December Daily Writing Project: December 4

December 4-

Take a short interaction (ex. paying for coffee, talking to a phone operator) and extend it as long as possible.

            “Honey, would you please go get Mommy a soda from the concession stand?  Here is some money.”  The girl obediently took the bills and carefully folded them in her hand.  Behind the bleachers, a dilapidated shack sold hot dogs, fries, bags of chips, and sodas.  The smell of grease made the girl think about how much she loved mustard and hot dogs, but she knew better than to spoil her appetite before dinner.

            “Hello.”  The concession stand clerk was a big man with a moustache.

            “Just one soda please,” the girl replied, extending her hand with the folded bills.

            “Well that’s not how you greet a person,” said the man.  For the first time, the girl looked at the man’s face and couldn’t tell if he was sincere or teasing.  Without a word, she extended the money out further towards the clerk.  The man just looked at her without saying anything.  The girl grew uncomfortable.  She looked over her shoulder in hopes there was someone behind her in line.  There wasn’t.  In fact, there weren’t any of the people usually milling about behind the bleachers.  The girl looked back at the man who hadn’t stopped looking at her.  He seemed comfortable.  The girl felt how sweaty her hands had become around the bills, and the thought of crying crossed her mind.

            “Let’s try this again,” the big man’s voice was loud, but gentle.  “Hello.”
The girl pulled her handful of money back to her side and squinted at the man.

            “…Helloooo…” she barely whispered.  The man was overjoyed at her response.

            “Ah!  Yes!  Beautiful afternoon, isn’t it?!”  The girl looked over her shoulder again.  Still, no one was there.

            “…Yesss…” she replied with extreme hesitation.

            “Yup.  Good day for a ball game.  So just a soda then?”  The girl was thoroughly confused.  It was like the man had been frozen, but was now bright and animated.

            “…Yesss…”  She brought the bills back out.  They were crumpled and damp with sweat.

            “Ok, out of $3…  here’s your soda, and 75cents is your change!”  The man handed the girl the bottle in one hand and her change in the other.  She took the items, still looking at the man with suspicion.  He stood there looking at her with a small, pleasant smile on his face.

            “…Thhaankk youu…”  It came out more like a question than a statement.

            “You are very welcome!  Have a good afternoon.”  The girl walked back around the bleachers, still trying to process her encounter with the man.  But once she rounded the corner, and could hear all the people talking and cheering, she snapped back to her usual energy.”
            “Hi Mom!”

            “Honey, did you bring me my change?” was the reply.  The small girl looked at her mother. 

            “Well that’s not how you greet someone.”