kayre | Hey Tomato Guy!

I went to the grocery yesterday, along with seemingly most of the local population. I had a smallish load but too much for an express or self-checkout, and looked with dismay at the regular lines, all with long lines and/or giant loads. I got in a line with a giant (two carts!) load at the front, and a cart similar to my own next, then me. That guy started unloading when he could, and looked with obvious dismay at one loose tomato, and went poking through the rest of the order, looking for the rest of the tomatoes he thought he had. Finally he glanced at me and the clerk, said "I'll be right back," and took off for the produce section at a jog. I didn't mind because giant load still had a long way to go.

A minute later I saw him coming back-- and clearly looking right past our lane, further down the store. I waved; he didn't see me but our clerk did. She also waved, called out "hey" as he passed us-- and then bellowed "Hey Tomato Guy!" That got his attention, and I think everyone in three lanes chuckled. Something about "hey tomato guy!" still makes me laugh.