No Line Moves As Slowly As That 1-in-1000 Time You're In A Hurry

Let the record show that Mrs. HM is never in a hurry. No pressing appointments, nowhere to be by a specific time. She makes her trips to town with a cushion of time before closings. Can skip certain stops to be where she needs to be.

Thursday evening was a rare occasion when I was trying to hurry back home. We returned from the casino around 5:15. The sun was low in the western sky, wreaking havoc with sight behind the wheel. I figured the sun would have set by 5:30, and I'd have time to get to town and home before full dark.

The drive to town was fine. No glaring sun rays impeding my vision. I popped into the Gas Station Chicken Store first. Of course the lady at the counter had trouble using the card scanner. Then she contradicted the clerk about how much gas she was buying. So they had to void the transaction and start over. All the while, dusk was getting duskier.

I traded my winners for scratchers, and headed over the moat and across the side street to the Casey's. Again, a customer, man this time, was debating the charges, and getting a re-do. The next guy was routine. A dude waiting off to the side told me to go ahead. But no. It was HIS turn. So I told him to go ahead, because I was going to get scratchers.

Dude stepped up and gave his name and said he was there to pick up two pizzas. The Old Clerk hobbled to the kitchen, came back with three boxes. She started ringing it up.

"I don't think those are mine. I should have TWO boxes."

"The other box is breadsticks."

"Oh."

Ringing it up...

"Wait. I didn't order breadsticks."

The guy who was waiting behind me said, "Those are probably MY pizzas."

Pizza Dude repeated his name. "Are you sure those are mine? Want me to go over to the kitchen and ask?" At least he moved faster than Old Clerk.

Off he went to the kitchen area. And then, Old Clerk motioned for Behind Me Dude to step up. What in the Not-Heaven??? Why was he special? Those pizzas weren't going anywhere! He could wait his turn! He even looked at me like ??? was this okay. I motioned him ahead. Not HIS fault.

Behind Me Dude paid, and said, "Can I get that receipt?"

"No."  

I don't know why this policy. But he accepted the rebuff, got only the register receipt and not the kitchen receipt, took his pizzas, and left. Now the original Pizza Dude was back, standing off to the side with his rightful pizzas. I motioned him forward, too. He had actually been ahead of me. Not his fault they messed up his order.

By the time I got my turn, it was FULL DARK! I am not usually out after dark. I made it home fine. Though a bit out-of-sorts, because I had forgotten my cell phone back at the Mansion in my gambling purse. Good thing no evil befell me...