I made a new taxi friend at the grocery store. Usually, I stubbornly trudge home with my groceries strapped to my back and on each arm. It is tough but it makes me feel like a voyageur.
Anyway, the highlight of my supermarket adventure was probably when the quite large female butcher paid me a compliment when I was picking out steaks that put a goofy grin on my face for five minutes.
“Can I get those two steaks right there. And have them bundled separately please?”
“Sure, for a good looking guy like you anything.”
While I was in the checkout line, a short and stout comely young man lined up behind me. My groceries were splayed out on the conveyer belt and he seemed to find them fascinating. I scowled at him a little for his unhealthy interest in my meat. Today I was ravenously hungry so I ended up spending three times as much as regular. Calling a cab was a necessity. After shopping I waited in the foyer for my taxi. As I stupidly stared out into the wintry parking lot, Mr. Nosy crept up and asked me,
“Are you waiting for a cab?”.
“Yes. ummm… U-Need-A.”.
A lengthy disorienting pause, then he says,
“You aren’t going to University housing are you?”.
“Yeah. Which one are you going to?”
“Bayfield.”.
We locked forearms in a steely embrace as the sun set majestically in the background and thus the alliance was forged. In the cab I found out he lives on the basement floor. He confirmed my suspicions about the lower floor hot water advantage and then said in a deep solemn voice,
“I see you bought rainbow trout. That’s a good fish.”
“Yes, I actually would have preferred salmon but apparently they’re filled with PCB’s now.”
He agreed and passionately expressed anger at the degradation of ocean quality and fish stocks. A kindred spirit. Even after that little bit of heartfelt bonding, splitting the fare was awkward as hell. It came to $6.75 and we each had a five. What would you do there? It’s a little too much to tip and an odd amount of change to split. We just ended up giving it to him. Upon exiting the cab, I gave him my name and asked his.
“Okituk.” “It’s Inuit.” he added after looking at my perplexed face. It was at that moment I wondered why I hadn’t noticed the sealskin boots and spear earlier. We agreed that if we ever saw each other at the supermarket again we would renew our pact. I went upstairs and cooked some sausage and perogies cause I had class all day and was too tired for anything else. The end.
The Ancient Undergrad 
Random compliments are so cool! ^_^ What does Okituk mean by the way??
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I assume you’re not living in a dorm when you say university housing. Apartment? Also what floor are you on… and I already know it’s the top. But is it 10 floors? Mine is the top floor, the third one. We got short buildings!
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Dangit! Submitted twice! Sorry.
Oh and btw, walking with groceries sucks. Bad!!!! SOoo heavy. I know how it is.
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Okituk means “Nosey Grocery Looker”This made me laugh – “I wondered why I hadn’t noticed the sealskin boots and spear earlier.”
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You certainly have a way of pulling the reader into your entry. I enjoyed reading about your experience in the supermarket. I’ve had some interesting trips, but I don’t think I could depict my experiences as well as you have right here. I like your profile pic, too. Looks awfully familiar… Kinda reminds me of a new TV show that came out with John Goodman. Don’t know if you really know what I’m talking about. lol.
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I always have the urge to hide my groceries so no one knows what I’m buying. My bad dietary habits are no one’s business but my own!
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i want sealskin boots and a spear.hey i know that show you’re talking about, wasnt it called King of the Pride or something? that show was so funny!!! i wish they had continued it.
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sealskin boots and a spear…maybe that’s the latest fad? now that i’ve typed that, i’m sure there will be a rapper that’ll make it come true–i just know it.
i heard the music that used to play on your blog; at least you had it set up in a way that i could’ve stopped it–that other blog just kept looping the song over and over. it was so unexpected that i freaked out and forgot how to turn down the volume on my work computer!
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i like your stories your amusing finding your soulmate at the grocery store over fishiness. how sweet!
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lol! You make your life sound so awful…yet funny at the same time. “The alliance was forged” hehe, makes me think of “Lord of the Rings” Hope your fish was good, seafood is awesomeness!
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Weird, but I too had a conversation yesterday wherein someone said “That’s a good fish.”
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i know it will pass. it’s ok.
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Okituk was a man and the female butcher was a little too old and powerful-scary looking for me. Although, she did have on a cool looking chain mail glove.The fish was delish and it made quite a dish.
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I loved reading your entry. I don’t really get to write in mine anymore, or read any because all i do is school, work, then sleep, but i’m glad i read yours. Fells like it was good time spent =).
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