he never yet there he was
used the Self Checkouts
but he saw lines leading to the three manned cashier aisles of nine
were backed up severalseveral deepby
design corporate design
he had three items anhe
unlike him
discovered he was impatient he wanted the
hell out of Dodge though fact of
the matter was when his turn presented hed
slowup the line he used cash not the standard debitcard creditcard or some
fuckin cellphone app real
smart keeping access to ones Checking account Savings
account Someother account in a phone in a sieve Whos the knuckledragger
the woman immediately ahead
of him at the kiosk dropped a glass jar jam smashed on the floor she rapped a button knew right where it was which activated a
yellowlighted HELP rotatingturret overhead
the assigned attendant he recognised her she was usually cashier
hustled over saw the mess the woman pointed at and nodding retreated to a closet
at the storefront across from the robotics evidently located in anticipation of
clumsy or butterfinger patrons
she returned and was down on her
knees before he could say lickety-split
two of her top blouse buttons slipped their hold
he was definitely waiting his turnwasnt going anywhere
eventually nearly done
she felt air brush her she tucked her chinlooked aware she looked up at him
You enjoying the show?
I am I am
she didnt blanch he didnt think Mexicans could her
skin looked like powdered cocoa
efficient she was done
Maybe I can help you up
Now you want to be a
gentleman?
Listen Out the gate were all born pigsIm not ashamed
of that but I can also be a
gentleman if youll let me Please
he held out his hand to her
a softbreathy chuckle
she
didnt bother with the buttonsher gaping blouse she reached and took his hand he
helped her up
Thank you.
Yare welcome Anthank you he winked
shaking her head Well, part of this she motioned to her
cleavage is my fault, the buttons on
this blouse never seem to stay buttoned.
An
I never use Self Checkout
he smiled Must be something in
the stars
You’re
cute.
A real charmer
Charmer . that’s more accurate.
Now you’ll have to excuse me.
he forgot he was in line
a rather long line formed behind
him
completing his transactioncompleted to a collective moan of
patrons who saw he was using cash he made a beeline over to the
attendant
Excuse me
she turnedshe tried not to smile but
did
Yes?
Can Imay I make amends for my pigdom
Amends.
What kind of amends?plural . more
than one?
Yes you he motioned with his eyes
an she an her
and she blushed a trace of rose on her
powdered cocoa cheeks I was
thinking perhaps appetizers a drink Though we might be stepping in itcoud be an immediate dealbreaker I mean a drink not wine Tequila . .
.
. Because I’m Mexican?
No
Becausethough not readily apparent Im a Polak I like vodka but I also like whiskies dark
rum I am not keen on sipping wine Which isnt to say that with a good Dago meal
I don enjoy a good red table wine
Balls in your court
Do these things naturally occur to you without a thought?
Don have to think to be honest thas
my default
Just as Ill admit an
admire my pigdom
Ah. I see.
I think hors d’oeuvres, a drink . . would
be very nice.
Fine he gave her his numberscribbled it on a piece of paper folded in a library book The Dawn of Everything
Balls in your court kid Line never gets old
Yare smiling arent you
she nodded
Doya think you coud tip your mask
so I coud see
Ill show you mine if youll show
me yours
laughing out loud she pulled her mask down to reveal her grin
she didnt cover her mouth
freeing a
band from behind his ear he slipped his aside
My my my you have a beautiful smile gay fullthroated laughter
Thank you, thank you very much looking at the strip of paper
Joe . Joe, I’m Esmeralda. she
had a firm handshake I’ll buzzya soon.
she called that evening
they decided to meet at a place
she likedcould vouch for
theyd meet there
* * *
he arrived earlyhe was excited
to be continued
very early AMish,
Day-between-Two-Ts, 7 9. 22
0739, Twosday,
13 9. 22
