Emma

𝐂𝐡𝐚𝐩𝐭𝐞𝐫 𝟓

The place is mobbed. The usual rush night before Thanksgiving.

Emma, pushing a shopping cart, is trying to wedge her way through the crowd in the cheese department. As she reached across three people to grab some Brie, she saw James walked into the store gripping a shopping cart in his hands. Quickly, she turned her back around so he couldn't see her.

Peeked around, she doesn't see him anywhere. Craned her neck this way and that way. No sign of James.

Emma, now wearing a pair of dark glasses, but looking not at all disguised, looked around and spotted a short line and makes a beeline for it.

At the moment, James came from the Appetizing Department and got in line she was heading for.

Panicked, Emma retreated onto another line and stood with her back to him.

The cashier totaled up Emma's purchases and Emma lend over her credit card to her nonchalantly.

"This is a Cash Only line." the woman behind the cashier said in a low tone.

"What?" she questioned bewilderedly.

"Cash Only." she repeated sarcastically.

"Oh my God I only have a credit card. Is that okay?" she smiled politely to the woman.

"Of course it's not okay, there's a sign." the man behind the line said anxiously.

"There's a sign. So you need to leave. Next!"

"She doesn't have cash." the other man behind the line responded lightly.

She doesn't have cash was repeated all the way down the line staggered.

"You know what? I have a dollar. That's all. I have a dollar. One dollar." she said sternly as she placed the dollar bill on the cashier exasperatedly to the woman to show them prove.

James turned around to see what's going on and sauntered steadily to the counter Emma was standing at.

"Get on another line, lady!" she exclaimed angrily.

"Oh, hello, Emma." James smiled greeted Emma with a smile on his face.

"Hello," she replied turning her head to look at him.

"Do you need some money?" he asked, pulling out his wallet to search for some change.

"No, it's fine. I don't need money. Thank you very much." she smiled as she continued to look at the woman who was arguing with her behind the cashier.

"Get on another line." she repeated iritately.

James read the name on her name tag and grinned courteously. "Hi, Ashley. Great name. Ashley, this is Emma, I'm James, and this is a credit card machine. Happy Thanksgiving." he beamed.

"And I'm Joe..." the blonde guy cut in with a smile.

"Joe, how are you? Happy Holidays. This is a credit card machine. Now, it's your turn to say Happy Thanksgiving back." he ordered looking at the woman and winked.

Ashley just stared at him confused as James continued to speak to her.

"Happy Thanksgiving back..." the woman finally said awkwardly.

"Knock... knock..."

"Who's there?"

"Orange..."

"Orange who?"

"Orange you're going to give us a break by zipping this credit card through the credit card machine? You can do it. Zip. Zip. There you go, Ashley. That is a great name. So, you're fine."