“Why do I always wind up in the slowest line at the market,” Shannon wondered, aggressively chewing her dried out bubble gum. She watched the young woman in front of her helping her little girl blow her nose, then shove the used tissue in her jacket pocket. The woman finally began to wade through her Texas -sized pocketbook looking for money. “I know my wallet is in here somewhere.” Just then the little girl started tugging at her mom’s sweatshirt.
“Mommy, Mommy, can I have some gum?”
The woman stopped her search and bent down toward the girl.
“No Brianne, we don’t chew gum.” Her eyes looked up over the girl’s brown curls and stared into Shannon’s eyes. “Gum’s not good for your teeth. You can have some strawberries when we get home.” Shannon glared back at the woman and blew a huge bubble. Just then the cashier broke the silence. “Do you have any coupons ma’am?”
“Oh yes, I do,” the woman responded, turning away from Shannon. She dumped the entire contents of her pocketbook on the belt. “Let’s see. I know I have a coupon for juice."
Shannon felt rage building. She looked at her watch. Her brunch guests would be arriving soon. She only needed yogurt for the granola and cream for the coffee. Shannon started to put her two items on the belt. She looked down at the little girl, who was staring up at her. Shannon opened her purse and took out another piece of bubble gum. She held it out toward the young girl.
The girl peeked at her mother, who was busy putting her things back in her own pocketbook. Shannon smiled and put her index finger over her lips signaling silence. She continued to hold out the gum. The little girl reached out and took it, put it in her pocket. Just then the woman grabbed her daughter’s hand and her packages. “Com’on honey.” She looked back at Shannon with a scowl. Shannon turned away and blew another bubble as she handed her debit card to the cashier.
“Mommy, Mommy, can I have some gum?”
The woman stopped her search and bent down toward the girl.
“No Brianne, we don’t chew gum.” Her eyes looked up over the girl’s brown curls and stared into Shannon’s eyes. “Gum’s not good for your teeth. You can have some strawberries when we get home.” Shannon glared back at the woman and blew a huge bubble. Just then the cashier broke the silence. “Do you have any coupons ma’am?”
“Oh yes, I do,” the woman responded, turning away from Shannon. She dumped the entire contents of her pocketbook on the belt. “Let’s see. I know I have a coupon for juice."
Shannon felt rage building. She looked at her watch. Her brunch guests would be arriving soon. She only needed yogurt for the granola and cream for the coffee. Shannon started to put her two items on the belt. She looked down at the little girl, who was staring up at her. Shannon opened her purse and took out another piece of bubble gum. She held it out toward the young girl.
The girl peeked at her mother, who was busy putting her things back in her own pocketbook. Shannon smiled and put her index finger over her lips signaling silence. She continued to hold out the gum. The little girl reached out and took it, put it in her pocket. Just then the woman grabbed her daughter’s hand and her packages. “Com’on honey.” She looked back at Shannon with a scowl. Shannon turned away and blew another bubble as she handed her debit card to the cashier.
