I turned to face her, my only item in my hand. “This is the only line.”
She smiled. “Thank you.” she replied and turned to her children. “Jason! Jason, don’t hit your brother!” She turned back to me and smiled. “Kids!”
“I know.” I replied. “I know what it’s like.”
“They can be a pain.” She saw what I carried and turned away. “Jason! What did I tell you?”
Everyone knew why I was there. My wife had no privacy. I tucked my article under my arm.
The man ahead of me stepped to a machine. A woman at the machine next to him swiped her bank card, punched in her password and made her purchase. It was finally my turn.
I pushed the button on the screen, waited until the inhuman voice said, “Please scan your first item.”
I waved the barcode at the scanner. Nothing happened. I tried again. The scanner failed to pick up the code. Behind me, the lady with the two kids said, “Jason, get your finger out of your nose!” She looked at me. I knew the look. She wanted to scream at me. “Will you please finish! I need to get these kids home!”
The barcode didn’t work. The machine couldn’t read the code, probably because the plastic distorted the reading.
“Can I help you?” The young lady working the self-serve section asked.
“The machine won’t read the code.” I complained.
“Let me see it!” she said and took the things with wings from my hand and forced the barcode against the glass screen. “Beep! Please place your purchase in the bag.” the robot voice said. She did and returned to her station.
“Thank you.” I said. My face turned a light shade of red.
“You’re welcome.”
“Jason! How many times do I have to tell you? Get your finger out of your nose! And stop hitting your brother!” I heard as I grabbed my purchase, now hidden inside a bag.
“Thank you, Baby.” Ginny said to me, when I handed her the package. She gave me a hug.
