Waterlogged

“That’ll be thirty-four, sixteen.” Turning her head as she spoke the words, Carrie watched as the man pulled a credit card from his wallet and swiped it through the scanner.

Bright green letters announced declined on her screen. “I’m sorry sir, would you like to swipe your card again?”

Carrie watched as the man’s mouth tightened into a straight line. Angrily he swiped his card again and again the letters read declined.

“I’m sorry sir, would you like to try another card?”

Feeling the man’s humiliation, Carrie tried to be kind as she searched his face.

“Hell no, you people down here don’t know what in the hell you’re doing. There’s nothing wrong with my Visa.” Angrily he reached into his wallet, opened it wide and fingered through several bills. Grasping them, he threw them on the counter in front of Carrie.

She felt the anger well inside of her and fought the impulse to pick the money up and throw it back in his face. Instead she said, “I’m so sorry for the problem with the credit card.”

Placing the man’s change in his outstretched hand, Carrie fought the impulse to throw the coins on the counter and have him pick them up himself. Instead she smiled and began bagging his groceries.

As she slid the loaf of bread into a paper bag; she didn’t fight her impulses as before. This time as her fingers wrapped around the loaf she squeezed hard. “Thank you for shopping Grocery World.” The phrase fell a jumbled mess from her lips as she avoided the man’s eyes.

Immediately she felt guilty for squeezing the customer’s bread, but she shook her head, no, he deserved it for being such an ass.