Small Talks

The Cashier and The Dog Owner

"Can you at least try it again? I just paid something with that card, there is absolutely nothing wrong with it!"

The woman at the cash register was saying this for the fifth time now and it was getting ridiculous.

"I don't know what's wrong Miss, but it says your card is denied."

"I can see that! What's wrong is that you are not trying. I am so humiliated right now."

I was done with this conversation. The woman in front of me didn't look like a million bucks but I was sure what she wore worthed a couple thousand. As if we couldn't see what she was wearing she was trying to make us understand that she was rich.

Where I live wasn't a fancy place and I was sure the income wasn't as high as this woman's income. Thus, it was confusing how the scene was set.

You see, I am in a line trying to buy bread and a can of dog food. My dog Lexa, is a huge fan of the brand that was only sold in this particular market so I had to come here. She is such a good girl too, unlike my ex, who thought it would better for Lexa to stay with me than going to the Maldives with her and well... our dentist. I should've known something was up when she started paying more to our dentist than she paid the groceries. It took me a month to have those steps, you know. Be aware of it, deny it, be interested in it and finding it out. I think those are the steps that my therapist told me. I wasn't really paying attention. His desk was full of his children's crafts and the room looked like a kindergarten more than a therapist's office.

Now what is more ironic than all of the things that happened with my ex is that I am in a line with the bread that I regret having in my hand and the dog food. It is so hot that the dog food almost slipped out of my hand because of the sweat in my palms. Like I said, low-income neighbourhood. They might not have an AC –which is understandable- but it is like 110 degrees outside and the woman behind me is awkwardly close to me which makes me sweat even more.

The rich woman said something that I didn't even try to hear and the girl at the register let out a sigh. She was annoyed with this woman probably more than any of us who is waiting in the line. The woman is being such a bitch though, this poor girl had every right to be annoyed.

I seriously came here – a place which is five blocks away from my house- just to buy the dog food for my dog. Lexa, you better stay with me after all of the things I am doing for you.

The woman's perfume is probably running through my veins because of how much she put it on. If the bottle wasn't empty after she put it on I would be genuinely surprised.

A sound came from the cash register and the receipt started getting printed. The cashier –As known as the poor girl in this story- gave the woman her card and the receipt. The woman didn't even take the receipt and she started pushing the shopping cart. It was full of diet things and it honestly looked disgusting. Green liquids, bread that looked like anything besides bread, tasteless bagels etc. I turned my head to the cashier just trying not to look at the woman's shopping cart. The cashier looked around 20-25 and she looked annoyed, tired, disturbed at the same time. Her blonde hair was tied up in a bun that lost it's look after running around all day and don't even let me get started with the hotness of the market again. If she could've stayed with that perfect bun I would give her a medal.

"I'm sorry, you have been waiting for a while."

I realized that she was talking to me and I gave her my bread and Lexa's soon to be food.

"That's okay. It wasn't your fault."

She sent me a smile that said 'Thank you'. She pushed some buttons on the register.

"That makes 9,65 dollars. Are you going to pay by card?"

"No, I'll pay with cash."

"Oh, thank God!"

She let out a laugh and I laughed with her. I gave her ten dollars. While she was putting my ten dollars to the register and taking my change from it she sent me a couple looks.

"Did I see you here before? I feel like I know you from somewhere."

I have seen this girl before but she was never a cashier. I asked her where the toiler papers were the first time I was in this market.

"Yeah, my dog loves the dog food that you sell here so I come here to buy her sometimes."

"Well, she has a good owner."

I looked at her and saw a look on her face. It was a look I hadn't seen before. A sparkle, maybe but I wasn't sure. She was counting the change one last time when I let out an awkward laugh and said:

"Keep the change."

"What a gentleman, thank you."

"That's alright..."

I paused to look at her name tag.

"Courtney."

She smiled at me once again. Okay, this is too much flirting for me. I took the bread and the dog food and with one last glance at her, I started walking home. I realized there was a flower shop, a street dancer and a cosy coffee shop on my way and I didn't realize they were there when I had been walking to the store.

I don't know why but I wrote this a while ago and I didn't post it. So, yeah... there you go. Hope you like it.