Checking Out

Checking Out

All the persons, names, places and events depicted in

Jan's stories are fictional.

Any resemblance to actual events, persons or locations is purely coincidental.

© 2006

"Over there!"

"Shh! Stacie, stop that!" Maggie turned back to the customer who was waiting for her receipt and change. "Thank you for shopping at Albertsons, Ma'am."

The elderly woman smiled as she pocketed her change and tucked the receipt into her wallet. “Thank you, dear.”

Stacie, who had bagged the customer's groceries, took hold of the shopping cart handle and steered it out of the store, but not before shooting a challenging look back at Maggie. She wheeled the cart out so fast that the little old lady who accompanied her had a hard time keeping up.

Maggie took a moment to neaten up her check out lane and looked for the woman Stacie had indicated. She had just about worked up the courage to announce her lane was open, but Stacie interrupted her before she could get a word out.

"Well?" Stacie panted. She was fairly bouncing on the balls of her feet, like an excited little child instead of a fourth year college student.

"Stacie, what is your problem? I'm trying to do my job here. Wait. How'd you get back here so fast? Weren't you helping that lady to her car?"

Stacie, having run all the way back into the store, said, "She was parked in handicapped. And, I didn't...want...to miss...her. I mean. I didn't want to miss you checking her out."

"I'm not checking her out." Maggie’s attention was only on Stacie as she argued with her.

The young clerk nodded with a satisfied smirk as she answered, "Yes, you are."

"I'm not--"

"Excuse me, is this lane open?" An attractive woman with brown eyes, wavy brown hair with a few strands of white, and the most interesting smile was standing at the check out. She appeared to be close to forty years old, and her smile melted Maggie on the spot. The woman had started putting her purchases on the conveyor belt, but was about to reach for them and put them back into her cart, thinking that the check out clerk was about to close the lane.

Maggie blushed and apologies followed. "I'm so sorry. I wasn't paying proper attention. Please, I'd be happy to assist you." She lifted the first item from the conveyor belt and scanned it. Maggie shot a look to her assistant that told her to keep silent, and then turned her attention back to her customer who was watching the interchange with curiosity. As she did, she smiled apologetically and continued to tell the woman how she never, ever gave bad service, and how deeply mortified she was that she had left her standing there with her groceries.

"I'm sure you give excellent service, Margaret." The customer smiled back and locked her brown eyes with the hazel ones of the check out clerk who blushed profusely and lost all thought. Maggie dropped the bag of grapes she was about to put on the scale and promptly forgot how to punch the code numbers in order to price them, even though she’d been clerking for two years.

"You know my name?" Then she looked down at her apron. "Of course, you do. It's right here on my uniform."

"Actually, there are two names there, but I figured Margaret was a better choice than Albertsons." She smiled. "Nice to meet you, Margaret."

"Most people call me Maggie. Only persons who ever called me Margaret were my parents, and only when I'd done something wrong."

"Margaret!"

"Oh, and Mrs. Mulrooney, my supervisor. Same idea." As her supervisor approached, Maggie answered, "Yes, Ms. Mulrooney?"

"Is everything all right here?"

It wasn't clear whether she was addressing Maggie or the customer. They both answered, "Fine. Everything's fine." Then they both looked at each other like children who'd been caught raiding the cookie jar and grinned.

"Well, okay," Mulrooney said, "I'll be in the customer service center if you need anything." She took one more look at her two employees and then at the customer. Unable to size up the situation before her, she scurried off to the front leftmost corner of the store where the customer service center was located.

When Mulrooney was out of earshot, Maggie said, "I see you come here quite often."

The customer laughed and said, "It's a grocery store. I eat food."

Maggie put her hand over her face and sighed, "That really was a stupid thing to say."

The customer waited until Maggie peeked between her fingers and said, "Not at all. I'm having way too much fun at your expense. I'm Sandra. Most people call me Sandra. Except my parents when I was in trouble growing up. Back then they called me all kinds of names."

