Мгла
After the Storm. Norton. A Trip to Town.
Thereweremaybetenotherthingsthatshewanted.
"Weoughttogobacktothefruitsandvegetables,"Isaid."Shewantssometomatoesandcucumbers."
BillystartedtoturnthecardaroundandNortonsaid,"Yououghttogohavealookatthecheckout,Dave."
Iwentandhadalook.Itwasthesortofthingyousometimesseephotosofinthepaperonaslownewsday,withahumorouscaptionbeneath.Onlytwolaneswereopen,andthedoublelineofpeoplewaitingtochecktheirpurchasesoutstretchedpastthemostlydenudedbreadracks,thenmadeajigtotherightandwentoutofsightalongthefrozen-foodcoolers.AllofthenewcomputerizedNCRswerehooded.Ateachofthetwoopenpositions,aharried-lookinggirlwastottinguppurchasesonabattery-poweredpocketcalculator.StandingwitheachgirlwasoneoftheFederal’stwomanagers,BudBrownandOllieWeeks.IlikedOlliebutdidn’tcaremuchforBud
Brown,whoseemedtofancyhimselftheCharlesdeGaulleofthesupermarketworld.
Aseachgirlfinishedcheckingherorder,BudorOlliewouldpaperclipachittothecustomer’scashorcheckandtossitintotheboxhewasusingasacashrepository.Theyalllookedhotandtired,
"Hopeyoubroughtagoodbook,"Nortonsaid,joiningme."We’regoingtobeinlineforawhile."
IthoughtofSteffagain,athomealone,andhadanotherflashofunease."Yougoonandgetyourstuff,"Isaid
