Ten items or less lane

You’re in the ten items or less lane. The cashier is in training.
That lady in front of you has a gift card,
but the kid doesn’t know how to ring it, so
he calls the manager, who also doesn’t know how to ring it.

You thought it would be so easy to run in and back out, but
that lady in front of you is suspending your transaction,
and there’s nothing you can do.
Why doesn’t the manager open another lane?

You have to wait
with your soles getting sticky from
that lady’s Diet Dr. Pepper.
Even though you have obligations, responsibility.

You are standing in line, staring at those stupid magazines
that are making you feel like shit because
Brad and Angelina are all fairy-tale-happy, but you’re not.
Neither are you worried about the latest facelift or the best recipe for chicken salad.

But you have to look at those covers because
that lady in front of you won’t charge it.
She insists on using her gift card because
it was given to her and she feels compelled to spend it.

Illogical forces beyond your control:
Everyone else has made irresponsible decisions,
but they affect you directly as you stand in line
holding your pack of gum and your bottle of booze

in the 10 items or less lane.

Kat Erickson
Allie Burbrink