For her part, Stacie bit her lip to keep from laughing and enjoyed the scene as it played out. She dutifully bagged the groceries that came down the conveyor belt and started putting them into a shopping cart. She noticed when Sandra stopped putting the smaller items on the conveyor belt and had begun handing them directly to Maggie to scan. I'm going to have so much fun teasing her about this later.

"Oh get a grip. This is your lunch break. Don't you have something to study?" Maggie tossed her apron over the back of the chair in the employee lounge and stomped to the refrigerator where she yanked the door open and snatched her lunch sack.

Completely ignoring Maggie's fussing, Stacie said, "It always amazes me that you bring your lunch to work when you work in a supermarket."

Maggie just glared at her.

"And I'm studying sociology. The human condition. Yours is interesting." Stacie popped a spoonful of her black cherry yogurt into her mouth and swallowed. She waved the spoon at Maggie before continuing. And you both were so cute, the way you kept peeking at each other while you were checking her out."

"Can't you just drop this? So she's kinda cute. And I'm..." Maggie's voice drifted off, not quite sure how to finish her sentence.

"Horny? Interested? Hard Up?" Stacie cheerfully supplied. "Or, all of the above?"

"What is this? A test? Eat your lunch. And don't talk with your mouth full."

"Yes, Mom. Hey what are you, anyway, thirty-six? Thirty-seven? She looked about your age."

"I'm forty-seven. Old enough to have given birth to you, so mind your elders." Maggie enjoyed the wide-eyed look on Stacie's face.

"I had no idea. You’re four years older than my mom and dad. Wow, you're positively ancient!"

"You had to go there, didn’t you, Stacie? Why are you determined to take a perfectly normal day and make me regret getting out of bed this morning?" At that, Maggie refused to say another word. Instead she concentrated on her lunch, and when she was done with that, she picked up the novel she'd stashed in her purse that morning and having decided to read for the remainder of her break.

Stacie tried to get her attention several times, and finally put her trash in the bin and washed her hands, preparing to go back on the floor. "Okay. I can take a hint. But you gotta admit there's something there. She took so long checking out that you had a pretty good line waiting and you hardly noticed. And I saw you watch her until she went through the exit."

Maggie refused to answer.

"And, I noticed that she managed to drive by the front door and glance inside as she drove away. I think she likes you." After pausing for a reaction that didn't come, Stacie left the room.

Maggie closed the book she had been staring at for the past several minutes. She hadn't read a word, but she wasn't about to encourage Stacie's antics. She put the book away and prepared to return to her shift. "All of the above. In spades."

Maggie’s mood soured for the rest of the day, and Stacie finally took note that Maggie’s human condition was “I want to be left alone.” They finished out the day and at 6:30 p.m., shift over, they made their way to their cars. Maggie headed off to the right were there was only a Japanese steak restaurant. Stacie headed left closer to where the other shops were on the strip mall that hosted the grocery store where they both worked.

Stacie’s eyes bugged out when she saw the same blue and silver SUV that Sandra had driven earlier that day. She was opening the back door, and it looked like she was putting her dry cleaning in the cargo area.

“Sandra?” Staci called, “Got a minute?”

She watched as Sandra looked around to see who was calling her and until recognition set in. Remembering Stacie didn’t take much effort. She was hard to miss. Stacie was well above medium height, had the same double pierced earrings, and purple hair color that she’d worn in the store. More importantly, she still had her name tag pinned to her apron that she hadn’t taken off yet.

She sauntered up to Sandra, trying to look nonchalant and then blurted out in her usual straight to the point way, “Looking for Maggie?”

Sandra turned crimson red at the question and refrained from answering. She wanted to know what kind of interest the store clerk had in all this.

“I’m Stacie. I don’t think we met when you were checking out. Besides you seem pretty absorbed in my friend, Maggie.” Stacie enjoyed the even deeper shade of red now coloring Sandra’s face.

Stacie leaned against the side of Sandra’s SUV and tried to act casual. “You’re gay, right? Maggie’s gay, and old enough to be my mother’s older sister. And we’ve worked together for the past two years. She’s been there for me a lot. And I just want to make sure what your intentions are toward her.”

