it was an interesting backanforth

                                    he pressed cashiers into conversation when it was terribly apparent they were content to scan products their only unfortunate interaction to have to speak was to tell someone what they owed

thats transaction with extreme prejudice

he was an older gentlemanolder than one might imagine to first become a cashier

a natty dresser

bowtie

jacket

under his apron

   affixed nametag Claude

he didnt say was thinking clawed balls

                                          Claude  How are youhavin a good day

Claude looked startledlooked at him through hornrimmed glasses

                                                                      Hello.

How are ya

             he coudbe chatty hed be brief had only four items woudnt wear Claude down

I am well sir.

Sir looked left down the line behind him

                                            My fathers not here Now hes a sir 

Yes sir Claude said as he took the grocerycard scanned it placed it on a small shelf between them where people wrote checks picked up a clearplastic bag of four garlic heads fiftycents a piece and muttered White mushrooms.

   Garlic

white mushrooms  $2.15 appeared on the register screen

Claude balls he didnt say Theyre garlic

Yes. I heard you.

                   Claude reached for the celery in another bag

Claude Im not buying mushrooms

holding the celerystalk in both hands he looked at the screen  I heard you. I don’t know why I didn’t listen to you.  he began punching buttons disallowing the mushrooms entered 4@ GARLIC BULK  I am sorry, sir.

No sweat lotsa people don hear me when I speak

                                                     You arent the first wont be the last

I don’t know why I didn’t listen to you . . I heard you.

Got me

         Your mind may have been on the shoulder of a remote highway thumbing for a ride Hitchhiking always a kick

I’ve never hitchhiked.

My condolences

it seemed his eyes crossedbriefly behind the glass lens but recovered as fast

                                                                                  Condolences? like the word was never in his mouth before

Unless youve hitched I cant say youd understand

Condolences I’m not sure I like that.

Well yaint dead Ya got time

he cleared his throat Do you need a bag?  he was done entering his items

he tugged the strap of the canvasbag over his shoulder

                                                          Have one no thanks

The mushrooms were two dollars fifteen cents. You saved fifteen cents.

But not if they were mushrooms

They weren’t.

bagging his items No they werent

                                      he touched his debtcard to the payment screen

the receipt disgorged from the register

                                        Would you like your receipt?

Please Claude taking his receipt You have a fine day Get out on the highway catch a ride with your mind

3PM,  Thursday,  9  11. 23

1114,  Reggaefriday,  10  11. 23

Ides of March  Vehicle  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bq95nZBbNHI