Supermarket

Supermarket

"You're late".

"Late? What're you talking about? It's only just gone five past".

"Exactly. That's what I mean. You were supposed to be here at five
o'clock. It's now five past and you're late".

The two old codgers met just inside the large entrance to the
supermarket and greeted each other loudly. Well into their seventies
they were no longer too self-conscious to argue in public. In truth,
they went largely unnoticed. Just a couple of old men with sticks who
came into the store a couple of times a week to wander about looking at
the merchandize (they rarely bought anything) have a meal in the
restaurant, have an argument and generally put the world to rights.
Their well-worn gravy stained ties showed the world they were capable
of taking a pride in their appearance whilst their large, shabby
raincoats showed that they didn't give a hoot what anyone
thought.

"What's a few minutes? You're complaining about a few minutes? What's
the matter? Got affairs of state to worry about, have you?

"Oh, I can't argue with you. D'you want to sit down or go about?"

"What d'you want to do?"

"I don't mind either way, I'm easy".

"Let's go about, It'll give me an appetite, we can sit later".

Together they strolled into the store, passing first through the fruit
and veg section, pausing occasionally to comment on the displays.

"Those apples look nice, and those bananas. Look at the size of those
tomatoes, I bet they've hardly any taste".

"You're right. They're probably genetically moderated. I used to grow
Tommies that size in my greenhouse".

"What greenhouse?"

"The one I used to have before they sent me to Alcatraz".

"You talk as if we live in a prison. We've both got a very nice flat
with alarm buttons in case we fall over".

"I've no intention of falling over. Just look at all those kids toys
and books. Children today don't know they're born".

Passing through the children's section they strolled up and down the
aisles. Various items attracted their comments along the way such as
"Why on earth would any one need so many different kinds of shampoo" to
"Why would anyone want to buy a bag of fifty Mars Bars?"

Up in the observation room the two security men watched the screen with
detached amusement. They knew these two old codgers by sight and knew
that after traipsing along every gangway in the store they'd shuffle
off to the caf? for a meal.

Both men were in their middle forties and had worked for a local
engineering firm until production had been moved to Rumania, or
Macedonia, or Morocco, they weren't sure which. All they knew for sure
was that they were out of work. They would liked to have joined the
police force or the fire brigade, if only for the job security but were
too old. So, after almost a year of fruitless searching, they'd
reconciled themselves to behat the landing was
overcrowded and moved one of them back inside. Never mind lets get on
with it"

He set to work with a will, using his computer, address book and
yellow pages he spent the day making contacts and arranging
appointments for the coming weeks. He finished, feeling satisfied.
Nothing concrete but lots of leads to follow up and it was only day
one.

It was as he was getting ready to leave that he noticed the dust. It
was very little, on top of the filing cabinets. Also, the window didn't
look quite as clean as it had that morning.

"Odd, Oh well, can't help that now". And he left for home.

The next morning he noticed that the second filing cabinet had been
moved back into the office. He made a mental note to have a serious
word with the caretaker.

Once inside he couldn't believe his eyes. Everything was thick with
dust. The three filing cabinets, the desk, everything. Exasperated, he
fetched the rags from under the sink and went round the room wiping
down every surface. After two hours the office was clean and he moved
two of the filing cabinets out onto the landing, out of his way.

Back to his work he continued his cold calling, popping out for a
well-earned pizza at lunchtime.

When he got back he saw that one of the cabinets was back in the
office.
He went out on to the landing and called loudly down the
stairwell.

"I say, are you there? Caretaker, are you there?"

No answer
.
"Just wait, I'll give him a piece of my mind when I see him".

It then occurred to him that he hadn't seen the old man since that
first day.

"Oh well, I'll run into him eventually". He got on with his work.

It was just after five when he pushed back his chair, stretched and got
up to leave that he noticed the dust had returned whilst he'd been
working.

"To hell with it". He went home.

The next morning the third cabinet had rejoined the other two in the
office.

"The old fool must have done it last night".

He went out onto the landing and yelled at the top of his voice over
the rail.

"Hey, you down there. I know you're there. What's the big idea"?

No answer. He continued shouting, becoming more and more irate until
his voice was hoarse. He couldn't believe he was behaving like this.
Taking a deep breath he went inside. What he saw started the tightness
in his chest.

Every surface was covered in a thick layer of dust. The window was
filthy with grease. Even the phone was dirty. He sank to his knees, his
breath coming in short gasps, the pain in his chest becoming more
acute.

It was then he heard that bronchial, wheezing voice from outside the
door.

"What's going on? What's your problem? What's all the noise about? If
you've any complaints put it in writing. I'm not running a 'otel
y'know".

Inside the office the young man couldn't answer. He tried to speak, to
call out, but his voice was mangled in his throat as his breath
failed.
.......................................................

"This way, I wouldn't trust that banister if I were you".

The young, smartly dressed woman climbed the stairs with trepidation.
She'd just qualified as a solicitor and was anxious to start her own
practice. At the top of the stairs the old caretaker pushed open the
creaking door.

"Well" she said. Not wanting to be rude as the rent was very
attractive. "It's very dirty but I could soon clean it up"

"I don't care what you do", said the old man.

"Just one thing though" she said, "I'd like to move a couple of those
out onto the landing. I don't need four filing cabinets".