For the time flower post
The place was nearly empty. An old woman flipped through a National Enquirer at the front. Two little boys fingered the candy bars next to her. Loren was on the other side of the store, in the meager grocery section, making her way down one of the aisles. A lone cashier manned the counter.
Ax sidled up to him. "Do not worry," he said. "We are irresponsible teenage hoodlums, possibly gang members, but you are not in any danger."
The guy gave Ax a blank stare.
"His gang's from out of town," I explained.
Marco grabbed Ax's shirt and pulled him toward the back of the store. "Smooth, Ax-man. That'll look real convincing on the surveillance tapes."
We jostled past Loren and Champ.
"Man, take your dog outside," Marco drawled. "He stinks."
Loren didn't say a word. Just kept her steady pace. She felt along the top shelf till her fingers touched a box of Raisin Bran. She picked it up, shook it, and placed it in the shopping basket on her arm.
I watched her. My mother. She did her grocery shopping at a convenience store. But I guess she didn't have much choice. The neighborhood wasn't exactly brimming with bright, shiny Safeways.
"Hey, you big mutt," Marco called to Champ. "Want a drink?" He picked up a supersize cup and filled it. Coke sprayed onto the floor.
Champ ignored him. So did Loren. She crossed to the coolers along the back wall, pulled out a quart of milk, and placed it in her basket. I could see the date stamped on the lid. The milk had expired three days ago.
"Isn't that sweet?" I jerked the basket from her hand. "She's buying us a little snack." I slid the milk out of the basket and replaced it with a fresh quart from the cooler. "Man. Nothing but cereal and dog biscuits." I shoved the basket back in her hand. "Keep it, lady."
She didn't say anything. Didn't hesitate. Just ran her fingers along the cooler doors - counting them, I think - opened one, and pulled out a package of bologna. She turned and started back up another aisle. We followed.
"She does not seem to be afraid of us," Ax whispered.
"She's probably been through worse," I said tightly.
"Ah." Ax nodded. "She does not understand how menacing we are." He tapped her on the shoulder. "You do not know me," he said, "but I am a juvenile delinquent. I do not trust authority figures, I probably will not graduate from high school, and statistics say my present rowdiness and vandalism will likely lead to more serious crimes. I am a dangerous fellow, and I am causing mayhem in this store."
He reached behind her and pulled three jars of baby food from the top shelf. Shoved them behind a box of macaroni. Shuffled the Cheez Whiz in front of the Marshmallow Fluff. Tossed a bag of lady's shavers onto a bag of hamburger buns.
"There. I have now shamelessly destroyed the symmetry of this shelf, undoing hours of labor by underpaid store employees. If you could see me, you would be frightened."