retale

there is a target store near me , that has a young fella with tourettes who works as a cashier.he doesn't scream or curse- he just occasionally lets out a whoop or a yelp. there are times when i will enjoy a popcorn combo (a bag of popcorn and a soda for 99 cents) and sit and peruse the current issue of star or ok and watch how people deal with the yelps.

most people are self consciously blase about the whole thing. casual, nonchalant-"what ? the yelps? i honestly didn't notice" i love the kids who sit in the cart, a captive audience, three feet away who just stare at him in awe. they don't know what to make of him but they are transfixed by his otherness.

i was shopping at another store the other day (alright, it was a bookstore) and the older gentleman behind the counter ringing me up was not feeling well. he was under the weather, ill, sick. he was typhoid larry. sweaty, runny nose, coughing, watery eyes. what was this guy doing at work? stay home for gods sake! the world will still turn if you stay at home. books will be bought and sold if you stay home.

these stories are connected only by commerce