I spent a bit of time at the store looking for a few photogenic cherries. Rainiers are sometimes more expensive than rib steaks. But nothing else would do, and while I was there, I got some big strawberries too, since this particular store lets the buyer pick from a bulk selection.

The checkout clerk was new, and quite the fastidious guy. He has mastered the discreet hand motion needed to squirt breath freshener before focusing on the task at hand. Taking a glance at the prices he rang up, I noted that the cherries were showing up at $6.99/lb when the sign had said $4.99. He called for assistance, and while we waited, he smoothed his eyebrows, and patted down his buzzcut. Something was reflecting his image back to his careful eye, as he went at his eyebrows again. Maybe it was the chrome on the scale. He appeared to try to pump up his cheeks as he inspected his recent shave.

If we had been there a little longer, he might have reached under the counter for his deodorant.