I walked through the automatic doors of Grimwood Grocery and Hardware with a ding-ding.
“Kit! Over here, “ Ezra waved. I waved back and headed over to the service desk.
“Hey Ezra,” I said.
“How’d it go with Jerry?” he asked.
“Fine, I think. He seems kind of, I don’t know, dour?” I said.
Ezra frowned, “he’s a funny guy. I’ve never been able to get a good read on him. Anyway, Betty!”
“Ezra, for crying out loud, I’m right here.”
Betty, a woman approaching middle age, dark hair with streaks of silver, dark eyes, and pale skin sat exasperated while stocking a shelf less than an aisle away.
“Ope, sorry Betty, just didn’t know where you got off to. Can you help Kit? I’ve gotta get to the bank before it closes.”
Betty gave him a stern look.
“Please?” Ezra gave her puppy dog eyes.
I have a feeling this is a common interaction between the two.
“Yes, Ez.” Betty sighed. “I was going to show you around anyway, just gotta give the old man some guff.”
Betty smiled. Her smile was the kind that could light up a room. I returned her smile, at a lower wattage.
“I’m Kit, pleased to meet you” I said, sticking out my hand.
She took my hand, as warm as her smile, and shook. “Betty, it’s nice to meet you, too.”
She disengaged the handshake and started showing me around.
Betty grabbed a cart and started showing me the various aisles.
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As we walked she talked, “now I want to make sure you’ve got at least a week's worth of provisions. I’m not sure what Jerry’s got in those run down apartments, but I’m sure he hasn’t kept the TP stocked up. So here’s the paper products.”
She grabbed the biggest package of toilet paper, and paper towels. “I figure you’ll need the paper towels for your handyman work. If you need more just come in and tell whoever's working the register that it’s Plaza business. No point paying for it yourself, this place has a lotta leaks, especially the laundromat. “
She pronounced it laund-ro-mat”
Next she started heading down the meat aisle.
“You eat meat? It’s okay if you don’t, just tell me now.”
“I eat meat, I don’t really have much to cook with right now though.”
Betty stopped the cart and turned. “We can fix that, there’s a decent pot and pan set. Should be fine for a bachelor like yourself. You are a bachelor, right?” she enquired.
“As far as I know I am? The only person I’m attached to is my cat, Spot.”
Betty lightly snorted, “then we better get your kitty some food, too”
Betty was a whirlwind, less than 10 minutes later and she was helping me up the stairs to my apartment.
I opened the door and we entered my apartment. I heard a “mroww” from the bathroom.
“Hold on Spot, I’ll let you out in a minute.” A paw appeared under the bathroom door.
Betty smiled and turned to me, “can I let your kitty out?” she asked. “Yeah, go for it”
Spot bounded out and then stopped and looked at Betty. She began sniffing around.
Betty exclaimed, “oh my aren't you a pretty girl.”
Spot was a mostly black cat, with some white fluff around her toes and a white spot on her chest that gave her the name. Betty offered a hand to Spot, that she sniffed, turned her nose up, and then flopped over on.
“Well, I’d say she likes you, “ I smiled.
Betty helped me put my “provisions” away and left.
“Don’t make a stranger of yourself. I expect to see you either at the store or at the diner.”
She pointed in a vague direction. “Thanks Betty, I’m sure we’ll see each other again soon.”
I was tired. I checked out the bedroom, lo and behold the bed was actually made. Hopefully this decade.
I sat on the bed and a light puff of dust came off the top blanket.
“Not a good sign.” I said to myself.
I removed the blanket and put my old heavy duty sleeping bag on top. It’s not much good as a sleeping bag since the zipper broke, but it’s a fine blanket.
I laid down and Spot jumped on me. This is our most common sleeping position. I’m pretty sure she thinks I’m her bed. My mind starts to wander.
I should have taken a shower…
So sleepy…
Warm kitty on me…
…
