying, and I imagine their lives before I even realize what I'm doing.

This woman came in the other day and bought ginger ale, popsicles, bananas, tea, and bread. I don't know if she has a family and I don't even know her name. All of the sudden I asked, "Is one of your children sick?" She looked at me quizzically and said, "Yeah, my 5-year-old has the flu." I wanted to ring up her things as quickly as possible so that she could get home to her child. It may not seem that odd to you, but it was the weirdest thing. For a second, it was like I knew her - but I don't.

The narrator of that story felt so in tune with those three girls ("Queenie" especially) that he quit his job because his manager had embarrassed them. That is a creepy kind of dedication.

Despite the different annoyances and injustices that transpire throughout my day, I am comfortable there. I got the job because my best friend's mom is one of the office managers. My best friend works there as well. I would not have the same courage and audacity to just quit my job like that. I hate it sometimes, but I haven't gotten to the point where I would just say, "I quit," and walk out the door. While I know it would be a good decision for me to get out of IGA and do things on my own, I need to muster a little more courage first. I do admire the narrator for being so spontaneous like that. It wasn't until he had actually walked out that he even gave his actions a second thought.