HAPPY TO HELP

Everywhere, chaos — jostling and shouting, winter coats and sweat and particulate face masks neglected – drooping under noses. Men. Women. Old. Young. Fat. Short. Tall. Skinny. Child screaming. 

Dirty yellow vest on the white girl with short yellow hair. 

Her back says: 

HAPPY

TO

HELP

Her eyes say: 

FOR

FUCKS

SAKE

Looking at anything other than my eyes, she yells at the Asian lady with the short black hair in the light blue vest. 

Something about closing the queue. 

Plastic card on a stretchy lanyard, and she taps on the screen: Tap. Tap. Tap. Beep. 

Everywhere, chaos. 

She beeps the beer and turns her back. 

HAPPY

TO

HELP

“You doin’ okay?”

She doesn’t answer. 

7:30 PM on a Monday at the Wal-Mart self-checkout.