17
March 13, 2008
“That will be three-twenty seven.”
The graphic was still on screen. Phil had his debit card on the counter already. “Uh, wait, I also need…” Phil looked around nervously, then up. “Cigarettes! I need a pack of Marlboro’s.” The lady looked up and pulled out a pack.
The graphic was still on the screen.
“These?”
“Actually, the hard pack?”
“This is the hard pack”
“Then the soft pack. I can never keep them straight.” Phil smiled. It was that smile that he made when he was lying, and not very well. The lady shrugged and put down the one pack, and grabbed another.
The graphic was still on screen. Geez guys, are you still talking about us? Thank goodness the volume is down.
“These?”
“Uh…you know what, I think it’s the lights I mean.”
The clerk rolled her eyes and set down the pack. She reached up and got yet another pack.
The graphics were still up. Dammit KELO!
“These?”
“Um…you know…I think maybe those might be it. I think. Do you have any other kinds of Marlboro?”
“Excuse me?”
“It’s just…ah…I…just…started the other day…and…I…can’t remember what my girlfriend smokes. See, she got me hooked.”
“Look, I’m going to level with you. If you’re taking up smoking to get closer to someone else, let me offer some advice.”
“Excuse me?”
“All you’ll end up with is an ungrateful son, an early 90s minivan, no premium channels and a bad habit that only reminds you of the cancer that left you and the one that’s coming.”
Phil just stared blankly at the clerk.
“Are you pickin’ up what I’m throwin’ down?”
Phil saw a news anchor on her TV. “You know what, you’re right. Forget the smokes.”
The lady smirked the tiniest of smirks. “Three-twenty-seven.” Phil slid the debit card forward. She looked at him, then pointed to sign on the door.
CREDIT CARD LINE DOWN. CASH ONLY. SORRY FOR THE INCONVENIENCE.
Are you kidding me?!? Phil thought.
“Say what?” the clerk asked, as Phil realized he didn’t just think it.
“I mean, uh, cash is fine.” He reached into his wallet and handed her a five. She punched in the numbers as Phil took his card back, and then he tilted his head back. He stared at the ceiling, lost in thought. Seriously, what are the odds.
“One seventy three is your change sir.”
I mean, If I’d paid cash I’d have been out of here.
“Sir?”
What on earth are we going to do?
“Sir?!?”
We have an assassin looking for us, and the police…
“HEY! YOU! CHANGE!”
Phil snapped his head forward. “Sorry…just…thinking about what you said.” Phil stuffed the bill and coins into his back pocket. He took the two bottles and gave a half wave as he leaned into the door. Once outside, he saw Bob with his head down, and his shoulders slowly heaving up and down. Phil put his head down and slowly walked to the car.
The clerk couldn’t quite see Bob, but she saw Phil walking slowly to the car. She glanced back to her TV, and a new graphic was up.
WANTED FOR QUESTIONING:
Phillip Anderton, 27, Sioux Falls
Robert Fulton, 27, Sioux Falls
Believed to be driving a red 2001 Pontiac Grand Prix
License number 1A 3693
She reached for the phone.
