Queue

"You know, we usually stock turtlenecks. Sorry though." Guess I'll stick with the pants. Checkout.

I saw the midnight shift change, which takes a quarter hour. Money trays going out and being counted. Long lines building up. The welfare folks were at the front, cashing out their checks within the first hour of the day that it was allowed. Some of them were old, and that made me happy. Most were able-bodied Hispanic kids my age, talking in english on phones that cost more than mine. One of them had his eyebrows waxed. $512.36.

Another hispanic man, maybe forty years old, is next to me in line. He's wearing a security guard outfit. He's quiet and woebegone looking. He has an American flag embroidered on his sleeve. Maybe he was going home or maybe he just got up.

I saw a tired dad with disinfectant wipes and diapers standing midway down the line looking worn out. There was a man who had oily mechanic hands with a pack of Marlboros in his breast pocket. He had a tube of red and gold wrapping paper. The black girl in front of me had on green, wool peacoat on. Her friends called her and she hopped to the next line, sensing the wait would be long in ours. She set her tabloid magazine on the coke-product display fridge and a meandered over to the next lane, head extended up high in a graceful sort of way. She bought lip-balm.

Next lane over I saw a middle aged EMT. He was talking about his job at an uncomfortable volume with his co-worker, a younger woman. He would click his radio on and let the static ring. He must be important. The couple in front of them were being playfully affectionate and at times, handsy and borderline indecent. Checkout lines do that to you.

On the way out, I saw a young white boy sizing me up like he was tough. He was maybe fourteen. Nobody is tough when they're fourteen. The man at the exit had no teeth. He waved me on as I pulled out my receipt. I didn't look the part. Obviously only buying pants.

Outside the door there was a short skirt with heroin legs, finishing a cigarette in the cold.