Not saying a word, Sandra closed the tailgate on the SUV and drove quickly away.

The next day, and for days after that, Maggie seemed to be in a funk. Stacie tried joking her out of it, but her efforts were useless. Sandra had been coming to the store nearly every day until the day that she got in Maggie’s line, but today marked nearly two weeks since she had set foot in Albertson’s, at least on Maggie’s shift.

I don’t know what’s wrong with me. It’s not like we were dating or anything. Hell, I can’t even remember my last date. At my age, there aren’t too many options. But I have to admit, that whatever seed was planted a few weeks ago seems to have withered in the ground. I don’t even really know her, but I miss her.

I don’t get what’s going on with Stacie, either. She’s moping around as much as I am. You’d think she was the one with the crush on Sandra instead of me. At least that’s one thing I don’t have to worry about. She’s as straight as they come, as if her long string of boyfriends hasn’t convinced her of that. I’ll talk to her when we break for lunch. Maybe there’s something she needs to talk about.

“Mag—“

“Stacie—“

“Stacie you first.” Good, maybe she’ll get whatever’s bothering her off her chest.

Stacie’s eyes watered and she hung her head. “I’m so ashamed, Maggie.”

“Don’t worry, Stacie. I’m sure whatever it is, it can be made right. How can I help you?”

With those kind words echoing in her ears, Stacie broke down and cried like a baby. “I’ve screwed things up.”

“What things? College?”

Stacie shook her head ‘no’.

“You okay with your folks?”

Stacie nodded ‘yes’ and sobbed harder.

“You’re not pregnant, are you? I mean, if you are, it’s okay, but you’re not, right?”

Stacie looked at Maggie and saw the genuine friendship and concern looking back at her. “No,” she whispered. Nothing like that.” Then she looked earnestly into Maggie’s eyes, hoping to see that same friendship and concern when she told Maggie what she had to say. “I blew it for you. For you and Sandra. I have such a big mouth and I couldn’t leave well enough alone. I had to go stick my big nose in your business and now I think I scared Sandra away from you.”

Maggie leaned back in her chair and tried to get a grasp on what Stacie was telling her. She listened as Stacie told of the encounter in the parking lot and how she must have really insulted or frightened Sandra away. Most of all, Stacie cried like a baby and promised to mind her own business from now on.

“Okay, okay, I get the picture. As much as you were pushing me toward her, you also wanted to protect me, is that it?” Sandra nodded ‘yes’ and then blew her nose hard on the paper towel that Maggie had just handed her.

Maggie’s mind created a mental picture of the incident and she suddenly started laughing, which confused Stacie since she expected Maggie to be yelling at her and telling her how stupid she was and telling her never to get in her business again.

“You know, I’m just warped enough to appreciate what it must have seemed like.” Maggie reached over and squeezed Stacie’s arm in support before explaining. “Imagine. Sandra’s been coming to the store every single day. I’m checking her out, she’s checking me out, and you’ve been pushing for me to say something to her. We finally meet and it’s obvious that we’re attracted to each other. She sees you bagging her groceries. You’re taller than most, have purple hair highlights, double pierced ears, and a tattoo on your upper arm that says, ‘Daddy’s little hell raiser.’ Your apron and that short sleeved shirt you wore that day did not cover that.

“Later, you approach her in the parking lot and, first, out her. Second, out me. And third, demand to know what her interest is in me. She probably thought you were jealous and about to attack her. No wonder she ran.”

“Ohmygodohmygodohmygod. It did look like that, didn’t it? I’m such an idiot.” Stacie buried her head in her arms and pleaded to be shot on the grounds of gross stupidity.

“And, miss scholar of the human condition, this is still Texas, and outing someone in a public parking area is not exactly the brightest idea you’ve ever had. If she noticed anyone even glancing her way, I bet she was terrified.”

“How do we fix this?” Stacie wanted in the worst way to make everything okay and to give her friend her chance with Sandra.

