Pitch black. As if it wasn't hard enough to find the exact olives he likes with the grocery fully lit. She could hear the grumbling of the other customers, most of whom seemed caught off-guard by the impromptu darkness of the store. Why they were surprised she didn't know. The storm outside was a menacing one, threatening the power lines for the better part of the day.
Had she taken the extra ten minutes to go to the big grocery across town she would probably be basking in the borrowed light of backup generators. Not here though. But no matter, she didn't mind. Kind of liked it actually. It was like an adventure, and a welcome one at that.
Her list was an odd one, the product of haste and intertwining lives. Toilet paper - already in the basket. Hot sauce, vegetable oil, dog biscuits, cheddar cheese - New York Sharp, beer, canned pears, and bread. Standing in the cereal aisle (for no apparent reason) she wondered what someone would conclude about her life based on this list. Nothing good, she realized. Perhaps if she had more fruits and vegetables, would that elicit a more favorable opinion? More respect, perhaps?
The olives, though. She almost forgot about the olives. That made her interesting (well, it made him interesting, but nevermind that)! Olives stuffed with jalapenos and blue cheese. Jalapenos and blue cheese, IN an olive! That's interesting! What an interesting person that must be to put that on the list. Truth was, she didn't much care for them, but she was thankful for the exotic flair they gave to her otherwise mundane list of items.
She made her way up to the front, fumbling in her purse for the cash. After completing her grocery shopping, in the dark, in almost record time (those damn, exotic olives were always so hard to find!), of course it would take 15 minutes to find her money in the bottom of the purse.
The rain had stopped, leaving the city with the wet, fresh smell of spring. Inspired by the sudden adventure of her trip, and embracing her obviously exotic life ("Did you see those olives she put in her basket?! She must be a very interesting person.") she let her usual bus pass, electing instead to walk the 8 blocks back to her apartment.
Had she taken the extra ten minutes to go to the big grocery across town she would probably be basking in the borrowed light of backup generators. Not here though. But no matter, she didn't mind. Kind of liked it actually. It was like an adventure, and a welcome one at that.
Her list was an odd one, the product of haste and intertwining lives. Toilet paper - already in the basket. Hot sauce, vegetable oil, dog biscuits, cheddar cheese - New York Sharp, beer, canned pears, and bread. Standing in the cereal aisle (for no apparent reason) she wondered what someone would conclude about her life based on this list. Nothing good, she realized. Perhaps if she had more fruits and vegetables, would that elicit a more favorable opinion? More respect, perhaps?
The olives, though. She almost forgot about the olives. That made her interesting (well, it made him interesting, but nevermind that)! Olives stuffed with jalapenos and blue cheese. Jalapenos and blue cheese, IN an olive! That's interesting! What an interesting person that must be to put that on the list. Truth was, she didn't much care for them, but she was thankful for the exotic flair they gave to her otherwise mundane list of items.
She made her way up to the front, fumbling in her purse for the cash. After completing her grocery shopping, in the dark, in almost record time (those damn, exotic olives were always so hard to find!), of course it would take 15 minutes to find her money in the bottom of the purse.
The rain had stopped, leaving the city with the wet, fresh smell of spring. Inspired by the sudden adventure of her trip, and embracing her obviously exotic life ("Did you see those olives she put in her basket?! She must be a very interesting person.") she let her usual bus pass, electing instead to walk the 8 blocks back to her apartment.
I want to read more about this story. So...Yay for you! I am convinced that she is with a terrible man who will beat her if she brings the wrong olives home. Great start to your fiction adventures. :)
ReplyDeleteI want to know what happens on her way home. A lot can occur during an 8 block walk in a rougher side of town during the eye of a storm.
ReplyDeleteGood start on your Fiction Friday!!
ReplyDelete