ALWAYS THE WRONG LINE

My son Alex and I had stopped at the grocery store to pick up a few things which of course turned into a half filled cart instead.

As we headed to the checkout lines I began scanning for potential problems. “Okay, not this one.” I whispered. “The check out person has an ‘in training’ badge on.” I shook my head. “I’m all for giving people time to learn their job but not today and not with me.”

We moved to the next lane.

“Nope, not this one either.” I decided.

“What’s wrong with this one?” Alex asked as he looked at the people in the line.

“Didn’t you see the senior bus out front?” I shook my head again. “Well, here’s four of them checking out together.” I pushed the cart further down. “This is a big outing for them. They’ll be visiting with the cashier like there’s not one waiting behind them.”

Alex was shaking his head and laughing. “Why don’t we do the self checkout then?”

I looked in the cart and quickly counted. “Too many items.” I stated.

“Well, what if I took half the cart and you took the other half? We split up and both go through the self check out.”

I thought about that for a moment but when I turned around and saw the line waiting for a self checkout machine to be available I shook my head. “Still not fast enough.” I decided.

I finally saw a lane where there were only two people waiting. Both of their carts were only half filled like ours. “This is the one!” I said with confidence as I got on line.

As the first cart was checking out the person right in front of us turned and looked at me. “Excuse me.” She said.

I’d been busy looking through the bin of books next to me when Alex nudged me.

I looked up.

“I’m sorry but I forgot something. Do you mind watching my cart while I run and grab it?”

Now in my head I was saying ‘Nope. Take your cart and finish your shopping just like all the rest of us did.’ But instead I smiled and said, “Sure.”

“Thanks.” She said scurrying away.

I looked over at Alex. “How does this always happen to me? I always seem to pick the wrong line!”

Alex laughed as he shrugged his shoulders. “Hey, I thought you were going to tell her no.”

“I actually thought about it for a second.” I admitted.

He patted me on the shoulder. “Well then I’m very proud of you holding back your real thoughts.”

“I’m trying.” I said with a sigh as I looked over to where she’d headed seeing if she’d be returning soon.

I could see the woman in the front of our line was almost done filling her bags and was ready to pay.

I looked at the abandoned cart in front of me and looked at Alex.

“No.” He said as he shook his head. “You can’t move her cart and get in front of her.”

“But…” I looked around and still couldn’t see her coming.

“Nope.” He was still shaking his head.

I sighed as I leaned against the cart. “Why is it I always pick the wrong line?” I complained.

Alex patted me on the shoulder again and laughed. “It seems to be your super power.”