I get so many colorful characters

in my line of work.

First there was a brother and a sister,

that were arguing if they look a like.

They drag me into their conversation.

I’m hesitant.

Both of them look like friendly people,

but I’ve had plenty of customers who have appeared that way before.

Once an item doesn’t scan, their glistening friendly eyes fade

into a pulsing red.

I say, “No one wants to be told that they look like their sibling.”

And that seems to please them.

A middle aged couple,

replaces the siblings.

They buy gift cards, energy drinks, and condoms.

They giggle and snicker like teenagers.

Before I can notice the condoms , I’m suggesting towards their laughter,

“Someone had fun tonight.”

The muddle aged man stops his laughter, enough to reply, and points to the condoms.

“Yeah and we’re going to have even more fun later. ”

Another older coulee replaces them.

The husband pleads with his wife to buy a candy bar.

“Does he look like he needs a candy bar?” she asks me, and pats her husband’s round tummy.

“And he has diabetes too,” she adds.

“I’m not going to get into the middle of this,” I reply.

“All of you women join in and gang up on us men,” he adds.

All walks of life I experience here.

Young, old, the usuals, and the new.

This register has seen it all.

Poetry