I Was Third in Line at the Grocery Store on January 2, 2013.
Waiting in a grocery checkout line isn't the most pleasant experience of the day. But, I waited patiently for a reason.
At the front of the line was a young couple with a young child. They were going through their items to give back, because they obviously was short of money to pay for all of their groceries.
First handed back was two gallons of milk. Second, two bags of synthetic breakfast cereal. Then the three pounds of hamburger. It went like this while the two people in front of me slowly burned over having to wait.
The young mother showed no emotions. Just kept going through the pile of food to determine what had to be left behind. Her husband cast his eyes down and they stayed there. Upon the childs face was fear. Whether from knowing her tummy would growl more now, or ashamed for her parents.
An older women second in line, finally said, "Would you hurry up!" The man behind her looked back at me. I could tell he wasn't doing well himself.
After the young couple left and the two people in front of me had checked out, I paid for my groceries and even though it would harm my own ability to eat, I fished some money out of my poke and raced to the exit burning batteries on my mobility scooter.
I wanted to give them money so they could go back in and get the milk, etc. they had to leave behind. Couldn't find them once I got outside. Don't know what my emotions were at the time. It ranged from dispair to anger and everything in between because my tummy was really in knots.
I didn't sleep well last night and I am out of tears.
Already, I hate the new year.