(no subject)
I was in Barns and Noble, standing next to the sing that read "Teens". I looked over my shoulder, at a girl wearing baggy jeans held up by a well worn leather belt. Her Sambas and beanie pulled low over her short blond hair made her seem familiar. "Looking for a book?" I asked. She nodded, with out looking up. "I like this one better then anything else on this self" I said, trying to be socialble. She glanced at me quickly as I handed her "Empress of the World". She had blue eyes. "Thanks" she said, barely opening her mouth. Smiling I walked on. I browse through the titles "When Pregnancy Sucks", "How to talk so your teen will listen", "Sew Easy". I realize there is a book called "The Best Lesbian"stuck carelessly, or maybe by some prankster, among the shelf labeled "Educational Workbooks".
In the café a boy sits listening to his iPod. His sandy hair is spiked, and his jeans tighter then the girl I had talked to just moments before. As I start talking about writing and the audition I have planned, I see him turn down his iPod and shift his eyes in my direction. As I walked by to return my mug, still warm from my tea, I realize he’s reading "Dune".
Next stop, is Blockbuster. The people here look tired, the store is warm, stuffy, with the distinct feel of florescent lighting. I leave the nights movie choice to the whims of my siblings, and walk through the rows. Staring at the titles of the movies, I realize they are not much different then the books. Same subject matter, sex, lies. Pop culture, mindless money makers, nonfiction and down right scary all packed together. The people here are different. They seek a visual stimulation with out all that pesky reading. Couples mill about, one couple with a movie, a box of Hot Tamales. He’s grinning, she’s giggling nervously, both clasping the others hand like it’s the only thing keeping them from floating away on their own hormones.
In the car Dad relates reason he’s not hungry, a rare thing for my father. "I ate two bags of peanut M&Ms." When my mother gives him a look he says "I only wanted to buy one, but when then the lady said they were buy one, get one. She did give me a weird look when I said ‘It’s like my birthday!’" I smile, knowing my dads affinity for all things chocolate. One by one we go around the car, relating what we ate for "dinner". An English muffin and an orange. Half a bag of pretzels. A bowl of left over pasta.
We decide a Sam’s run is in order, for a frozen pizza and gatorade. Once in there my assignment is popcorn. After quickly locating that I head to the Pizza counter. "No pizza, jus dough balls!" the women at the counter says excitedly. "What about the ones you’re making?" my father asks. "Jus doughballs!" she shakes her flour covered hands " I can make yous a take ‘n’ bake!". "How long will that take?" my father questions. "How long yous got?" she says. After a lengthy conversation, and watching her put our "Take and Bake" pizza in the oven, we have our warm, fresh pizza. Only to find a case of them, frozen the way we wanted, in a case just around the corner. I’m home now, and have shed my red shirt and pinching watch in favor of a tanktop and kickback pants. As Dad pops the popcorn and Gabe puts the movie in the DVD player, I realize there are adventures to be found in even a night’s errands. A girl with blue eyes, a boy with sandy hair, a new datebook. A frustrated employee, a salty pizza, low fat popcorn. A night with the family.