“We don’t. I’m sorry to burst your bubble, kid. Not every story has a happy ending. Sometimes things happen, and you miss out.” I’m still relatively young. Only forty-seven. Maybe I can visit some nice gay retirement home and snag me a hottie with blue hair.”

“How can you even joke?” Stacie wondered.

“Who said I was joking? All I need is someone female, willing, and who has a good denture adhesive.”

Stacie turned her sorrowful eyes to Maggie, and said, “I’m really sorry, Maggie. I’m so sorry.”

Maggie tousled Stacie’s hair and said, “Enough of this pity party. Let’s get back to work.”

The next evening, Maggie was about to close up her register. She reached across to clasp the chain that barred the lane from anymore customers to find Sandra standing there, looking at her with trepidation.

“Sandra?”

“Hi, Maggie.”

“It’s good to see you. Here, I can take you. I haven’t completely closed down yet.”

“Oh, okay. Thanks.”

Maggie looked all around for any groceries Sandra might be carrying. Not seeing any, she asked, “Was there something you needed for me to check out for you?”

Sandra looked around quickly and grabbed the first thing her hand landed on. “I need one of these.”

“Okay. A lighted keychain.” Maggie accepted the keychain from Sandra’s hand and couldn’t help react to the feel of Sandra’s fingertips grazing her palm as she handed the item over. “Um, that’ll be $1.45 with tax. Cash or charge?”

Sandra patted her pockets in her pants, her jacket, but came up empty. “I seem to have forgotten my wallet. Her face looked flushed from embarrassment.

“Not to worry.” Maggie pulled a couple of bills out of her pocket and fed the till. “It’s on me. Can’t let you give up your lighted keychain just because you don’t have your wallet.”

For the first time, Maggie looked directly at Sandra and smiled. She hoped to make the other woman relax and let her know everything was okay.

Then Sandra asked the question that Maggie knew she needed an answer to. The question that had kept her away for the most two miserable weeks of Maggie’s life. “Your friend. The one with the purple hair.”

“Stacie?” Sandra nodded.

“Is she…? You know.” Sandra looked away as if steeling herself for a letdown.

Sandra reached across the conveyor belt and grasped Sandra’s hand. “No. She’s not. And she’s so sorry to have given you the wrong impression.” Maggie turned her head toward the lane to her right and said, “Aren’t you, Stacie?”

Stacie’s head peeked up from behind the counter and she nodded it vigorously. “I’m just a poor dumb college student who has mush for brains. I’m so sorry to have worried you. Maggie, see…Maggie is like my best friend and my mom. If it wasn’t for her, I’d have dropped out of college by now. So I guess I’m over protective and want to see her happy.”

“So you were warning me off?”

“No! Just the opposite. Everyone tells me that I have the sense of humor of tree bark and about as much sense. I was excited to see that you two were interested in each other and had hoped you’d say that you wanted to get to know Maggie better. Instead, I frightened you off. Maggie said my piercings and tattoo didn’t exactly make me look like Cupid.”

Sandra shook her head as she tried to process everything that had just been said. “So it’s okay if we start again?” she asked.

Maggie and Stacie nodded vigorously.

“Okay, then. Here goes.”

Maggie thought her heart would explode from happiness and anticipation when Sandra started to speak again.

“Hi. My name is Sandra Armstrong and I was wondering if you’d like to join me for dinner after work tonight?”

Unnoticed by all three women, Mrs. Mulrooney was listening from behind the endcap. She stuck her head out and in a commanding voice said, “Margaret?”

Oh shit! What now?

“Say ‘yes’ and that’s an order!”

Grateful and greatly relieved Maggie answered, “Yes. I’m off in 10 minutes.”

“You’re off right now, young woman!” Mrs. Mulrooney ordered. “Stacie-Ann! Close out her register and let that poor woman get to courting. And then, Stacie-Ann, we’re going to have a nice long chat.”

As Maggie and Sandra left the grocery store, they could still hear Mrs. Mulrooney taking “Stacie-Ann” to task.

“…and stop scaring the customers!”

The end.