Go Shopping

You skip lunch in the cafeteria and head home as soon as the last lesson of the morning is over. Bad decision. When you look in the fridge you realise there’s nothing to eat.

By the time you’d get back to school lunch would have finished. So, shopping it is. Just lunch, so you walk into town to the small local supermarket, which among other things has meal deals. Their choice had been wide, but you’re late and it’s been depleted. Egg and cress. Cheese and Ham. Coronation Chicken. Which one appeals? None really.

It’s while you’re trying to decide, that you spot Agatha, the gardener you had to let go. She’s deteriorated since you last saw her. Her hair is a mess; the red dye hasn’t been updated showing blond streaks beneath. Her clothes look grubby, as if they haven’t been washed. She’s furtive, wrapped up in her clothes, constantly looking around, but obviously not vigilant because she hasn’t noticed you.

Her hand riffles through the fruit packs. When it leaves there’s one pack less. She isn’t carrying a basket. There’s not a pile of produce in her hand to which it joined. No, her hand moves surreptitiously to her pocket. Is she shoplifting?

You’re not the only one watching her. To one side you can see the store cop his eyes fixed on her. He’s clearly waiting to see what she does. The moment she tries to leave the store, he’ll be on her.