Saturday, I ended up at Walmart. I’d originally gone to Target to get the new Mariah Carey Christmas CD, but Target wanted $11.99 for it. Not gonna happen because I knew Best Buy had it for $9.99. Why not just go to Best Buy? Best Buy is farther away, and I was feeling lazy. Walmart is down the street from Target, so I figured what the hey?

I don’t go to Walmart a lot because it tends to be a stressful, hectic situation. There are so many people in there crammed in the aisles.

But I’ll give Wally World this. This store, at least, has been remodeled. They’ve widened the aisles, so I don’t feel like a canned sardine. Anyway, when I arrive, I make my way to the entertainment section only to get completely sidetracked by the books aisle. Something else Walmart has going for it – they have a large book section and a sizeable African American author section, which isn’t always the case at other retailers.


Hugs…
I start perusing the books when another woman joins me. Let’s call her Reba Reader. She starts talking to me. She loves to read and asks me if I’ve read such and such books and authors. She loves Mary B. Morrison and Carl Weber. She shows me the books she’s recently read. According to Reba Reader, books are like movies and a lot of times better, because there’s so much action, but you just keep turning the pages. I love her and her enthusiasm. As a fellow lover of books and an aspiring author, it did my heart proud. I’m so introverted. I wish I could be an extrovert like her. Later, I thought I should have gotten her name and number, so she can do my PR if/when my books comes out. Except that would have been creepy, but you understand what I’m saying.

Anyway, I pick out the books I want (because I am a weak individual with no willpower). No, I didn’t get the Mariah CD because it was $11.88 and I’m cheap like that. I head to the checkout counter also known as the worst place to be at Walmart. For whatever reason, people think they have to buy the entire store at that one time. To avoid the typically mammoth lines, I look for a self-checkout lane, but Walmart has taken those out apparently.

However, I do see an express lane, 10 items or less, so I get in that lane. There are three people in front of me, but it’s the express lane. How long can they possibly take? Oh, let me tell you.

Bugs…
When I step in the lane, I notice a guy ahead of me. Let’s call him Cowboy Roy. Cowboy Roy looks like he just stepped off a ranch. He has the hat, the plaid shirt, belt buckle, jeans, and boots working for him. Now I live in Texas. I won’t say it’s uncommon to see cowboys, but it’s not something I see every day, especially in this part of town. But frankly, I don’t care that he’s a cowboy. What I do care about is how many items are in his cart.

He starts unloading the cart. Um, he has more than 10 items, probably close to 20. I look up to make sure that I am, indeed, standing in the express lane. Yep, it says right there – 10 items or less. I want the cashier to call him out and tell him to go wait in the regular line, but she doesn’t. Strike 1 for Cowboy Roy.

And THEN

 He asks the cashier to fetch him some cigarettes. Are you kidding me? Strike 2 for Cowboy Roy.

And THEN…

He pays for his items and the cashier hands him his receipt. You know what that means, right? Transaction over. Except Cowboy Roy wants to stand in his exact same spot and study the receipt. Um, hello there’s someone behind you who needs to get to the credit card machine to pay for her stuff. Also, even if there is a problem, you’re going to have to go to the customer service desk anyway. MOVE. Strike 3 for Cowboy Roy. You’re out.

I was done with him. D-U-N done.


So that was my Walmart adventure. How do you feel about Wally World?


P.S. I did get the Mariah CD…from Best Buy. I ordered it online and picked it up yesterday.