March 11, 2009

Good god, there was a real debacle at the Smile Market after work today. Right when I got home I put some eggs on to fry. But I was real hungry - I wanted some cereal too. Problem was, I had no milk. So I went around the corner to the Smile Market. A husband and wife run the store. Let's just say English isn't their first language. At the fridge in the back of the store I had a few options. The wife popped up at my side to give me the price schedule. Gallon of 2% - $4.50; half gallon of organic 2% - $4.50; one pint of whole - $1.50; one quart of soy - $4.50.

Look, all I wanted was a half gallon of skim, but I could tell mom and pop were eager to make a sale. So I took the gallon. The man took my card and rang the sale as $0.47. He showed it to me and tried to explain his mistake, but he didn't have the words. The woman tried to explain by asking me what is 4.70 minus 0.47. Before I could answer the man rerang me for $4.23. OK, that's fine. Except as I was signing both receipts the woman starts cramming my milk in plastic. No, no I tell her. It's fine I'll carry it. But she shrugs and insists, a kind gesture.

Finally I make it out of the store. 10 steps later one handle snaps on the bag and my milk goes flying all over the pavement. I salvaged a half gallon and got home and ate sunny side up burnt eggs. And Strawberry Delight Mini Wheats.