Pen at the ready, the old man attempted to fill out his check, clutching the checkbook in one hand and scrawling with the other, so as not to hold up anyone at the register. He had even loitered a bit before finding a checkout line, letting quicker patrons move on ahead. He didn’t like the idea of being in the way.

So he grew anxious when there was only one baton to set between orders, and it already lay in use between the two customers in front of him. He gave a wide berth to the young woman ahead and her collection of beauty supplies.  She seemed to sense his hesitance. When the first lady’s cleaning products had been rung, the young woman moved the baton after her order and shot him a kind smile.

He found himself rambling immediately in reply, “I’m not here very often, but I can…