What I Saw at the Supermarket
A short story including a behind-the-scenes look
It was another day of the pandemic in mid-2020 when our fridge was empty. The last over-priced debacle with online grocery delivery caused us to reassess that choice and now I was the one to forge for food.
I didn’t mind because I was still looking for a job and bored staying at home. Going to the supermarket was my chance to avoid hearing another awkward video call taking place in the living room “office.” It was my chance to go back to our routine of shopping (minus him this time) and discover new recipe inspirations, ripe avocados and unbruised bananas. It was my chance to see people and maybe have a conversation in real life.
Pulling in the parking lot, I grabbed a spot close to the supermarket’s door noticing the line had seven people waiting. I took the eighth spot in line. Shouldn’t be that bad, I thought. One clerk was busy wiping down carts while his two of his coworkers were chatting, then they waved us all in. A thrill of excitement ran through me when “Little Red Corvette” met my ears and I pushed my wet cart towards the avocados.
Then, I saw her, well, the back of her. I knew that olive green jacket with the faded black peace sign anywhere. It belonged to only one person in Berkeley: our old neighbor, Helen. I wanted to…
