tonite I shopped for some printer ink at the large discount computer store in town, the one that attracts Everyone from Every walk of life. we exchange non-glances - stone faces - the cultural common denominator to avoid any hard feelings. I cringe when I have to go into this store. It's like walking among the dead. I make a beeline for the items I need and I get out. but I take in all the oddities I see along the way.

like the otherwise average looking guy who stood at the checkout severely flexing his knees together once a second. I considered offering to help him find the bathroom. then a boy with a gadget sticking out of his head. was it a medical device or a new phone style? I have a scar on my face that I don't try to cover up and I'm comfortable if people notice. I realize not everyone's as comfortable so I tried not to stare, but my curiosity was working overtime and I admit I stared. but his back was to me. And I never did figure it out.

then the woman who checked me out. when I glanced at her face, I saw a thickly drawn dark eyebrow with a distinctive kink above each eye. and they occurred right above her real eyebrows - her real ones? she's got two brows for each eye? I almost started laughing right then but wait, she's talking to me, telling me she's trying to find the cleanest pennies to give me. "I always look for the least grungy ones. Some of them are very dirty." I could not make this up.

stone face, stone face. I thank her for her consideration. I take my silly bag and receipt and clean pennies and get the usual strip search on my way out. I get in my car, close the door, and let out a huge laugh. I survived another trip!