What Do You Do

I'm standing in line at the grocery store, okay?
I'm standing there and Brenda walks by.
"Hey Nance!"
"Hey Bren!"
Everyone knows her, she's a checker,
so they all look at me.
I smile.
I wish I could tap dance.
So now I'm still standing in line and Karen walks by.
"Hey Nancy!"
"Hey Karen!"
Everyone knows her.
She's another checker, so they all look at me.
I smile.
I wish I could tap dance right there.
Then we would have a good reason for them to stare.
Still standing,
I start to hum.
Sure, it makes me feel a little dumb but hey,
I don't know these people, right?
So who cares.
Just then Tracy walks by.
"Hey Nance!"
"Hey Trace, how's the new baby?"
"Oh, she is so beautiful,
I just can't believe how she is so beautiful!"
You got it.
They all know her, she's a checker,
so they all look at me.
I smile.
I tell the man next to me that I have
a small but lovely home,
nestled deep within the Produce Department.
I smile again.
He doesn't get it.
I'm standing in line at the grocery store, okay,
and Sandy comes on shift.
She sees me and says, "Hi Nancy",
in that low voice that I can only perform when I get a sore throat.
Everyone knows her, she's a checker.
I smile.


Nancy McEldowney
September 28, 1995