The untold story of the grocery store

By Anyanwu Amanda.

I went to a nearby store to pick few groceries, there was this queue to pay for the items I bought. I heard a woman shouting at the other end at the lady who was younger, i saw her panicking trying all her possible best to please the woman who was already beyond control, splitting insults and abuses on the poor miss, suddenly the young miss broke into tears and wept uncontrollably, comments flying here and there, people who felt they had gained degree in law started judging as confusion filled the store, then the lady who was beside me, together with the people at the line making statements as best could describe the scene, she touched me, wanted to start a chitchat about the scene with me, all I could do was to remain silent as different thoughts went through the little brain I had, the miss who wanted a chat with me gave a disgusting look with who does she think she is, and continued her petty gossip with her clique

She gave a satisfactory look when she saw the miss weep, why? The question kept pounding inside my brain, why she had to do that? Why was there a satisfying look after hurting someone’s feelings or perhaps ruining someone’s day. Regardless of status, we definitely need ourselves to survive, I saw the manager walking to the lady at the counter as there was this stern look , and said words like it could be deducted from her next salary. How much was the salary? How much more will be taken from a minor mistake, who deducts the salary from the manager, was that the best way to handle the situation? I only left my mind to answer this questions because obviously no else could. Do you know who her husband is ? The other lady at the opposite lane asked her friends, I believe she was a wealthy lady with a disgusting character. After the chaos had subsided I watched the manager saw her out as she dipped her hands into a pause and gave him a Five Hundred Naira(#500) note. He definitely sold his integrity for just #500. It was almost my turn just the lady in front of me, she was quiet the whole time and I guess she was curious to know what happened at the initial, we just had a glimpse of what happened because we couldn’t see properly from the back lane . Hey it’s fine , you can take it easy. What happened? She asked, I saw the lady trying to pick her emotions that was already shattered,

No mind that woman, the security man said

Na so she Dey do. It’s just the loyalty card number. He explained, I saw her asking the woman for her number and she just waved her hands because she was on a call after inputting the last item, she printed the receipt and gave the woman . The woman was done with her calls and asked if she had added her loyalty card number, the cashier was confused and explained that the hand gesture was her telling her not to bother with it. I guess that was when the whole drama started, that whole scene for just loyalty card of 1%? It wasn’t for me to judge though, life is hierarchical, i murmured. It was definitely my turn finally, I looked at her tag, Julie, a pretty name, well well it was time for me to leave the store. That’s was basically it . Work, home , church, and the store. The rectangle of my life. The store took most part because it was a stone throw, easily accessible, had everything I could buy, most importantly, my hot sardine bread.

Sir , 2 months is pretty much to sit in for someone, why does it have to be me, why, why did I even pick the call at first , the way he believes he can hit pause my current life to kickstart a new one , it really irks me how they casually toss people aside, especially me!, is this the sign to finally quit?, to start my desire just like that, I’m talking about starting with figures here, but why is the figures in my head not tallying with the one in my savings!!, how long will this heart break linger, A year?, the country is getting worst by the day, how did I find my self in such a situation?, I hate Disney story, the ladies never stressed themselves, there was always a prince ready to swipe them off their feet. I looked at my feet and sigh, All Snow White had to do was to sleep and wait for her Prince Charming to kiss her, they never told us the back story, I’m certain that nigga had a mouth odor, she definitely wanted to scream, but then she saw the Prince Charming, who definitely owned properties and luxuries and thought of how miserable she could be if she went back to her aunt? Mouth odor could be cured she might have gave that thought finally. A win is a win for her. But for me the only mouth odor is the guy at the office who begs for everything and won’t mind his business, how much more do I need to endure ? Perhaps I need deliverance, different thoughts racing through my mind as I was succumb by sleep.

I kept counting days I will return, I missed my bed , the smell of my home, I missed the nearby grocery store. I missed the sardine bread I get every Saturday and Sunday, I missed Lagos in general . Two weeks left I’m already tired of porthacourt I just want to go home, this banking life is what I should have reconsidered before doing so, I met with few staffs that were accommodating, friendly I will say and there is always this person that likes eye service ( busybody) Christiana Nwabunaya, please leave me alone I’m not the cause of your receding hairline, I mean if you wanted this post badly, maybe you could have been more expressive, I never asked for this, I remember asking her why she act the way she did, she had to pretend about it , I guessed she had been in this branch for quite awhile now, one of the old staffs around, character aside she good at what she does, till single though wondered why she wasn’t married. She’s never my business. As a new staff perhaps visiting staff, other staffs will love to be in your business,

Christie handed me the letter, I guessed it was time to leave, to go back to my old life. Was my stay eventful? Yes it was. Visited few places, and also stores too. I saw the smile on Christie’s face , I was leaving for good, the woman I’m standing in for had complications while giving birth and I’m certain it will take months to get back on feet, the branch here is small compared to my work space in Lagos , i receive a call earlier today to ask if I love my new space and want to continue here, you already know my answer sir, I just want to return.

I can finally breathe fresh air, I was done with my chores and back home to my space again, it was Saturday I was already eager to visit the nearby store , to restock and to get my favorite bread. I went to the store and noticed something’s weren’t yet in place. There were few sale rep at each section and Julie’s seat was vacant with the system on, was it their break time? Well, I reckon they opted to start late today, quite a few customers almost getting the same as mine . After I was done picking my items, I had to join the other lane to pay for my groceries, I noticed Julie wasn’t still back from her break, was I that eager to see her? It was just a customers relationship. Wanted to tell her how hard it was to find a store like that and also a good customer service , maybe some other time , I knew the other cashier though my Julie had become my favorite,

It got to my turn and I just had to asked about her. The lady looked at me with a gloomy face and kept quiet for a long time, the pace at which she checked my items reduced and her hands were trembling, will Julie be on seat today? I made myself more audible, I wasn’t sure the cashier heard me the first time

No, she won’t be around today, tomorrow or next, I look at the opposite side I was confused, the system was on , someone was on seat before then. She replied, love will take over, love is the person on the opposite side not Julie anymore because Julie died this morning from pneumonia….

Julie just die this morn…ing? I stuttered . C’mon you must be kidding, my spine went numb . I froze trying to recollect and digest this news. She never looked sick, could I have done something, if I knew earlier?

I kept asking myself. Noo...bo...dy... Knew... she.. was... I…’ll!? I kept stuttering .

We all slept at the quarter, the bed is so low, sometimes she slept on the ground,

Her parents? I asked… have they heard the news?

Yes her mum, she was devastated , she said in a low tone.

Goodness lord, why do I feel some kinda way , wasn’t finding it funny, I had loose interest in my plans of today, the bad news that awaits my arrival, why didn’t I stay at port then? For how long do I have to feel this way till I get accustomed to reality of life. How do I pretend the fact that each time I visit the grocery store, there’s this cold chill I feel knowing I will never see Julie again, they had moved unto the next person like nothing happened, someone must be a scapegoat. This life is hierarchical, the ones at the top are never worried about a news like this, business must go on . The grocery store which was my favorite, became soar to me.