Hey Charlotte - She is from Harmony Grove, Southern California

Charlotte NC

Description

We had a moment. I was working, down stacking groceries. She was walking on the other side of the meat bunker, looking like she was searching for something. It was Saturday night. She was wearing a pink dress. Our eyes met. She asked me, "Do you work here? You look like you might." I replied, "Why yes ma'am, I sure do." She lowered her mask to show her face. I did the same. It was clear to both of us that we each liked what we saw. She said, "I'm looking for something, and it looks like you're out. Dollar General was out too. I was hoping you might have it somewhere else and that you might be able to help me find it." I said, "Well, I sure hope so. What was it that you were looking for?" At this time a middle aged man passing by interrupted her reply. He smirked as he said, "Hey baby, I work here, I can help you find anything you want." She and I looked at him and then at each other before we both bent over double with laughter. We stepped away. She said, "That reminded me of the mice from Babe." I said, "The mice from 'Babe?' "Have you seen Babe?" I said, "'Babe?' What do you mean have I seen 'babe?' You mean like have I seen *Babe* the movie?" "Yes, *Babe*, the movie. He reminded me of it for some reason. Have you seen it?" "Yes, I think I've seen Babe. Though it's been a really long time.." "He reminded me of the mice in Babe. Do you remember the mice?" I pondered, ruffling my eyebrows together in search of the faintest memory of 'the mice in *Babe*.' "No, I can't really remember any mice. But I'm sure I've seen it, though like I said, it's been a *really* long time." "It's been a long time since I've seen it too, but I remember the mice so well. I love the mice in Babe. They would say funny things between scenes with their squeaky voices. That reminded me of them for some reason. As soon as it happened, it was like a flashback to the mice in Babe." "I'm afraid I can't remember them. I guess I'll have to watch it again. I actually remember seeing that it was available to stream on HBOMax last night. I might look into it." "You should." "I will." "I'm sorry, what was it you were looking for again? I couldn't hear you before." She told me, and we continued on our way to find an aluminum pan. I asked where she was from. She said, "Southern California," and I reacted strongly when she said, "Harmony Grove," because I liked the name. She wondered whether it meant I knew Southern California. I didn't, and so she also mentioned it was near Escondido. I shared how it reminded me of my grandparent's place, my mother's home town, and how beautiful it was, matching with its name as it did. After a few more lines, one including 'weather,' and we hit a conversational pause. $#!+. I am so pandemically rusty. It was that kind of pause that deafens you with your inner monologue. I wanted it to keep flowing, but the tap was off. I tried to find the knob to turn it back on. I felt under pressure to return to work with a heavy load ahead for the night. I had just woken up less than an hour before. I felt I was short on sleep. It was a weird night at work. We were short staffed. My roommate was moving out soon. My inner monologue refused to bend towards my will or to produce another spark of appropriate conversation. I wasn't sharp enough to pass the ball to her. Before we got to where the product was, I told her to continue on and it'd be on the right. Gods forgive me, it's been a year of quarantine, and another before that since I was open to meeting anyone. I absolutely started to ask for her info, half asking, before I said aloud, "Never mind. I gotta get back to work." 🤦🏻♂️ I tell you I choked due to atrophy. No practice for too long. After about 3 minutes of down stacking I realized what couldn't before. I walked up front to see if I could catch her. I knew it was risky. I thought that I might ask her to ice cream on the spot, and take a work break for it if she was open to it, and a number if she wasn't. She was gone. I was relieved and full of regret all at once. This was several weeks ago. I am surprised how well I can remember this. I started watching Babe last week.. Every time the mice pop up with their squeaky voices, I can't help but bust out laughing. I usually pause it around one of these scene cuts after a replay for the laughs and then go to sleep. I can't remember how it ends. I think I don't want it to be over yet. It really is such a good movie. I enjoy the intermittent routine. She told me that my store is not her store. She was only there on the way to a birthday party. I think we really vibed so well throughout. Even during that pregnant pause, it felt like we were in the same boat together. I could sense her mind running along in inner monologue as much as mine was, which just fed it. Even when I started to half ask her, she turned expectantly, encouragingly. Do you know this woman from Harmony Grove, California? Does she remember me? Do we agree? To Ice Cream?