inconvenience store

I'm rushing through the shop downstairs to get a large coffee. Nothing fancy, just a Tully's drip, black. (I take my coffee black and bitter, like my soul.)

I have my $1.50 in my hand before I pour the cup, and prepared to make the usual efficient circle through the small space: dollar-fifty at hand, pour the cup, snap the lip, and drop the cash two feet later at the counter with me raising my cup saying "large coffee" and the counter girl smiling, taking my cash, and and saying "thank you" or "see you later."

I was pleased to see the place was nearly empty, with one sole customer approaching the counter. She intercepted me as I was breezing up to the counter, and dropped her bottled beverages on the counter in front of my out-stretched hand. The counter girl gave me an apologetic smile, shrugged as if to say "Some people. Well, it will only be a moment." and scanned her purchases.

"That will be $4.43."

At which point the woman pulled a large plastic bag of change out of her purse, and began counting out four dollars and forty-three cents, one coin at a time.

Seriously, I thought that kind of thing only happened on bad television.

I am dangerously under-caffeinated.