Мгла
After the Storm. Norton. A Trip to Town.
Likemostmodernmarkets,theFederalwasconstructedlikeaSkinnerbox-modernmarketingtechniquesturnallcustomersintowhiterats.Thestuffyoureallyneeded,staples,likebread,milk,meat,beer,andfrozendinners,wasallonthefarsideofthestore.Togetthereyouhadtowalkpastalltheimpulseitemsknowntomodernman-everythingfromCricketlighterstorubberdogbones.
BeyondtheINdooristhefruit-and-vegetableaisle.Ilookedupit,buttherewasnosignofNortonormyson.Theoldladywhohadrunintothedoorwasexamininggrapefruits.Herhusbandhadproducedanetsacktostorepurchasesin.
Iwalkeduptheaisleandwentleft.Ifoundtheminthethirdaisle,BillymullingovertheranksofJello-Opackagesandinstantpuddings.Nortonwasstandingdirectlybehindhim,peeringatSteff’slist.Ihadtogrinalittleathisnonplussedexpression.
Ithreadedmywaydowntothem,pasthalf-loadedcarriages(Steffhadn’tbeentheonlyonestruckbythesquirrelingimpulseapparently)andbrowsingshoppers.Nortontooktwocansofpiefillingdownfromthetopshelfandputtheminthecart.
"Howareyoudoing?"Iasked,andNortonlookedaroundwithunmistakablerelief.
"Allright,aren’twe,Billy?"
"Sure,"Billysaid,andcouldn’tresistaddinginarathersmugtone:"Butthere’slotsofstuffMr.Nortoncan’treadeither,Dad."
"Letmesee."Itookthelist.
Nortonhadmadeaneat,lawyerlycheckbesideeachoftheitemsheandBillyhadpickedup-halfadozenorso,includingthemilkandasix-packofCoke.
