Overheard at Giant
February 1st, 2007
Despite living painfully nearby, I actively avoid shopping at the Columbia Heights Giant supermarket whenever possible. It’s always crowded, the service is poor, and the lines are horrible. But yesterday I forced myself to venture to Giant on my way home from work, mostly because I have become addicted to Special K (I swear it’s laced with coke) and was out of milk.
So, I’m standing in the “Express” line (haha), clutching a basket of eggs, milk, and spring greens mix and contemplating whether I should buy the February edition of Martha Stewart Living when I observe the following conversation:
Mother: [calling out to the lady at the end of my line] Hey, is anyone behind you? No? [walks over and sees the end of the line, then turns to her young daughter] Here, hold my things. Okay, now, stay here with this strange lady.
And then she proceeded to walk away and finish shopping while her daughter shared a very awkward moment with Strange Lady.
Wait, whaaat? Did that just happen? Did she just call that random woman strange to her face (even if it was true)? I never thought I’d see the day when parents would entrust their children to some weird-looking stranger just to hold a place in the check out line. So, if you were wondering if the lines at Giant were really that bad… well… yes, they are.
